Image Credit: Alessandra Taryn

Do you suffer from jet lag?

Thousands of Americans say they do.

There’s growing scientific research to support the effects of long-haul jet traffic on our sleep patterns, our awareness levels, and our overall performance when we’re on the road.

Speaking of road trips, research found that jet lag may actually hurt the performance of major league baseball players by lowering batting averages and causing pitchers to give up more home runs.

Talk about the home team advantage.

Apparently, this is especially evident when teams travel from west to east, across two or more time zones.

So try to remember this before your next long flight—or whenever you need to be at the top of your own game.

My advice? Whether you’re a major league player or a minor league airline passenger, proper hydration is the key. Drink plenty of water, and try to stay up until midnight when you arrive in your destination’s time zone.

For more information about health and travel, check out:

• The Trouble With Flying & Eating Too Much
• How Often Travelers Actually Use the Hotel Pool & Gym
• The Ways Lack of Sleep Can Affect Your Diet

Keep reading for more travel tips.