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Jet Lag is a recognised medical despondency, which causes a disruption of an individuals cycle of sleep.

Many people think of jet lag as just a lack of sleep experienced following long air excursions, but it is actually a recognised medical despondency, caused by a disruption of an individuals cycle of sleep (circadian rhythms).

Source

The key to a person's level of wakefulness is down to the body's internal clock, which keeps control of various parts of the body. These include rhythmic fluctuations, hormone levels, body strength, alertness and sleep. We can automatically reset our body clock each day with external cues such as light, social activity, alarms and especially caffeine.

The problem with travelling by plane is that it disrupts the usual harmony between our internal physiological clock and external cues; if travelling for 4 hours the internal clock goes off either 4 hours before or 4 hours later than expected. This disruption in the body can cause body physiological levels to increase when they should be decreasing or vice versa. The result being jet lag.

Researchers claim for every time zone crossed, it can take your body one day to adjust.

Tips to beat the jet lag blues:

1. Try to fly in the westward direction, as your body has an easier time setting its clock back.

2. Try to mimic the conditions of your destination's sleeping hours. If necessary, sleep as soon as you get on the plane or keep to eating routines.

3. Try not to eat airline food as it tends to be cooked at least twice, and eating reheated dry foods at altitude is conducive to jet lag.

4. On the plane try to take a walk around at least twice.

5. Drink plenty of bottled water, as standard water holding tanks on planes can have considerable amounts of bacteria.

6. Try not to drink alcohol on planes as dehydration, altitude and pressure can make one drink be the equivalent of nearly two and a half on the ground.

7. Once landed resist the temptation to sleep, even if there is a strong urge to nap. If you can stay up till about 11pm local time you will be getting your body into a regular cycle. This can work when travelling home as well.

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