Jetlag

Flying the friendly skies can sometimes have an unfriendly effect on your good looks, physical capacity, level of awareness, and mental status. Under normal circumstances, our body clocks follow a cycle consisting of about 24 hours. However, when faced with a rapid time change, the body becomes disrupted and experiences what is known as ‘jetlag.’ Fortunately, there is a way to naturally fight back the repercussions of a body and mind that seems a bit confused in terms of time.

What is Jetlag?

Also known as ‘time zone change syndrome,’ jetlag is a sleep disorder that strikes anyone who travels across a variety of time zones within a short amount of time. Your body is pretty good at telling you when it’s time to rise in the morning and when it’s time to hit the hay – thanks to our internal body clocks (or circadian rhythms). However, when you cross time zones that place your body at odds with your normal sleep patterns, jetlag is usually the result.

What Causes Jetleg?

Anytime you cross two or more time zones, the threat of jetlag increases. Once you arrive at your destination, your internal clock is out of sync. Let’s say you hopped a 4pm flight leaving on Tuesday from New Jersey and arrived in France at 7am Wednesday. Just as the French are stretching their arms to the sky (ready for a new day), your body clock is telling you that it is 1:00 in the morning – a little past your usual bedtime. For your time in France, your body will desperately race to adjust with your sleep-wake cycle and major bodily functions (including hunger and bowel habits) following suit.

A significant influence on how your internal clock reacts to time changes is the sun. The pineal gland (a part of the brain that influences circadian rhythms) greatly responds to darkness and light. During the night, the pineal gland releases melatonin (a hormone that promotes sleep) and during the day, the production of melatonin stops. This is why exposure to daylight during the adjustment period of a new time zone is vital for getting you used to your new surroundings.

Research also suggests that the fluctuations of cabin pressure during air travel could play a role in jet lag symptoms no matter how many time zones you may or may not cross. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study in July of 2007 highlighting the results of simulated air travel at cabin pressures equal to 7,000 to 8,000 feet of elevation. Discomfort in the muscles settled in, fatigue occurred, and an overall feeling of distress was reported. To boot, the majority of real airline cabins circulate rather dry air, thus creating a dehydrating effect. A case of mild dehydration is known to lead to headaches, eye and nasal stress, as well as bouts of depression.