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Jet lag is a physiological condition which is a consequence of alterations to the circadian rhythm.
Symptoms
- Dehydration and loss of appetite
- Headaches and/or sinus irritation
- Fatigue
- Disorientation and/or grogginess
- Nausea and/or upset stomach
- Insomnia and/or highly irregular sleep patterns
- Irritability, irrationality
- Mild depression
Causes
- Shift work
- Daylight saving time
- Altered day length
- Travelling across the transmeridien distance travel
Jet lag occurs because the body cannot immediately realign these rhythms. The speed at which the body readjusts itself to new daylight/darkness hours and eating/sleeping patterns is entirely dependent upon the individual. Thus, while it may take a few days for some people to readjust to a new time zone, others seem to experience little disruption to their body's natural sleeping patterns.
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Self care
- Good sleep hygiene
- Relaxation
- Moderate exercise
- Sensible diet
- Avoid alcohol and dehydration
However, the experience of jet lag differs between individuals, therefore, it is difficult to assess the efficacy of any single remedy. Age may affect the severity of the jet lag, as younger people would suffer more from jet lag than older people. On the other hand, females are more susceptible to jet lag than males as the estrogen hormone is often vulnerable to jet lag-like conditions.
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