It happens when you cross several time zones. Your circadian rhythms get out of whack and the bad news is experts consider it takes you about one day per time zone to adjust. How do the business travelers do it? But then how does a family do it ? when all of you are crabby and messed up and it's supposed to be fun-time? There you are in treasured Ischia, which, incidentally is worse, because it's going eastward (US to Europe) and nobody feels good. But is it any easier flying to Chichen Itza, on of the 7 wonders of the world? Time in the air is still time in the air.

The symptoms are, in order of frequency: lethargy; disordered sleep; fatigue for first 5 days after arrival; dehydration, ENT problems, colds or flu; disorientation; and swelling of limbs. 94% of US jet travelers said they had jet-lag symptoms, and 45% considered them ?severely bothersome.? (Journal of the Aerospace Medical Association).

This is personally why I prefer cruises, but let that pass for now, and we'll talk about what you can do about this.

1. Information and preparation.

Expect this and plan for it. Adjust your pace, attitude and expectations, and gently remind your hosts. If you're traveling to visit relatives, they'll probably want you to hit the floor running, but it is more prudent to plan little the first day, and simply recoup. I frequently fly from east to west to visit my sister and I always remind her I'll be sleepy the first day. ?No really?.

2. Attitude.

Okay, it's good emotional intelligence. Don't let jetlag ruin your vacation. Part of the vacation is enjoying the people you're with. Cut everyone some slack and agree with yourself beforehand to deal with the irritability in a way that isn't harmful to yourself and others. Like, mouthing off to the security guard about having to open your laptop isn't going to accomplish anything, except maybe a strip search. Do you need that on top of everything else?

3. Self-awareness is the cornerstone of emotional intelligence.

If you travel a lot, you should have learned something about your own adjustment schedule. For instance, when I fly before 10 am, the effects of the jet lag are far worse than when I fly in the afternoon. Why? It doesn't matter why, it's just the way I am. Figure this out about yourself and use the information.

3. Use common sense.

Avoid caffeine and smoking, drink lots of water, eat light. More importantly, eat right. It's easy to grab junk in the airport, especially if you have kids. It's smarter to pack something healthy you know agrees with them, that they'll eat. Cheaper too!

4. Build your immune system.

Wherever you go, and however you get there, you are going to land in a new germ pool. Your immune system is your health. Antibiotics only ?help,? after the fact. Try Get Well Soon Dietary Supplement ( http://tinyurl.com/3ab8us ) It has pure natural ingredients and no caffeine!

4. Homeopathic remedies.

Taking melatonin is one possibility. That's the hormone secreted by the pineal gland that controls your circadian rhythm. Since there are no long-term studies about the effects, take the least amount possible and only when you arrive. Studies have shown taking it beforehand doesn't help, and may possibly make jetlag worse (go figure). And of course you might want to try Bio-Nutria Herbal Colon Cleanse (http://tinyurl.com/3ab8us ). Other remedies that can help are arnica, bellis perennis, chamomilia, ipecacuanha, lycopodium and valerian.

5. Prepare by sleeping differently.

This tip seems impractical to me. You adjust your bedtime and wake time toward the time zone where you're going. For instance, going east to west, go to bed one hour later and wake up one hour later and do this progressively each day for 3 days. Can you do that? I can't. I have to work. And try getting a kid to do this! No. 1 is more practical ? to just catch up on sleep when you get there and take it easy the first 24 hours. You may feel like you're ?missing? something, but in the long run, it pays off.

6. Some people swear by the Argonne Jetlag Diet-www.netlib.org/misc/jet-lag-diet .

And don't forget the obvious,

7. Avoid jet travel.

I happen to live near a port, but probably you do too, and a cruise is a smart choice for a vacation for many reasons, not the least of which is the jetlag. On a cruise, you can accommodate all ages and tastes, you can meet and separate easily, they are extremely accommodating to all sorts of disabilities, there is 24/7 room service, any kind of food (including light and healthy) and many other sources of stress are eliminated such as cars, parking, unpacking more than once, getting lost, and getting medical attention if you need it (they have a doctor on board).