If you are someone who flies frequently across the world, you may have already experienced the symptoms of jetlag multiple times. A lot of people don’t really understand jetlag or what causes it, but simply take it in their stride. Interrupted sleep, excessive fatigue during the day, and issues with concentration and normal activities are all part and parcel of jetlag. Instead of just “going with it” though, you should think about the how, what and why of this condition that affects millions of travelers across race, gender and age (although some kids are so hyperactive they seem to be immune to this). You need to be able to deal with this. Thankfully, there are many ways in which you can overcome jetlag with little to no effort at all.
What is jetlag?
Jetlag is a condition that is likely to affect you if you travel quickly across multiple time zones in a flight. Sailors aren’t affected by this because they travel slowly, hence the name JETLAG. The more time zones you cross in the flight, the sleepier and more lethargic you get. The symptoms also tend to last longer and become far more intense based on the distance that you have travelled.
While jetlag is a disorder that is only temporary, it can still be annoying for a lot of travelers. For example, if you happen to be flying from the USA to a place like Italy for a vacation that lasts a couple of weeks, you might take up to 9 days to fully recover! It takes your body almost a day to get over each time zone that you cross, and readjust to local time. The direction you travel is also a major factor. For example, if you are making the return trip from Italy to the US, your lag will only last about 5 days. This is because traveling from east to west “gains” time and traveling west to east “loses” it.
What causes jetlag?
Jetlag is caused because of the way our body reacts to fast travel. Everyone has a biological clock inside them. This helps you know when to sleep and wake up. This is why you feel sleepy at a certain time every night, no matter where you may be. This is known as the circadian rhythm, and rapid travel across time zones tends to throw it out of whack. Usually, the rhythm is controlled by your exposure to sunlight, mealtimes, your level of social activity, and your day-to-day activities as well.
However, crossing time zones disrupts the rhythm because your internal clock and the external time are desynchronized and it takes a while for your body to regain the rhythm of the new time zone. This is aggravated by the fact that you can’t really walk around, judge time, or have exposure to normal sunlight throughout your flight. There are other factors affecting this as well, including the level of pressurization of the cabins in the plane. When a cabin is pressurized, it lowers the oxygen level in the blood. This can interrupt your circadian rhythm as well.
By staying in control and on top of the situation, you can minimize the effects of jetlag on your body and actually enjoy your vacation or business trip without suffering too many consequences.
About Carson Derrow
