MANILA, Philippines - According to a recent survey by Skyscanner, a leading global travel search site, 54 percent of Filipinos have flown long-distance trans-meridian flights. This often results in desynchronisis, commonly known as jetlag, which results in poor sleep upon arrival, poorer mental performance and increased fatigue.
“In an ideal world, to prevent jetlag we should begin taking on the habits of the destination time zone before we leave home,†says Tony Gherardin of National Medical Adviser at the Travel Doctor -TMC. “That is, eating at the same time and sleeping or resting at the same time as what you would be doing at that destination. Of course, this isn’t always possible at home or even while flying.â€
From changing their body clock to adjusting their alcohol consumption, Filipinos have tried various means to combat the effects of jet lag. Most Filipinos rely on their health when it comes to jetlag. In a survey conducted with 1,000 respondents, 45.8 percent of Filipinos choose to eat a light diet of healthy, fresh food. Other health-conscious activities include exercising and stretching on the plane (44.7 percent) or to get as much exercise and fresh air on the day of travel as they can (27.6 percent).
Others adjust their sleeping habits, which include those who change their time to destination time when they board the plane and sleeping according to this time zone (35.3 percent) and those who try to stay awake all flight and sleep only when they arrive at their destination (24.5 percent).
Some Filipinos adjust their alcohol consumption. There are those who drink alcohol to fall asleep on the flight to wake up refreshed (12.5 percent), while others go the other way and avoid alcohol 24 hours before the flight until they land (25.4 percent).
Some Filipinos take sleeping tablets (14.5 percent) or anti-jetlag pills (8.5 percent), herbal remedies (8.3 percent) or melatonin (4 percent). Others even go as far as taking Viagra (0.7 percent) just to avoid jetlag.
“While most Filipinos take only a day to recover from jetlag,†says Janet Ranola, Philippine marketing manager of leading travel search site Skyscanner, “it takes two to five days for some, which is probably why there are those who try various methods to avoid it.â€
Skyscanner is a leading global travel search site offering a truly comprehensive, free flight search service as well as instant online comparisons for hotels and car hire.
Founded in 2003, Skyscanner receives over 25 million unique visitors each month. Skyscanner is optimized worldwide and available in 30 languages. Skyscanner’s highly rated free mobile apps are available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Windows 8 devices and have been downloaded over 25 million times.
The privately owned company employs over 250 staff and has its global headquarters in Edinburgh with regional hubs in Singapore, Beijing, Barcelona and Miami.
For more information, follow Skyscanner on Twitter @SkyscannerPH, like Skyscanner on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SkyscannerPhilippines or visit the Skyscanner website at www.skyscanner.com.ph.