Travelling through international flights will leave you with a feeling of Jetlag, but there are simple ways of coping with the same
For all frequent fliers or people undergoing international travels, the symptoms of jetlag are way too familiar; daytime fatigue, disturbed sleep, difficulty in functioning and concentrating, and even stomach issues are a part and parcel of life when one undergoes jetlag.
Unfortunately, jetlag cannot be eliminated on an immediate basis, but there are certain ways in which one can definitely reduce the impact it has on their body and functioning. However, to do so, one needs to first understand the root cause and then figure out which is the best way out for them.
What is Jetlag?
Jetlag can happen at any time when one travels from one time zone to another. The more the number of time zones one crosses, the more chances of them being groggy and sleepy throughout the day. In many cases, jetlag can last up 4-5 days, making life miserable for those people. It might be a temporary sleep disorder, but the effects can last for a good number of days if your travel time is too long or too short.
Jetlag is worst when people lose time, i.e. when people travel from the west to east, and a little less when people gain time, or travel east to west on international flights. Recovery from a jetlag takes a bit longer than usual for old adults, most in the age group of 35 and above.
What is the root cause of Jetlag?
Jetlag is mainly caused due to the disturbance in a person’s biological clock, also known as the circadian rhythm of the body. Things like social engagement, meal times, light exposure and other such activities are what regulate the body’s circadian rhythm. When one is on an international flight that has to cross over different time zones, this rhythm of the body gets disturbed, leading to all the possible symptoms of jetlag. In order to regain its prior balance, the body needs a few days’ time to cope with its outer surroundings. Another reason possible for jetlag could be the intensely pressurized cabins that most airplanes have, that aggravate the problem of unbalanced biological cycles in most people.
How to deal with jetlag
If one is suffering from jetlag and is looking for effective ways of getting over it, here are a few suggestions they might want to consider following:
- Stimulate the new time schedule before undertaking the international journey, so that the body can ease into the new time zone and the biological clock can get in rhythm earlier than expected.
- Adapt to the new schedule while in the flight. One easy way to do it is for people to change the time on their watch according to the time zone of their destination. Although it might be a psychological solution, it does help somewhat reduce the symptoms of jetlag in the body.
- If people are travelling to attend an important event, it is advisable to reach the destination of the venue earlier than the scheduled date, so that their bodies can adapt to the changes.
- Staying hydrated at all times has proven to be extremely beneficial for people suffering from even the mildest of jetlag. Therefore, one needs to make sure that they drink lots and lots of water all through their travel in order to escape from the horrors of jetlag.
- In case of jetlag, it has been seen that moving around can be a good option to ward off the evils of jetlag. One should definitely consider going for short walks, doing warm-up exercises and stretching themselves from time to time so that they can prevent jetlag from catching onto them.