How to avoid jet lag

In general, the body will adjust to the new time zone at the rate of one or two time zones per day. For example, if you crossed six time zones, the body will typically adjust to this time change in three to five days. Jet lag is temporary, so the prognosis is excellent and most people will recover within a few days.

To help curb jet lag, stay hydrated throughout the flight by drinking plenty of water and avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which can disrupt sleeping schedules and further dehydrate your body.

Symptoms may be more pronounced as more time zones are crossed. Most people find that jet lag is worse when traveling east than it is when traveling west¹³. Jet lag differs based on the direction of travel because it’s generally easier to delay your internal clock than advance it.

And, despite what travelers may have heard about avoiding naps if they’re trying to beat jet lag, he said that a 30-minute to hourlong snooze is actually beneficial because it gives you enough energy to stay awake through the day but still get a good night’s rest.

According to an August article in the New York Times, your body clock makes it more difficult to travel east. And according to an article in Forbes, jet lag is worse when you’re traveling eastward, because you feel like you’re losing time instead of gaining time.

Jet lag can occur when sleep-wake patterns are disturbed. A person may feel drowsy, tired, irritable, lethargic, and slightly disoriented. It can result from traveling across time zones or from doing shift work. The more time zones a person crosses in a short period, the more severe the symptoms are likely to be.

Symptoms worse the farther you travel

Jet lag symptoms usually occur within a day or two of travel if you’ve traveled across at least two time zones. Symptoms are likely to be worse or last longer the more time zones that you’ve crossed, especially if you travel in an easterly direction.

Travelling east causes more problems than travelling west because the body clock has to be advanced, which is more difficult for the majority of humans than delaying it. Most people have an endogenous circadian rhythm that is longer than 24 hours, so lengthening a day is less troublesome than shortening it.

To avoid light in the morning, stay indoors, such as by going to a mall or a museum. If you flew west, stay awake during daylight, and try to sleep after dark. This may help adjust your body clock and help your body make melatonin at the right time. Caffeine may help you stay alert during the day after you arrive.

Light is the major modulator

Experienced air travelers know that flying east across time zones is harder than flying west, because traveling east shortens the days while traveling west lengthens them. It means your circadian rhythm needs to do more to catch up.

Once they pass the migration they will board the ship and off to different trainings, orientation and on duty. All of them (without exception) no matter if they are first timers or returning crew will suffer from Jet Lag.

If you’re traveling east to west, from Rome to San Francisco, jet lag could last four to five days — about half the number of time zones crossed. Jet lag is generally worse when you “lose time” traveling west to east. If you’re an older adult, jet lag may hit you harder and recovery may take longer.

Long-distance travel in which humans cross several time zones in a short time can cause what is commonly known as jet lag, also called rapid time zone change syndrome or desynchronosis. Boaters may have some difficulty with this condition if they do not make regular accommodations as they travel across the globe.

Jan. 20, 2004 — A popular over-the-counter treatment for jet lag and insomnia may also lower blood pressure, early research suggests.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

This can cause breathing difficulties if you are living with COPD as the air is less saturated with oxygen. Many airlines recommend avoiding long-haul flights. It is important to declare COPD during medical screening when arranging your travel insurance.

Dr Subodh Kedia, a general physician says, “It generally takes 3 to 7 days for the body to completely recover from jet lag. While you cannot entirely prevent jet lag, the best way to reduce it is to rest well before taking the flight back home.