Lecture #15
Travel Health
Prof. Garry Wong
GEST1007
10 and 15 October 2024
After today’s lecture you will know
• What are risks of travel to your health ?
• How to mitigate travel risks ?
• How jet lag occurs ?
• The safest and least safest forms of travel
Source: [Link]
What is Jet lag disorder ?
Mayo Clinic
Temporary sleep problem when traveling across
several time zones
Jet lag occurs when your body’s circadian rhythm is
not aligned with your destination’s time zone
More time zones traveled, more likely your will
have jet lag
Symptoms include daytime fatigue, an unwell
feeling, trouble staying alert and stomach problems
What is Jet lag disorder ?
Symptoms -expanded
Disturbed sleep
Daytime fatigue
Loss of concentration
Decreased ability to perform mental and physical tasks
Reduced alertness
Increased irritability
Headaches
Difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep at night
What is Jet lag disorder ?
Mayo Clinic - Causes
Time Zone changes
Sunlight
Dehydration
Air cabin pressure
Yasufumi Shigeyoshi M.D. Ph.D Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Kinki University School of Medicine
What is Jet lag disorder ?
Mayo Clinic – Risk Factors
Number of time zones crossed. The more time
zones you cross, the more likely you are to feel jet
lag.
Flying east. You may find it harder to fly east, when
you "lose" time, than to fly west, when you "gain"
time.
Being a frequent flyer. Pilots, flight attendants and
business travelers are most likely to experience jet
lag.
Being an older adult. Older adults may need more
time to recover from jet lag.
What is Jet lag disorder ?
Mayo Clinic – Prevention I
• Arrive early and give your body a chance to adjust.
• Get plenty of rest before your trip.
• Gradually adjust your schedule before you leave.
• Properly time bright light exposure.
• Stay on your new schedule.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during and
after your flight .
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine, as these can dehydrate you
and affect your sleep.
• Try to sleep on the plane if it's nighttime at your
destination. Earplugs, headphones and eye masks can help
block noise and light.
• If it's daytime where you're going, resist the urge to sleep.
What is Jet lag disorder ?
Mayo Clinic - Treatments
Most travelers with jet lag do not need treatment
but it is not pleasant
Light Therapy – Exposure to bright natural or
artificial light in new time zone to synchronize the
circadian rhythm
Medications – sleeping pills but these require a
prescription
What is Jet lag disorder ?
Mayo Clinic - Treatments
Jet lag or Travel Fatigue ?
Class video - Animals also get get lag, scary
flight, safe flight
• [Link]
suffering-from-jet-lag/
• [Link]
• [Link]
Slido
Travel Safety
Most deaths in cars
Travel Safety
Most deaths by passenger miles is motorcycle
Travel Safety
Most deaths by passenger hours is motorcycle
Other safety and health risks
• Bad behavior aboard aircraft
• Food poisoning
• Contagious and infectious diseases
• Separation from medicines
• Overeating
• Overdrinking
• Extremes in weather at destination
• Stress
