Scotland

Physiological processes of all living beings like animals and plants work on a 24-hour rhythm, one complete cycle per day. We call it our “body clock”. When you pass through a number of time zones in a short period of time, say from Houston to New York, your body clock loses its sync. It cannot adjust to the destination’s daylight-darkness cycle quickly enough. The result is that you feel disoriented or jet-lag.

A person experiencing jet lag can feel cranky, mildly depressed, as well as forgetful. The person may find it difficult to concentrate, may suffer a loss of appetite and may suffer from disturbed sleep pattern. The may become dehydrated and get swollen feet.

A long flight to places within the same time zone will not cause jet lag; it may give you cramps, headache and discomfort. A journey from Los Angeles to Tokyo which goes across time zones can cause jet lag, not the journey from Johannesburg to Frankfurt which is within the same time zone. Crossing time zones is the essential condition necessary for being jet lagged.

Of course not everyone gets jet lagged to the same extent. Generally older persons are found to suffer less from jet lag as compared to younger ones. Moreover, it is found that women in the reproductive age group are more susceptible to suffer from jet lag. It depends to a large extent on the personal physiological adjustability of each individual person. People who know they normally get jet lagged can take some precautions to avoid severity of discomfort from jet lag.

Prior to your flight get a good night’s sleep. Avoid embarking on the journey under strain; try to spend some relaxed time prior to the flight. Drink alcohol in moderation on the aircraft and, as always, DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. (Aren’t you tired of hearing that?) Get some light exercise such as walking up and down the aisle and a little stretching will help. Remove your shoes and try to stretch your feet, wiggle your toes some.

You can find many “anti jet lag” suggestions. Act on them with caution. Do not take sleeping pills to get over jet lag as some people may suggest; it may have rather unpleasant consequences. There are anti jet lag diets on the market. Efficacy apart, it is such a cumbersome remedy that it turns out to be not a very practical solution. An OTC (over the counter) homeopathic drug is available which is said to be effective and being homeopathic medicine it is stated to be free of side effects.

As an anti jet lag drug Melatonin has claimed to be effective. You must take it at specific times for a number of days, starting with a few days prior to going on the journey. Research does not support its anti-jet-lag claims and quite the contrary. It may lead to worsening of the jet lag symptoms. You must adhere to its strict instructions regarding timing are not followed. In fact in UK it is banned.

Some people may feel a jet lag condition for many days after their flight. It is suggested by medical experts that a reasonable rate of recovery from jet lag at the rate of “one day per time zone. To get a quick recovery from jet lag after you arrive at your destination rest well, relax, eat sensibly and exercise in moderation. This does not sound like the recipe for a fun vacation but try to have fun anyway. Bon voyage!