Jet Lag Prevention Tips

Jet lag is a physiological condition, which is medically termed "desynchronosis," which usually occurs when you travel quickly between two different time zones. Such kind of travel is capable of disrupting or desynchronising your internal clock and external time.

Common symptoms of jet lag are:

• Fatigue.
• Irregular sleep patterns.
• Insomnia.
• Headaches.
• Diarrhoea.
• Constipation.
• Nausea.
• Ear aches.
• Swollen hand and feet.
• Poor concentration.

The symptoms will largely vary depending on the time zone alteration. The more extreme it is the more severe symptoms might be. Usually, people traveling from west to east or vice versa are likely to complain of jet lag.

Due to various experiences it is difficult to find one effective remedy to cope with jet lags. You can still read a few tips to help you prevent jet lag:

1.      Tune yourself to new, future schedule

Depending on where you’re flying to start moving your bedtime. For instance, if you’re traveling to the east, go to bed earlier than the usual time. Keep doing it for successive nights. And, if you’re traveling to the west do the opposite.

2.       Be prepared psychologically

The moment you get on the craft tune your watch to the local time of the country you’re flying to.

3.      Stay hydrated

Since you’re going to ravel for long in the low pressure cabins it’s essential that you keep yourself hydrated. Keep sipping water throughout the air journey. Carry moisturizer, nasal drops and eye drops too. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

4.      Move your limbs

Stretch your muscle on the flight. Do not stay static. It is advisable that you get up and walk. However, soon after you land your destination country, avoid heavy exercises before bedtime. It will disrupt you sleep pattern. If you don’t move around your effort to resynchronise internal and external time would go in vain.

5.      Sensible eating

There are no diets which can actually prevent or combat the symptoms of jet lag. The only remedy, however, is that you do not eat a heavy meal right before bedtime. Moreover, avoid fatty and high-carb diet.

6.      Hot bath before bedtime

Hot bath tends to relax the sore muscles from travel. This is the best way to unwind and lull you off to sleep.

7.      Eliminate sleep distraction

On airplane, eye mask and ear plugs come handy. They will rescue you from sleep distraction and sooth your senses. However, do not force yourself to sleep either in the aircraft or in the new destination because it can lead to unwanted frustration.

8.      Reach early

It is the best to reach your destination a couple of days before any event or meeting that you are supposed to attend. This way you can give yourself time to adapt to new time zone and recover from jet lag with ease.

9.      Melatonin

Melatonin is safe only if you take it as a short term remedy. Melatonin, as a natural secretion in our body regulates our circadian rhythm so that we sleep comfortably at night. Melatonin supplement must not be taken without doctor’s pr...