Can not sleep? How to catch a plane to Zzz

Air New Zealand Skycouch converts a row of three seats in a bed at the touch of a button.

By Harriet Baska, msnbc.com contributor

Some people have no problem getting to sleep on airplanes.

"They sit down, close the window shade and immediately falls asleep. It does not look like they need any help at all," said Carol Landis, a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle who does research on sleep and health consequences of disturbed sleep.

Other Just stay awake on the plane no matter what. "Maybe it depends on an underlying concern about the reason for the trip, or whether to fly or because they are trying to sleep sitting rather than lying down," said Landis.

But to squeeze in even a short cat nap on the plane can make a big difference in your journey. "You'll feel like a new person when you wake up," said Sara C. Mednick, author of "Take a nap! Change Your Life" and an assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside. "All studies show the more you sleep, the better."

But how can you catch those40 winks while wedged in a metal tube that goes over 400 km / h?

Landis and Mednick agree on the basics.

"Do not drink caffeinated coffee, tea, soda or eat chocolate or anything with caffeine in six to eight hours before the flight and during it," said Landis. Bring ear plugs and an eye had to block out light and sound. And pack a pillow and a blanket. "Your body temperature drops when you sleep," Mednick said, "it is hot enough is important."

Looking to take a sleeping pill? Think twice. "We usually advise against sleeping medications," said Dr. Flavia Consens, associate professor at the University of Washington in the departments of neurology and anesthesiology and pain medicine who specializes in sleep medicine. "There is less oxygen when you fly, and these drugs reduce the drive to breathe. There is also a concern that when travelers are taking these pills they do not move around, and on a long flight, increasing the risk of DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis" , blood clotting, is sometimes referred to as economy class syndrome.

To help passengers snooze, some airlines offer a variety of on-board sleep aid, including mood lighting, "Do Not Disturb" stickers and other amenities.

"Right now the industry standard in long-haul business class seats are convertible into horizontal beds," said Raymond Kollau, founder of airlinetrends.com. "And for some fliers economy class, Air New Zealand offers the" Skycouch ", which is three regular economy seats that transform into a single horizontal space."

In late departures, All Nippon Airways (ANA) awards the "Sleep Support Kit" which includes aromatherapy cards ("Disconnect" and "Update") that emits a lavender or a "ANA Original Aroma" smell when a small button is pressed. "And BA offers podcasts sleep advice from sleep expert Chris Idzikowski, aka Dr. Sleep, on its in-flight entertainment system and on its website," said Kollau.

Podcasts and other audio programs that can help you sleep may soon be a standard feature on other systems, airline entertainment too. At the recent Airline Passenger Experience Association conference in Seattle, said the IFE services as it is now the exclusive seller of pzizz sleep system to the airlines. The program creates audio soundtracks that promises to either get a power nap of 10 to 90 minutes or a deep sleep up to 10 hours.

If the program is offered for free, it can not hurt to give it a try, but sleep experts say that you would be better to spend your money on an upgrade instead of a prerecorded program.

"There is no research showing these special programs work," said Mednick. "It's music that you learn to listen to that can help you sleep, but there is no music as a sleep inducer."

Instead, suggests Mednick bring some of your sleeping rituals at home with you on the aircraft. "Brush your teeth, change clothes and get into something that resembles pajamas. We are creatures of habit, so if you can create or simulate sleep habits in your home, the more your body will react."

With most Americans who are struggling to get a good night's sleep, Shape magazine Bahar Takhtehchian spotlights products that are sure to help you get some shut-eye.

More Source:

Overhead Bin - Can't sleep on a plane? Tips to help you catch a few ...
Get More Zzz's to Lose Pounds
#TTOT round-up: catching zzz's and dealing with snorers
Ten Tips for Sleeping on Planes - SmarterTravel.com

Related News:

Details :
Submited at Friday, September 30th, 2011 at 4:00 am on Tips by admin
Comment RSS 2.0 - leave a comment - trackback

Leave Comment Here...

404 Not Found