Jetlag Causes and Prevention

by Diane Kelly

Physiological & biochemical processes of the body get adjusted to a 24-hour periodicity of daylight and darkness and follow a rhythm which is generally known as body clock. When a person travels across a number of time zones in a short period of time, the body processes cannot get synchronized with the daylight-darkness periodicity of the destination and the body processes get disoriented. This condition is generally known as jetlag.

Generally long distance air travelers face this situation and hence this condition is known as jetlag. Apart from travelers some other people such as those working night shifts for long periods at a stretch or working long hours for a number of days may also be affected by jetlag. Their working conditions create an environment which has different rhythm of body activities effectively creating a different daylight-darkness cycle.

Loss of appetite, mild depression, loss of inability to concentrate, irritability, being confused or forgetful are common symptoms of being jet lagged. The affected persons may also suffer from swollen or uncomfortable feet, dehydration, disturbed sleep pattern, etc.

In case of jet travel it is not the length of the flight-time that matters but the time zones crossed. For instance Johannesburg to Frankfurt journey is roughly along the same meridian (and hence same time zone) and hence there would be no jet lag from this journey. It may cause tiredness due to length of time spent sitting up or headache due to low cabin pressure for a length of time but not jetlag.

On the other hand a journey between New York and Los Angeles may cause jetlag. Near north and south poles, where depending on the time of year, there are extreme periods of daylight or darkness; jetlag effects can be quite severe in these areas.

Here are a few tips to avoid being severely jet lagged. A good night’s sleep prior to a journey, drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluid and having only light meals in the aircraft help in reducing the jetlag effects. Some exercise like walking up and down the aisle, stretching, etc. will help avoid discomfort. Removing shoes and stretching your legs helps in avoiding swelling of the feet.

Some people believe that drugs such as Melatonin can help in avoiding the jetlag; it is required to be taken at specific times for a few days starting with a couple of days before the journey and continuing for a few days after the journey is over. Research does not support this anti jetlag claim and on the contrary, in some cases, it may lead to worsening the effect of jetlag. In UK it is banned.

Anti-jetlag diets are available on the market. But it is a cumbersome process to follow the diet for a number of days; it is not very practical solution. It is a mistaken belief that sleeping pills help you get over the jetlag; you are strongly advised against it as it can cause other complications. A homeopathic drug, “No Jet Lag”, is said to be effective and being homeopathic medicine it is stated to be free of side effects.

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