by Allison Hope

Created on: November 23, 2010   Last Updated: November 24, 2010

Contrary to popular belief, there are many causes of the condition known as jet lag, apart from the most common one, which is the crossing of time zones. The crossing of time zones, interferes with the body's natural Circadian rhythm and confuses our sleep/wake pattern. This usually happens on long flights with rapid crossing from west to east or east to west believed to cause the most severe symptoms.

Sufferers of jet lag can experience difficulty in readjusting their sleep pattern and this may result in feelings of disorientation, lethargy, tiredness, dehydration, exhaustion, leg and foot cramps and a severe lack of concentration.

It is not only crossing time zones which cause jet lag. There are other conditions that can be attributed to it, such as the dry air atmosphere in an aeroplane which can lead to headaches, lethargy and irritability. Other symptoms can be the drying up of nasal passages, eyes and throat which can lead to the sufferer being less immune to colds.

Some of these symptoms may be alleviated by the adjustment of the air volume, ask cabin crew to do this if you experience these symptoms.

Being well rested and having a good night's sleep before travelling can help by making the body more adaptable to the change in conditions. Being tired could lead to the symptoms being more severe and add to feelings of irritation and exhaustion.

Keep your body well hydrated, avoiding tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks may help to lessen the dehydration of the body. The body becomes dehydrated due to Jet Lag and drinking unsuitable beverages serves to increase the symptoms further. Drink plain water throughout your journey to minimise the unwanted effects which can cause headaches, sickness and tiredness.

Eat sensibly while travelling. Avoid overeating and snacking on high fat, greasy or high sugar snacks. Eat fresh light snacks, and eat little and often. This will help your overall digestion and prevent bloating and feelings of discomfort caused by Jet Lag.

To boost the circulation while flying, and to ward off feelings of fatigue and lethargy, do some gentle exercises (as suggested by the flight company) and walk to other parts of the plane. Wearing flight socks may also help to keep leg and feet cramps at bay.

Above are some of the lesser known causes of jet lag that can have undesirable effects on the body as we travel. With some preparation and action we can prevent or lessen some of these symptoms and give the body the help it needs to effectively rebalance itself.

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