The man from Australia moved to Canada. When he first wakes up in the morning, he goes outside and almost gets hit by a taxi. The driver says “watch where you’re going, dude! You came here to die, right?” The Australian says, “No, mate, I just got here yesterday.”
Plane travel over long distances is known for being awkward and poorly set up. Many people think that long plane rides are really hard because of how hard it is to register, how crowded the safety lines are, and how long you are stuck in a small space.
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What Is Being Jet Lagged?
Jet lag is a Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder that happens when your internal 24-hour clock, or circadian rhythm, doesn’t match the local day-night cycle. One study reveals the jet lag mechanism that explains that it’s a scientifically proven problem that exists between us.
In normal circumstances, a person’s circadian rhythm matches up with the sun, making them more ready during the day and more tired in the evening. This internal clock works with the 24-hour day to help people get better rest and feel better physically and mentally. Because dawn and dusk happen at different times in different places, a person’s circadian musicality is affected by their location.
Most people get jet lagged when they go east or west and cross at least three time zones. For example, if you fly from Los Angeles to New York and arrive at 8 p.m., your body could work as if it were 5 p.m. in Los Angeles. This jet lag can cause you to stay up later than you’d like, sleep at strange times, you have a headache or feel more tired than you thought.
What Does It Feel Like When You Are Jet-Lagged?
- Why don’t we start with the basics? If you’re in flow-of-consciousness, you’ve probably had your cup of coffee, but it hasn’t done you any good.
- Your watch, phone, and computer all show different times, and you have no idea which one to believe. Obviously, your body clock doesn’t help you in any way.
- You’ve had to cancel a lot of plans with friends because you suddenly got too tired to even think about leaving the house.
- Assuming you get out of your room, everyone thinks you’re rude because you keep yawning.
- Also, in the long run, you fall asleep no matter where you are or what you’re doing.
- when you are sleeping, your friends didn’t disturb you but there are some natural alerts that disturb your sleep.
Here are few symptoms that shows you are jet-lagged such as
Jet Lag Symptoms
There are signs that can help you figure out what’s wrong, and you should pay attention to these. So, here are some signs that you may have jet lag. Changes can happen when you have jet lag. You might only have one side effect, or you might have a lot of them. Some side effects of jet lag could be:
- Upset rest, like not getting enough sleep, waking up early, or being too tired
- Tired during the day
- Having trouble putting things together or working at your usual level
- Stomach problems, loose stools, or diarrhea problems
- A general feeling of not being good
- The way we feel changes.
Causes That Make You Jet-Lagged
The first major cause that make you jet-lagged is excessive traveling across timezone but there are other problems that increase the effects of traveling such as
Circadian Rhythm Disturbance
When you cross two or more time zones, you can get jet lag. When you cross multiple time zones, your internal clock, which controls when you sleep and wake up, gets out of sync with the time in your new location. This is what causes jet lag.
Impact Of Sunlight
The time of day has a big effect on your internal clock. One study shows that sunlight impacts sleep and exposure to sunlight plays a major role in regulating the circadian rhythm. This is because light changes the melatonin, a chemical that is responsible for sleep. , is controlled.
You might be able to adjust to your new time zone more quickly if you expose yourself to sunlight in the new time zone, as long as the light is set up correctly.
Atmosphere And Pressure Of The Airplane
Some of the side effects of jet lag might be worsened by changes in compartment pressure and high altitudes, which have nothing to do with different time zones.
Airplanes also have low levels of moisture. If you don’t drink enough water during your flight, you might start to feel a little bit dry. Some of the side effects of jet lag may also be made worse by being dehydrated.
We have learned about what jet lag is, what’s the symptom and how it gets caused now let’s move to its management. Here are few tips that can help you to manage your jet lag such as
Tips To Manage Jet Lag
A few new pieces of information could help with problematic jet lag or lessen its effects. We are going to discuss some useful tips to manage your jet lag such as
Show up before You Were Supposed To
If you have a big party or other event where you need to be in good shape, try to show up a few days early to give your body time to change.
Get Plenty Of Sleep Before You Fly.
Before moving to a different time zone, you should find out what the time zone is and get your body ready for it. If you’re going to get there at night, don’t sleep until you get there. If it’s morning where you’re going, try to get as much rest as you can before you go. You should follow ways to sleep fast in order to complete your sleep before traveling.
Change Your Plans Slowly Before You Leave
If you’re going east, try going to sleep an hour earlier each night for a few days before your flight. If you’re flying west, you should go to bed an hour later for a long time. If you can, try to eat dinner closer to the time you’ll eat it at your destination.
Control How Much Extra Light Gets In
Since light openness is one of the best things that affects your body’s circadian mood, it might help you get used to your new place if you direct light openness.
In general, letting in light at night helps you adjust to a place where the time is later than usual.
The only exception is if you have travelled more than eight time zones away from your home time zone because your body could mistake early morning light for evening sunset. Your body could also think that the light of evening is the light of early morning.
So, if you’ve travelled more than eight time zones to the east, wear sunglasses and stay out of bright light in the morning. In the evening, let as much light in as you can for the first few days in your new location.
If you’ve travelled west over more than eight time zones, stay out of the sun for a few hours before it gets dark for the first few days to get used to the local time.
Keep Up With Your New Schedule
Change the time on your watch before you leave. When you get to your goal, do everything you can to keep going until the next evening, no matter how tired you are. Try to plan your dinners around the times that people in the area eat.
Remain Hydrated
Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your trip to avoid getting too dry from the dry air in the lodges. Fly slack can get worse if you don’t drink enough water. Stay away from alcohol and caffeine because they can dry you out and make it hard to sleep.
If it’s already nighttime where you’re going, try to sleep on the plane.
Noise and light can be blocked out with earplugs, headphones, or eye veils. If it’s daytime where you’re going, resist the urge to stop and sleep.
Bottom Line
You may need a little time to get used to the new time zone, but older people may need more opportunities to wake up from jet lag than younger people. If you have other symptoms like headaches, fever, high blood pressure, or trouble focusing, you should make an appointment with your nearest doctor. Your doctor will suggest sleep hygiene tips
