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Do you feel worn out after arrival? Cannot seem
to remember whether you locked the hotel room door
or not, or where you placed your documents? Or why
you are feeling lethargic when everyone else is up
and about?
Take heart. Join the thousands of travelers who
face this inconvenience in their jaunts around the
world. The symptoms described above refer to the
after- effects of air travel, commonly known as
'jet lag'.
Jet lag refers to the adjustments made by our
body to changes in light, temperature and climate.
Our body has two biological clocks: one controls
the wake/sleep cycle and the other regulates body
temperature. When these mechanisms are disrupted
through the crossing of multiple time zones, our
bodies react with fatigue, disorientation, broken
sleep patterns and we become irrational or
unreasonable.
Suggestions to overcome some of the effects
of jet lag
Before departure, adjust your
meal and sleep times to the new time zone. Get
plenty of exercise days before departure. Get a
good rest the night before. If you are on a long
haul and can go in either direction, go westward
as it causes less jet lag.
During the flight, drink plenty of water to
combat dehydration. Dress comfortably in loose
clothing and slippers. Get up and walk often. Do
small twisting/stretching exercises in your seat
to reduce swelling of legs and feet. At stopovers,
get out to walk or take a shower to get the
muscles and circulation going again.
On arrival, expose yourself to the morning or
afternoon light to help your body systems adjust.
Limit your first day's activities. Relax. Adapt
your meal times and activities to those of your
destination as soon as possible.
Treatment
Ask your doctor for a
short-acting benzodiazepine if you need
medication. Over-the-counter antihistamines tend
to work very well. 'Acupressure' is said to work
if done while traveling. Homeopathic treatments
are also available. There is a lack of definitive
clinical studies on melatonin so one should use it
selectively and not over long periods. Bon voyage!
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