Launched in time for World Sleep Day on March 14, Etihad’s sleep programme helps passengers combat jet lag. TOAD speaks to Etihad’s experts about crossing time zones with minimum disruption.
Jet lag affects nearly all travellers, and it can take its toll on your body. Symptoms include sleeping intermittently and at unusual hours, a loss of appetite, mood swings and digestive imbalances – and apparently it’s all part of the ‘fun’ of going on holiday.
When we change time zones, our body’s biological clock becomes imbalanced. Dr Khaldoun Mozahem, and Dr Yousef Abou Allaban, sleep specialists from the American Center for Psychiatry & Neurology, have been working with Etihad Airways to provide antidotes to this imbalance. Dr Khaldoun says, ‘It’s a critical issue, because if we don’t have a good night’s sleep, we are tired, we feel exhausted, and consequently we may not always make the right decisions in meetings at work. We are uncomfortable and have trouble functioning in a day-to-day environment.’
Jet lag is the body struggling to adjust to its ‘circadian rhythms’ – the 24-hour cycle on which we function. This is how our body knows when to sleep, when it should be awake, what temperature we should be and how we should generally function. It is influenced by factors such as sun exposure (which tells the body to wake up), secretion of melatonin (the natural sleep chemical) in the brain, as well as the release of enzymes to the stomach for eating routines.
Jet lag generally occurs in transitions with a time difference of greater than three hours. Dr Khaldoun says, ‘Sleep is one of our most important routines and, naturally, when we travel, it is sleep that is disturbed most. Business professionals in particular need to keep control of their business and personal life. All the programmes we design for Etihad are focused on reintegrating sleep into your routine as quickly as possible.’
But, as Dr Yousef explains, it’s not as simple as offering quick fixes. ‘Depending on whether you are travelling east or west, our advice differs. For example, travelling west is far easier – you should barely feel jet lagged if you’re travelling to London, for example. But then coming back east the jet lag will be worse.’ This is because the body finds it easier to sleep later rather than earlier so the adjustment period
is less complicated.
Dr Yousef says it can take time to change your circadian rhythms. ‘Your brain needs approximately one week for it to adjust to a new time zone. We need to reset our biological clock. For people travelling east to west, we recommend adjusting your sleeping pattern gradually – maybe one hour per day to match the new time zone.’
Simple measures such as reducing light in the cabin while travelling – which some airlines, including Etihad, do – can reduce issues with sleeping patterns.
Dr Khaldoun explains some easy steps you can take to counter fatigue: ‘You should try to avoid large meals when you’re tired. And if you are only travelling for a couple of days, we recommend keeping your body clock in sync with your home – sticking to Abu Dhabi time is better. When you’re in the hotel, keep time with the UAE and stick to your normal schedule. Keeping your sleep routines consistent is a positive step towards adjusting as quickly as possible.’
American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Hazza Street, www.americancenteruae.com (02 697 9999).
Lagging behind?
Tips for coping with jet lag
• Avoid heavy meals
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid cola and caffeinated drinks
• When travelling west to east, adjust sleeping by one hour per night in the lead-up
• When trying to sleep, minimise distractions – use soundproof headphones and an eye mask to block out your surroundings
Etihad Airways’ best laid plans
Etihad has partnered with bedding manufacturer Coco Mat to deliver all-natural bedding products to its first-class passengers. Coco Mat founder Paul Efmorfidis says, ‘One day, I was lying on the beach on a mattress of seaweed – and I realised how comfortable it was. It was then that the idea of all- natural good-quality fibre bedding came to me. I said to myself, “Why don’t a make a mattress to take home?” And then I made some for my friends and my family.
‘It has since become an Athens-based brand that we are passionate about. It’s rejuvenating to sleep on natural materials – they are more breathable and comfortable.’ Etihad’s head of product development and innovation, Anna Brownell, says, ‘We can’t do anything about changing time zones, but we can do something about sleep. That’s why we are working so hard on this.’ www.etihad.com.
