Jet Lag: Definition, Symptoms, and How to Overcome It for Comfortable Traveling

Have you heard the term jet lag? Jet lag is a condition that can be experienced by someone after traveling across several time zones. If you have a hobby of traveling abroad, maybe you are quite familiar with the term jet lag. So what exactly is jet lag?

Reported from Cleveland Clinic, jet lag is a condition of temporary sleep disturbance that is felt after a person has traveled across more than two time zones. Jet lag can make a person feel unwell due to sudden changes in the body’s internal clock or circadian sleep rhythm.

The circadian rhythm is the pattern your body follows 24 hours a day. This rhythm tells your body when to sleep and when to wake up. They also affect several other bodily processes, such as hormones, digestion and your body temperature.

READ ALSO: 5 Effective Things to Prevent Insomnia and When to See a Doctor

That’s why flying through two or more time zones can disrupt the circadian rhythm your body is so familiar with. When the circadian rhythm is disrupted, the term jet lag appears, which is when your body is out of sync with the day-night schedule at your destination. This can trigger jet flag symptoms which usually include:

• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Daytime sleepiness
• Headache
• Lack of focus or concentration
• Extreme fatigue
• Stomach ache
• Mood changes, such as irritability

How to prevent jet lag

So how do you prevent jet flags from happening when traveling? Reported from MedicalNewsToday here is the summary.

• Go to bed 1–2 hours earlier than usual in the last few days before traveling.
• Drink plenty of water when traveling and limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol
• Do stretching or stretching on the way
• Try to sleep while traveling if it’s already night at your destination
• Use an eye mask to facilitate sleep

Thus was information about the meaning, symptoms and ways to prevent jet lag when traveling. For those of you who like to travel, there’s nothing wrong with trying this method to avoid jet lag. Then do you have your own way to overcome jet lag?

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