February 2000Taking the Discomforts Out of Air TravelIt seems that more and more of us are traveling long distances by air. An unfortunate truth is that for many, the mere stress of travel detracts from the enjoyment of the destination. Many have arrived at destinations with a sore neck because they fell asleep with their head unsupported. Some develop plugged ears that sometimes take days to go away. And worst of all some people are air sick in flight and suffer the whole way there and then take a while to recover. For most people there are solutions to avoid these interruptions to their enjoyment of travel. And often these answers are simple and inexpensive. For the person who dozes on the plane, they can travel with a small, lightweight, travel cervical support pillow. These pillows wrap around your neck and help to support it properly when you doze. The person who's ears plug up can avoid this discomfort with an air travel ear plug. The ear pain many travelers experience during take-offs and landings is caused by rapid changes of air pressure on the eardrum. There are ear plugs that slow the rate of air pressure changes. People who get air sick can take ginger root, a proven anti-nausea remedy. Or consider acupressure wrist bands. It is known that traditional Chinese medicine has used acupuncture and acupressure for centuries to relieve nausea. Chinese fisherman have used acupressure on the "P6" acupressure point of their wrists to get relief from motion sickness for over 1000 years. Wrist bands made specifically for this purpose are available.
To find a portable cervical support pillow go to: October 1999JET LAGJet lag is a common and annoying problem. It can seriously detract from the pleasure of that special vacation or affect the success of a business trip. Studies have estimated that 94% of long distance travelers have experienced some jet lag symptoms and 45% have been severely bothered. The most common symptoms are; daytime sleepiness, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, slowed reflexes, indigestion, headache and irritability. These symptoms are more prevalent when we travel east and over several time zones. However, traveling west over several time zones will also take its toll. The primary cause of jet lag is the inability of the internal biological clock to adjust to the change in time zones. The obvious disruptions to our biological clock are the change in our sleep cycle and eating schedule. A less obvious, but very significant factor, has to do with our biological clocks adjusting to the change in the cycle of light and darkness. There are many things we can do to minimize the effects of jet lag. -First- Before you travel try to get in shape by eating right, exercising and getting proper sleep. Try to gradually adjust to your destination1s time zone for at lease a few days before leaving by sleeping and eating gradually closer to your destinations schedule (about 1/2 -1 hour change/day). -Second- Minimize the physical stress of long distance travel. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcoholic beverages to minimize dehydration. Get up and move around as much as safely possible, (this will decrease the swelling in your feet and generally help the circulation). Wear ear plugs +/or wear earphones and listen to music, thus decreasing the fatiguing effect of cabin noise. Use a travel pillow and blindfold to help you sleep. -Third- When you arrive be proactive in adjusting to the new time zone. Adjust your sleep by 1 hour/day and exercise upon arising. Use light exposure to help adjust your biological clock. If traveling east make sure you get plenty of light soon after arising, and if you are traveling west try to get lots of light in the late afternoon. This can be greatly assisted with therapeutic lighting. Use strong (10,000 lux equivalent) light for 1/2 hour. Books on this topic will soon be available. Jet lag is a complex and real problem. In the future we will present more detailed information and recommendations. After all, we all want you to live Life with EaseTM. For products to help travel click here August 1999Motion Sickness/NauseaMotion sickness from car rides, plane trips, train rides, rocky boats , ...... nausea gets us all at one time or another. What causes it? A complex interaction of certain parts of the balance system, including the eyes, inner ears, neck can send conflicting information to the brain. The brain gets "confused" and sends nerve signals to the stomach that produce the unpleasant symptoms of motion sickness. Although much is understood, a complete understanding of how this happens is not known. If you are reading in a moving vehicle, your eyes may be fixated on the page you are reading telling the brain you are still. However, your inner ear detects the ups and downs and turns of the journey. The brain receives this confusing message and sickness is the result. Fortunately, there are conservative approaches to avoid and treat this nausea. Avoidance comes best from some common sense decisions. If you are predisposed to nausea, avoid reading during rough moments in the journey. Try to choose a position where your eyes will be cued to the motion. In a car you are better off being in the front seat where there is more window exposure. On a ship, sit on the top deck where you are aware of the horizon. On a train ride sit next to the window. Remember when you were young and your mother had you drink ginger ale to settle your stomache? Ginger, as in ginger ale, has been used successfully by many people as a remedy for motion sickness and upset stomach in general . It doesn't cause drowsiness, has no known side-effects, and is safe during pregnancy, another time you might experience nausea. It is known that traditional Chinese medicine has used acupuncture and acupressure for centuries to relieve nausea. Chinese fisherman have used acupressure on the "P6" acupressure point of their wrists to get relief from motion sickness for over 1000 years. Wrist bands made specifically for this purpose are available. For products at lifewithease.com related to nausea relief click here |
Miscellaneous Wellness Articles Ergonomics and Related InjuriesFYI Wellness Tips Low Vision Contact Us