Overview:
The jet lag disorder is a condition in which there is difficulty in sleeping because the person who is suffering has quickly traveled across various time zones in a limited period of time. In most cases, it is only temporary and can be easily brought back to the normal state. There are no specific treatment options for jet lag disorder.
What Is Jet Lag Disorder?
The jet lag disorder is also called desynchronosis. It is a sleep disorder in which the person finds it hard to adapt to the new time zone after international travel. The person who has come across several time zones will have a sudden change in the internal biological clock. The out-of-sink pattern of the body in relation to the new timezone has resulted in the name of the condition as desynchronosis. In simple terms, it is just referred to as jet lag.
What Are the Symptoms of the Jet Lag Disorder?
The symptoms of jet lag disorder might vary according to the health condition of an individual. Some people easily adapt to the new climatic conditions and time. Older people find it hard to make a new adaptation. People who travel often have a tendency to overcome jet lag naturally. The common symptoms experienced by a person who is having jet lag are:
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Concentration difficulties.
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Failure in performing routine activities.
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Fatigue and tiredness throughout the day.
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Feeling sick and weak.
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Insomnia - It is a state in which the person has disturbed sleep, and is not sufficiently active.
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Unusual sleepiness.
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Alterations in the mood.
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Diarrhea and constipation.
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Other related stomach problems.
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Sweating and dizziness.
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Irregularities in the heartbeat.
What Are the Causes of the Jet Lag Disorder?
The several causes of jet lag disorder are:
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Alterations in the Cabin Pressure and Atmospheric Pressure: Medical report suggests that alterations in the cabin pressure are the main cause of the jet lag disorder. The changes in altitudes during flight travel might result in symptoms of jet lag. This is irrespective of which time zone a person travels. It is noted that the level of humidity is very less on a plane. If a person does not drink enough quantity of water during a flight journey, then it might result in dehydration. Dehydration is also a contributing factor to jet lag.
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Lack of Sunlight: Sunlight has a lot of influence in association with the jet lag disorder. The internal biological clock of the body alters its mechanism in response to the sunlight. Melatonin is a hormone that helps in the proper regulation of cells throughout the body. The retinal tissues present at the back of the eye help transmit the signals of the light to the hypothalamus. During the nighttime, the signals of the light are very limited, and in such situations, the hypothalamus of the brain will instruct the pineal gland to release melatonin. The exact opposite occurs during the daytime. As a result, the secretion of melatonin reduces. An individual can overcome jet lag if he or she tries to receive sunlight for a longer period of time than usual. This will help in the adaptation to the new time zone.
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Disruption of the Circadian Rhythm: The dysregulation of the body function will disrupt the circadian rhythm. Suppose a person departs a particular country during the morning hours and reaches another country after eight to ten hours. In that case, it might be probably daytime again in the arrival country. This might not provide sufficient sleeping conditions for the person who is traveling. Since the alternative day and night hours do not happen regularly, it might cause insomnia and changes in bowel habits.
What Is the Recovery Time for Jet Lag Disorder?
The number of time zones in which a person has traveled will influence the time taken for recovering from the jet lag. Generally, our body will not have difficulties in adjusting between one or two time zones in a day. This might make the person sleep one or two additional hours to compensate for the travel tiredness. But, if the individual has crossed six or more time zones, the body will face drastic changes within a shorter time. This might cause the individual to recover from jet lag only after three to five days.
What Are the Precautionary Measures to Be Followed to Avoid Jet Lag Disorder?
There is no standard treatment protocol for overcoming jet lag. Being cautious and using a few tips for flight travel might be helpful. The following are the tips that can be followed to avoid jet lag during the flight journey.
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Stay active throughout the flight journey. Try doing mild stretching and walking.
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Wear an eye mask to get a comfortable sleep.
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Earplugs also help in providing a noiseless environment.
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Try sleeping during the night in your destination country.
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Do not drink alcohol or caffeine during the flight journey. This will prevent dehydration. You can choose to drink fruit juices and water in large quantities.
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Try to spend more time in the sunlight after arrival.
What Are the Risk Factors of Jet Lag Disorders?
Some factors are known to increase the risk of jet lag disorders.
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Being a Frequent Traveler: Air hostesses, pilots, and businessmen tend to travel in flight a lot. This might make them more prone to jet lag. However, some people might have adapted to their occupation.
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Old Aged People: Old-aged people might not have the strength and stamina to travel a long distance. If they do so, it is difficult for them to adjust to the new time and climatic situations.
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Children and Infants: Young babies might have difficulties sitting in the same place for a longer period. A lack of activity will make them feel irritable and restless. This might make them stay awake without sleeping. In addition to this, it might result in jet lag disorder. Also, children are not mentally prepared to accept the changes in the timezones.
What Are the Complications of Jet Lag Disorders?
The complications associated with jet lag disorders are:
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Stroke: A chronic deprivation of sleep might make an individual susceptible to stroke.
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Increased Levels of Stress: An immobile condition during a flight journey might cause a heart attack as a complication.
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Deep Vein Thrombosis: Being in the sitting position for long hours without any leg movement increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
What Is the Prognosis for Jet Lag Disorder?
The prognosis for jet lag disorder is very good because it is almost like a natural phenomenon occurring in the body. The majority of people recover very soon, and no special techniques are required.
Conclusion
Jet lag is just a temporary sleep disorder. Mild stretchings, trying to get adequate sleep, choosing water over aerated drinks and alcohol, etc., during air travel can help minimize the severity of the jet lag disorder. There are preventive ways such as getting adjusted to the new time zone by practicing for it at your place days before your journey.
