If you’re a frequent traveler who crosses time zones often, you’ll know what jetlag can do to your sleep schedule. Also called “flight dysrhythmia”, the effects of jetlag can be profound. It is said that your body requires one day to adjust per hour of time change. So, if you travel somewhere that has a 12 hour time difference from your starting point, your body needs 12 days to adjust its internal rhythm.
Symptoms of jetlag can include difficulties with sleep – either not being able to fall asleep in your new destination or waking up too early. You may experience daytime fatigue, mood changes, and a sense of general unwellness. Mental focus or function may be affected. In addition, gastrointestinal issues like constipation or diarrhea can also result from the time zone change. Symptoms are usually worse or may linger longer with greater time differences. It’s also said that symptoms can be more severe if you travel east.
KAATSU May Be a Solution
American Olympic team members competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics faced a new challenge with jetlag due to Covid-19 restrictions. Athletes were unable to enter the Olympic Village more than 5 days prior to their competition dates. That didn’t give them enough time to acclimatize to the time zone changes and there was a significant chance their performances would be negatively impacted.
Interestingly, the secretion of metabolites and hormones in response to KAATSU use may have an effect on a person’s circadian rhythm, helping to accelerate a person’s recovery from jetlag. Research on this is ongoing. For Olympic athletes who have trained for years to compete, any way to mitigat the effects of jetlag were welcome.
Using KAATSU in Cycle mode before the flight, mid-flight, and an hour before landing, and then 1-2 times per day upon arrival is the general outline of the protocol from KAATSU Global. It is safe to take KAATSU devices on an airplane, and it is safe to use while you are flying. For more information on the protocols, you can check it out in your KAATSU product manual.
Here’s to more happy travels – with less jetlag! 🙂