Jet lag is a syndrome that includes either inability to sleep or excessive daytime sleepiness after travelling through two or more time zones. It usually takes some time to adjust to the new time zone of the new destination you arrive at.
Symptoms of Jet lag can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. It alters the body’s sleep cycle; however, the effects are not permanent.
Read on to know the symptoms, causes, treatments and prevention of jet lag.
Jet lag is a sleeping disorder that occurs when your body's internal clock is not aligned with the day-night cycle of the time zone of your travel destination.
Your body's internal clock, the circadian rhythm, is aligned as per the day-night cycle, which is established by the sun. When you are travelling across zones quickly, the day and night cycle will occur at different times than what your body is used to. This, in turn, throws your internal clock off balance. This sudden change in the circadian rhythm might make it difficult for your body to adjust and make you feel tired.
Jet lag is a common problem people experience when travelling internationally via plane. However, the intensity of jet lag can vary for people. There are some people, especially children, who do not have any problem adapting to the new time zone and do not experience jet lag at all.
According to some medical experts, it has been agreed that flying towards the east might make you prone to severe jet lag symptoms rather than flying towards the west. This might be because your body can quickly adjust to staying awake till later than sleeping earlier than you usually do.
Symptoms of Jet lag can vary from person to person. You can either experience only one symptom or many of them. The most commonly known symptoms of jet lag are as follows:
Other symptoms might be headaches, fatigue, nausea, and excessive need to urinate at night. Jet lag causes dizziness as well. These symptoms may begin immediately or take some time after you have reached your destination. Many people might sleep well the first night after a flight and face issues in the following days. Depending on the person and the trip details, these symptoms might last for a few days to a few weeks.
Multiple factors might influence the likelihood and severity of jet lag. In this regard, the causes of jet lag include the following:
People who usually experience jet lag have temporary symptoms. These generally do not require medical attention. The symptoms typically go away on their own within a few days. However, if you think that your body cannot adjust to the new location and your sleep problem is not going away and is affecting the quality of your life, this might be more serious than you think it is.
It might signify a more serious disorder like insomnia, sleep apnea, or circadian rhythm disorder. You must consult your doctor or a sleep expert in such a situation. Doctors will help you in the best way to deal with jet lag. They might help you determine what is wrong and recommend sleeping techniques. They might also offer you medication if you suffer from any sleeping disorder.
Jet lag does not always need treatment. Researchers have not yet come up with a cure for jet lag. However, some options are available if the symptoms are bothering and preventing you from accomplishing your daily tasks. Some of the tips to deal with jet lag are:
Following are some tips that might help in minimising the effects of jet lag:
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