Jetlag

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Jetlag occurs when people travel rapidly across time zones. It can affect a person's pattern of sleeping, waking and eating.

It is a psychological condition that results from alteration of the body's circadian rhythms, better known as a person's body clock.

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Symptons tend to be more severe when travelling across many times zones in a short period of time and particularly when travelling in an easterly direction as this shortens the length of a person's day making it harder to adjust.

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The effect can be to make a person feel tired or drowsy, irritable or lethargic and even a little confused or disorientated.

Symptons may include:

• insomnia, lethargy, fatigue

• an aching head or dizziness

• irritability, confusion or difficulty in focussing

• loss of appetite

• diarrhea or constipation

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Older people tend to suffer more than younger children.

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There is no treatment available for jet lag, however it can be reduced through some lifestyle choices.

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• Try to choose flights where you arrive in the early evening so you can quickly get into a normal sleep pattern.

• Change your watch to destination time zone as soon as you board the aircraft and mentally begin to adjust to the new zone.

• Stay active during the flight doing stretching and exercises where possible.

• Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol which can cause dehydration at altitude.

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