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Physiological & biochemical processes of the body follow a rhythm with a 24-hour periodicity of daylight-and-darkness; it is commonly called the body clock. When a person travels across a number of time zones in a short period of time, the body clock cannot get synchronized with the daylight-darkness periodicity of the destination and the body processes get disoriented. This disorientation is generally known as jetlag.

This condition is commonly faced by persons traveling long distances by jet aircrafts and hence the name jetlag. Persons who work in night shifts for long periods or work for long hours at a stretch for a number of days also face similar conditions of being disoriented. In their case it is not a question of their reaching a destination which has a different daylight-darkness cycle, but their working condition create an environment which has effectively a different rhythm

Loss of inability to concentrate, being confused or forgetful and being irritable, loss of appetite, mild depression and disturbed sleep pattern are common symptoms of being jet lagged. The affected persons may also suffer from swollen or uncomfortable feet, dehydration, etc.

In case of travel it is the time zones crossed and not the length of the flight-time that matters. For instance Johannesburg to Frankfurt journey which is in the same time zone (since they lie along the same meridian) would cause no jet lag. It may cause tiredness or headache due to the length of time spent sitting up or due to low cabin pressure but no jet lag.

A New York to Los Angeles journey, however, may cause jetlag since it does involve crossing time zones. Jetlag effects can be quite severe in areas near north and south poles where there are extreme periods of daylight or darkness depending on the time of year,

Here are a few tips to avoid being severely jet lagged. A good night’s sleep prior to a journey, drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluid and having only light meals in the aircraft help in reducing the jetlag effects. Some exercise like walking up and down the aisle, stretching, etc. will help avoid discomfort. Removing shoes and stretching your legs helps in avoiding swelling of the feet.

Some people believe that drugs such as Melatonin can help in avoiding the jetlag; it is required to be taken at specific times for a few days starting with a couple of days before the journey and continuing for a few days after the journey is over. Research does not support this anti jetlag claim and on the contrary, in some cases, it may lead to worsening the effect of jetlag. In UK it is banned.

Some people mistakenly believe that sleeping pills help you get over the jetlag; you are strongly advised against it as it can cause other complications. There are anti-jetlag diets. But following the diet for a number of days is a cumbersome process and not very practical solution. “No Jet Lag”, a homeopathic drug, is said to be effective and being homeopathic medicine it is stated to be free of side effects.

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