Q: I am traveling over Easter break and dread the jet lag after the long trip. What tips could you give me, and can chiropractic help?

A: Jet lag is a very common symptom of travel for all people in all societies. The stress of travel is greater than ever before. You can’t just go to the airport, get on a plane and fly to your destination. It takes almost as many hours of preparation and waiting as it does to drive in many cases. Preparation is essential for long flights to avoid jet lag.

Always try to get enough rest the night before your trip. Don’t leave last second hurrying that can create stress and anxiety. Get to the airport very early. Drink plenty of water and have water available throughout your trip. Dehydration plays a large role in the effects of potential jet lag. Get up and walk around the cabin if it is safe. Stretch as often as possible. Support your back and neck so that you don’t fall asleep in an unusual and uncomfortable position.

Chiropractic adjustments prior to and after arriving to your destination have proven to be very beneficial in minimizing jet lag. The results of the March/April issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics indicated that a study on chiropractic and jet lag effects to a group of athletes was very positive. From the perspective of mood, the chiropractic-adjusted athletes had lower tension, anger, fatigue, and confusion than the sham-adjusted or control group of athletes. In addition, the amount of vigor (energy) of the chiropractic adjusted-athletes was higher than the sham-adjusted or control-group participants.

Quote of the week: "People never improve unless they look to some standard or example higher and better than themselves." Tyron Edwards