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Sudden time zone change syndrome, more often called jet lag, is the name adopted for a series of symptoms associated with – as the name suggests – a sudden change in time zone. Therefore, it only applies to long journeys, most often by plane, to the east or west. The severity of these symptoms depends primarily on how radical the change of time we have undergone, but it is also an individual matter – in some people the symptoms will be stronger, in others weaker.
Most often on sudden change of time zone syndrome People who are used to long journeys suffer less, therefore, in particular, for example, aircrews and people with a naturally “disorderly” cycle of the day. People with fixed times of getting up and falling asleep will generally be jet lag go the hardest. The direction of travel is also important – Sudden change of zone syndrome temporal will generally be more of a nuisance after a long journey east, as this will appear to the traveler to shorten the day, which is more difficult to adapt to than to “lengthen” the day after traveling west. It is generally accepted that the body adjusts one time zone a day, two in some cases, so flying five time zones eastwards may result in jet lag up to five days. There are many other factors that can either aggravate or weaken jet lag. They include, among others age of the traveler (older people may find it harder to change the time), difficulty falling asleep, stress, flight conditions and alcohol consumption.
What are the symptoms of jet lag?
Depending on the above factors, some or all of these may occur symptomsto varying degrees of severity. The most important of symptoms Sudden time zone syndrome includes sleep disturbance, exhaustion, drowsiness, headache, malaise, lack of appetite and problems with the digestive system and impaired concentration.
What are the causes of jet lag?
Primary cause jet lag there are disturbances in homeostasis in the body; out of balance are processes dependent on the circadian rhythm, such as the biological clock and metabolism. Most of all, however, the secretion of hormones related to the natural day and night cycle – melatonin and cortisol – is disturbed.
Prevention and treatment of jet lag
Fortunately jet lag can heal both prophylacticallyAnd symptomaticallyand, moreover, after a few days symptoms they will disappear on their own. When it comes to preventing Sudden Time Zone Syndrome, rest before traveling, avoiding alcohol and caffeine on board the aircraft, and easily digestible meals can help to minimize symptoms; you can also take light sleeping pills during the flight, which will allow the body to adapt more efficiently to the new time zone. You should also consider taking melatonin both shortly before and after your trip; its dose should be consulted with your doctor. In addition to a healthy diet, exercise is also important; an active lifestyle can also help. However, you should avoid exercising in the evening as it may make it difficult to fall asleep. You should also remember about the “hygiene” of sleep – it is not worth deliberately straining the body to fall asleep easier in the new time zone; that can only make matters worse. A healthy sleep will do a lot better. A few days before traveling west, you can start getting used to the new conditions by going to bed a little later than usual, and before traveling east – a little earlier. Generally accepted tip for short and long journeys it is to maintain your natural cycle of the day regardless of the actual time at the place of stay; however, in the case of longer trips, it is worth adjusting to the local time as soon as possible. It is important recommendation for chronically ill people, especially with heart diseases, to consult a doctor before traveling. During the flight, you should take care of replenishing fluids in the body and avoiding “sewage” – during a several-hour journey, it is worth walking around the deck once or twice, so as not to slow down the blood circulation in the legs too much.