Coping With Jet Lag While Travelling To Your Favourite Tourist Places

Are you aware of the symptoms and causes of jet lag? Flying to popular tourist attractions can be a fun and rewarding travel experience. However, flying internationally involves crossing different time zones. In fact, our body enters a new time zone every time we travel abroad. Since the body may not be familiar with the new time zone, it can take a while to adapt to the changes. This is where jet lag can take a toll on our health. In layperson’s terms, jet lag refers to a temporary physiological condition that usually results from long-distance plane travel.

Jet lag can disrupt the internal body clock, which is responsible for the regulation of biological processes. The abrupt change in time zone can confuse our biological clock, resulting in a feeling of uneasiness. Jet lag is similar to a hangover as there is no precise treatment for the same. Contrary to popular belief, jet lag is not only faced by first-time fliers. Even the most seasoned fliers like business travellers and flight attendants are prone to suffer from the ill effects of jet lag. The worst part about jet lag is that it can mess up your sleep schedule alongside causing bodily and mental fatigue that persists for days.

In most cases, the symptoms of jet lag start to show up a day after you have travelled across multiple time zones. The symptoms can intensify if your plane is headed towards the easterly direction. Here are the most common symptoms of jet lag you should be aware of before embarking on your next flight.

  • Daytime fatigue
  • Disrupted sleep patterns
  • Anxiety
  • Poor concentration levels
  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhoea and constipation
  • Frequent mood changes

Major causes of jet lag

Jet lag can be triggered by a variety of factors: 

1. Lack of proper clock alignment

Jet lag usually occurs when you travel to a country or city that has a different time zone. The difference in the time zones of two locations can cause disruptions to your circadian rhythms, ie, body clock. For instance, if you board a flight from Ohio at 4 pm and reach Rome at 7 am, your internal clock will make you feel as if it is 1 am. This happens because your body clock is synced with the time of the place from where you have travelled.

Once you get off the flight, your body clock may not be able to align with the new time zone right away. The body clock may take a couple of days or a week to synchronise with the time zone in the new locale.

2. Excessive sunlight exposure

Excessive sunlight exposure can have a major influence on the internal body clock since light helps regulate the production of a hormone called melatonin, which promotes sleep. Melatonin is produced in higher amounts at night time when the environment is dim. Exposure to sunlight during the day can slow down the production of melatonin, thus making you less likely to fall asleep.

3. Travel fatigue

Regarded as a major cause of jet lag, travel fatigue can ruin the excitement of your travel experience in a flash. Medical research has proven that jet lag can worsen if the traveller gets altitude sickness while flying on the plane. Besides high altitudes, changes in airline cabin pressure can also contribute to travel fatigue, which can in turn induce jet lag. 

Top tricks to beat jet lag when flying to leading tourist attractions 

Jet lag is experienced by people of all age groups. Fortunately, you can bid goodbye to jet lag issues simply by adhering to a few easy steps. Listed below are four smart tips that will help ensure a comfortable and hassle-free trip to international tourist places

1. Get plentiful sleep before your flight

Keep in mind that sleep deprivation can make it easier for jet lag to kick in. If you are travelling internationally alone for the first time, you must rest well before getting on the plane. Consider getting plenty of quality sleep before setting off on your journey to avoid feeling jet-lagged. If you sleep well before the flight, it will be easier for your internal body clock to adjust to the new time zone. Be wary of excessive bright light exposure as it may negatively impact your sleep cycle.

2. Keep yourself hydrated around the clock

The dry air in aeroplane cabins can cause extreme dehydration during the flight. Staying dehydrated for long periods of time can make the jet lag a lot worse. This is why you must keep your body sufficiently hydrated all day long. Consumption of water at frequent intervals can work wonders for counteracting the effects of dehydration. See to it that you drink lots of water to replenish bodily fluids that will help keep dehydration at bay. 

3. Avoid caffeinated beverages

There is a widespread misconception that sipping on caffeine-infused beverages can lessen the intensity of jet lag. In reality, caffeinated drinks can dehydrate you alongside degrading sleep quality. Therefore, your best bet would be to stay away from caffeine. Instead of caffeinated beverages, you can consume herbal teas during the flight to feel fresher and more relaxed. Unlike caffeinated products, herbal drinks don’t affect the sleep cycle in any way. 

4. Consider arriving a little early

If you are travelling for business purposes or have an important event to attend, it is highly recommended that you arrive a little earlier than necessary. Reaching the destination a few days in advance will give your body the much-needed chance to recover from the effects of jet lag. This way your body clock will also get ample time to get accustomed to the time zone of the destination country. 

Conclusion

Now that flight tickets are easier to afford, flying to international tourist places has become more common than ever. Unsurprisingly, jet lag continues to be the biggest issue that people face while travelling across countries. The likelihood of experiencing jet lag increases as more time zones are crossed. Given that jet lag throws the body clock into confusion, it can disrupt your biological rhythms, which dictate sleep patterns and bowel habits.

However, the effects of jet lag are not limited to your sleep-wake cycle and defecation frequency. Unmanaged jet lag can lead to severe headaches and chronic irritability. Coming to mental health implications, jet lag can instantly cause a major decline in your cognitive performance. The light-headed feeling from jet lag can make it difficult for you to stay alert, especially at times when unwavering focus is required.

Avoiding caffeine, getting quality sleep, and drinking loads of water are all little steps you can take to keep jet lag at bay. So, try out the tips above to overcome jet lag and have the best first experience of travelling in a plane. Make sure you read more blogs on the Cleartrip to gain deep insights on air travel. Also, do explore the wide range of travel offerings to get your money’s worth.

FAQs

Q. What is the fastest way to cure jet lag?

Ans: As of now, there is no magical solution to cure jet lag all at once. However, you can alleviate the symptoms of jet lag by sleeping well and drinking plenty of water.

Q. How long does it take for jet lag to go away?

Ans: The duration of jet lag will depend on multiple factors such as how long you have travelled, your metabolic health etc. While some people recover from jet lag in a couple of days, it can sometimes take up to a week to feel normal again.

Q. Do sleeping pills help jet lag?

Ans: There is a widespread misconception that sleeping pills are capable of curing jet lag. Apart from melatonin, no sleeping aid or drug can realign your body’s internal clock.

Q. Does jet lag cause nausea?

Ans: Being one of the main causes of bodily fatigue, jet lag can indeed make you feel nauseated. In addition to nausea, jet lag can even trigger diarrhoea, vomiting etc.

Q. Does alcohol make jet lag worse?

Ans: Given that alcohol is a diuretic substance, it can trigger dehydration and make jet lag a lot worse than you expect. Therefore, it is best that you avoid consuming alcohol before and during your international flight.

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