Daily HealthBeat Tip

Who wants jet lag?

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I�m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Jet lag. Who needs it? Sleep researcher Charmane Eastman at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago offers a way to avoid it � going east, when jet lag is worst.

Her study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Eastman used a light box that makes cells in the eye trick the sleep-wake cyle into acting like it�s bright daylight � and point-five-milligram melatonin pills, which also work on the cycle.

So: For each time zone crossed, go to bed an hour earlier each day, taking the pill first. Wake up an hour earlier and be before the light box at least a half hour.

Can she vouch for this?

"Of course! What kind of a so-called researcher would I be if I went somewhere and ended up with jet lag?" (six seconds)

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: November 18, 2005

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