Even more important, particularly after crossing more than five time zones, is avoiding sunlight exposure at the wrong time, which will shift circadian rhythms in the direction opposite to that traveled. When flying from Los Angeles to Madrid, for example, it would take several more days to delay the body clock 15 h than to advance it 9 h. (However, extreme night owls might prefer to delay their clocks no matter which direction of travel.) Precise recommendations for obtaining and avoiding sunlight at destination depend on what are thought to be the light PRC’s
break points. The following recommendations are based on a light PRC with the break points at CT 6 and CT 18, using Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the beginning of the light pulse as its phase reference. Using the middle of a relatively long bout of bright light exposure as the phase reference, which is done in most human (but not animal) studies, would put these break Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical points a few hours later; however, this requires people to schedule long periods of (preferably bright) light exposure. Furthermore, a recent study indicates that the beginning of the light pulse is its most powerful part, at
least with respect to causing phase selleck chemicals advances. After traveling across five or fewer time zones, start sunlight exposure as early as possible in the morning after going east or as late as possible in the afternoon after going west. After traveling Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical across six or more time zones, obtain sunlight exposure in the middle of the day and avoid it in the morning
after going east or at the end of the day after going west. On subsequent days, these times can be shifted, as if one had traveled through Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical fewer time zones (see below). Using both light and melatonin at the optimal times, it is reasonable to assume a rate of phase shifting of 3 h per day. For example, after traveling nine time zones to the east, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical a person who habitually arises at 7.00 am should avoid sunlight exposure before 10.00 am and obtain at least 30 min of it shortly after this time. The next day sunlight exposure should occur shortly after 7.00 am. Melatonin should be taken at 2.00 pm before travel and at 11.00 pm upon reaching the destination. It should then be taken 3 h earlier each day until it is again taken at 2.00 pm for a couple of days. After traveling nine time zones to the west, take melatonin at 10.00 pm the first night, but on subsequent SPTLC1 nights it should be taken only if awake after 1.00 am and then again upon final awakening in the morning. After traveling six or more time zones to the west, bright light should be avoided at the end of the day and sunlight should be obtained in the middle of the day. After 1 or 2 days, bright light should be obtained at the end of the day. Melatonin can be taken at bedtime the first night at destination, but should not be taken before 1.00 am on subsequent days, except under special circumstances.