End Jet Lag Sooner Than Later

Jet lag is a temporary condition that some people experience following air travel across several time zones in a short span of time. Such a condition often causes the traveler's internal clock to be out of sync with the external environment.

Jet lag, which is medically termed as desynchronosis, is a temporary condition that some people experience following air travel across several time zones in a short span of time. Such a condition often causes the traveler's internal clock to be out of sync with the external environment. People experiencing jet lag have a difficult time maintaining their internal, routine sleep-wake pattern in their new location, because of external stimuli like sunshine and local timetables. Due to this, one can feel lethargic at one moment and excited at the next. For vacationers and business people jet lag creates a double bind who must cross several time zones to reach their destination. Symptoms result with varying intensity as travelers attempt to adjust their internal clock to a new external environment.

Although there is no specific treatment for jet lag, but trying to adapt to the new time zone as soon as possible may help. One very effective step that gives a psychological benefit is to reset the watches to the new time zone at the time of departure. Other than this many people try to minimize the impact of crossing time zones by planning their activities to accommodate the effects of jet lag. It is seen that the effect of jet lag vary a lot among travelers but almost everyone experiences some change after air travel through several time zones. In such a case avoiding the factors that contribute to jet lag may be the best defense against it. The first and primary preventive step is getting good sleep prior to a Trans meridian flight. It is also observed in many cases that sleep-wake disturbance is the most widely felt effect of jet lag and being well rested before travel can only help the body cope with the inevitable change in time zone. Other preventive steps that can help effectively include avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine, which are associated with restless sleep. However so far many travelers have explored the use of melatonine as an effective remedy. It is a natural hormone, which is naturally synthesized by the pineal gland in the brain and is inhibited when the retina of the eye is exposed to light.