Jet Lag

Anyone who has traveled around the world will know about jet lag. It's well named. You travel on a jet and when you arrive you lag or feel tired. Your 'body clock' has not adjusted to the new time zone.

Some people arrive at their new destination and keep going. They don't seek sleep but rather visit tourist spots, greet their friends or family or do anything rather than sleep. The end result is that when they do finally go to sleep, they may stay asleep for 10 hours or more.

Jet lag has its down side. It can mean you are too tired to really enjoy your holiday or you are unable to work or function well until your body gets back to normal.

A scientific explanation for jet lag involves circadian clocks. These are found within cells of all living things. These clocks are sensitive to light and responsible for advising us when we are tired and prompting us to wake. Circadian clocks in plants control the opening and closing of their foliage. When we travel our circadian clocks get out of kilter and bring on what we know as jet lag.

You don't have to travel to experience jet lag. People working shifts who switch from day to night shifts can experience the same sensation as international travelers. And airline crews receive a double whammy – shift changes and international travel.

Some people are wealthy enough to travel in business or first class and as such have the opportunity to lie in a bed or seat which resembles a bed. They may be better able to sleep during the flight. If you are in the economy section, you will not have the luxury of a bed and around you there may be passengers snoring, talking or babies crying. Jet lag can definitely be a class conscious condition.

Under medical advice you could take a form of sedative to help you sleep. There are other forms of remedy commercially available with ringing endorsements from celebrities who are required to travel internationally on a regular basis.

There are steps you can take to eliminate or at least reduce jet lag.

• Get a good night's sleep before you leave
• Know you have turned off the oven and re-housed the pets
• Eat and drink sensibly in the days before departure
• Take as early a flight as possible
• Be as healthy and as fit as possible when you fly out
• Water is good, alcohol and coffee not so

Happy flying.