HOW TO OVERCOME JET LAG

Great Minds,

Source: Google image
Today's post borders on the challenge and disorder associated with travels. Some call it the unwanted gift that travels bring. This is called jet lag. This issue of Jet Lag is necessary and timely to steemians considering the fact that it is a challenge or a disorder associated with travels and looking at the rate steemit is bringing people all over the world together. Accordingly, the level of travels and traveling by air in particular among steemians will be increased as a result of meetings, conferences and other gatherings to discuss and celebrate steemit. @steemfest is an instance. It is therefore important that a topic as crucial as "jet lag" and all its about be brought to fore including ways to overcome it.

What is Jet Lag? The first time I heard of the word jet lag was from a friend who traveled to United States of America for study. He left on a Monday morning. I did not hear from him until on Thursday of that week. When we spoke, he sounded sick and weak. I inquired further and he told me he was hospitalized. I was shocked because he was healthy and there was no sign of any kind of sickness before he left. Then he told me that it was jet lag. Jet lag! I kept asking what on earth is jet lag, he tried to explain but I was not satisfied. Thereafter I carried out a research to know more about **Jet Lag". Below are my findings everything you need to know about jet lag. It's meaning, causes, symptoms and how to overcome /treatment of jet lag. For clarity I will play with under different heading starting from the meaning.

JET LAG DEFINED
Jet lag simply put, is a temporary sleep disorder that can affect people that travel across different time zones. It results from an imbalance in our bodies' natural biological clock as you travel to multiple time zones. In other words, jet lag occur whenever you travel across two or more time zones quickly. It happens because crossing multiple time zones put your internal clock or circadian rhythm out of sync.

Circadian rhythms regulate your Sleep-wake cycle. These rhythms are measured by the distinct rise and fall of body temperature, plasma levels of certain hormones and other biological conditions. All of these are influenced by the body's exposure to sunlight and help to influence when we sleep and when we wake.
Consequently, when we travel to two or more different time zones, our circadian rhythms are slow to adjust to the new time. So they remain in their original internal schedule for few days. The resultant effect is our body wanting to sleep when it is afternoon or wants to stay awake when it is late at night.

CAUSES
While, Jet lag is generally caused by travels quickly across multiple time zones which results in the body's internal clock being out of sync. It is worthy to note that there are some risk factors that can contribute to jet lag occurrence or increase the severity of jet lag effects and symptoms. The factors include but not limited to the following :

1. Seasons - traveling through time zones and also through seasons can cause additional problems. For instance from Northern hemisphere to southern hemisphere at the same season. Not only does the body have to adjust to the new time zone but also to the new seasons. Your body will have to cope with changes in daily occurrenceas well as seasonal phenomena.

2. Alcohol Consumption - it is believed that drinking alcohol before or during flight may result in more severe jet lag.

3. The influence of sunlight - a key factor on the body's natural biological clock is Sunlight. Since there is limited sunlight in-flight and over along time across multiple time zones, jet lag sets in.

4. Level of oxygen - experts say that there is connection between environmental levels of oxygen and susceptibility to jet lag. In furtherance, the cabin air pressure is lower than it is at Sea level, meaning that the amount of oxygen reaching the brain may not be enough when people are flying. This can make one lethargic, resulting in higher risk of more jet lag symptoms.

5. Others - other risks factors include age of travelers, flight conditions e.g altitudes, foods etc

SYMPTOMS

Source: Google image
Symptoms of jet lag differs in individuals and also depends on the severity of it. The common symptoms include the following;
Excessive daytime sleepiness or insomnia
Headache
Indigestion
Coordination problems
Sweating and irritability
Nausea
Dehydration
Dizziness
Malaise ( general feeling of unwell)
Memory loss.

HOW TO OVERCOME / TREATMENT OF JET LAG
There are certain activities to undertake to overcome or reduce the danger of jet lag. These are either practiced before, during or after flight. They include but not limited to the following;
A. Avoid alcohol consumption before, during and after flight.
B. Drink plenty water to counteract the effects of dry atmosphere in the aircraft.
C. Move around the plane. Exercise your legs from time to time. Move them up and down and back and forth. Bend your knees. Stand up and sit down every one hour or two.
D. Break up your trip. Include stop over instead of direct flight. This will help the body clock to sync gradually.
E. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
F. Stay at least 2 - 3 hours of a day in your new surroundings to allow your body to adjust before try to do anything important.
G. Avoid take anything caffeine on your flight day.
F. Avoid watching the movie and turn off your cell phones, iPad and laptops at least an hour before your desired plane nap time.

NOTE
Jet lag is temporary but if you are a regular and frequent traveler and always have issues of jet lag, it is recommended you visit a sleep specialist.

Live sweet and healthy.

REFERENCES
https://www.medicinenet.com/jet_lag accessed 1 April 2017

https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/jet-lag-and-sleep. Accessed 1 July 2017

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/jet-lag. Accessed 3 November 2017

Thank you for reading.

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