Jet lags are a common occurrence whenever a person flies across several of the 24 time zones on the globe, say the Grupo Mayan experts in the traveling industry. To most people, flying for four hours either to the East or West, causes jet lag. According to studies done on passengers experiencing jet lag, flying towards a westward destination is more body-clock friendly, and therefore has less jet lag effects, than flying towards an eastward destination. Most common symptoms of a jet lag are insomnia, poor appetite, and lack of sleep, irritability and altered bowel behavior.
The human body better adapts to westward travel simply because a person is extending his or her day, explain the Grupo Mayan experts. When eastbound, a person is usually shortening the day. In other words therefore, it becomes easier to delay your sleep for several hours than to force yourself to sleep.
The causes of jet lag are an interruption of the body’s circulation rhythm of 24-hour clock, and lack of adequate oxygen supplies in pressurized plane cabins. These causes dehydration and even salt depletion in the body. The following list of tips will help you conquer jet lag and reduce its adverse effects.
- Several days prior to the flight, start going to bed earlier if the journey is east bound and late if your journey is westbound.
- Don’t eat heavy meals and any gassy foods just before the flight because a cabin’s low air pressure will cause bloating easily, say the Grupo Mayan experts.
- Immediately after the plane takes-off, alter your watch’s reading to the local time of intended destination. This accustoms you to the new time frame hours before arrive there.
- Try to get as much exercise as possible during the flight by walking to and from along the aisles, say the Grupo Mayan experts. Aisle seats are better so as not to disturb neighbor each time you go for the walks.
- During the flight ensure you drink lots of water to counter the dehydration effects wrought by hot aircraft air.
- It would be good if you can avoid drinking any coffee and or tea in-flight. Tea and coffee end up causing extra dehydration simply because they are both diuretics.
- Whenever you have a delayed refueling or stopover on those long-haul flights, ensure that you take a cold shower if possible, or at least a touch up to freshen the body. Water always boosts the body’s circulation and even helps to keep your body muscles going, say the Grupo Mayan experts.
- Finally, ensure that you adjust your body clock’s mealtimes and bedtime, immediately after arrival in your destination, to correspond to local times.


