Like time travellers, frequent flyers jet in and out of time zones. It can be very tough to deal with the ensuing jet lag—splitting headaches, upset stomachs, lethargy… Here are some tips to travel smart and minimise these symptoms
Are you one of those whose back resembles the contours of the aircraft seat? Do you frequently take 14-hour, red-eye flights? Do you hop, skip and jump across time zones? If you are such a frequent flyer, then you better gear up to tackle jet lag and associated disorders.
COMMON FLYING RELATED DISORDERS
For efficient functioning, your body releases certain hormones at a particular time of day. Flying across the globe disrupts the body’s day/night cycle and interrupts the hormone release. As a result, your Circadian rhythm gets altered. This imbalance can induce stress and depression.
The aircraft’s controlled temperature leaves your body dehydrated, leaving you with dry, cracked skin and dandruff. It can also cause severe headaches, even migraines. Your sleep cycle goes for a toss; insomnia is a common side effect. Perhaps the scariest problem is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), in which a blood clot forms in a deep-seated vein in the leg. If this clot manages to break away and travel through the bloodstream and heart into the lung, it can kill. Air travel is not the only factor that causes DVT, but it’s a pretty major one.
SYMPTOMS OF DVT
It is important to remember that symptoms of DVT may arise many days after a flight. Most patients, however, report symptoms within a week of the trip. The symptoms could manifest in the leg or in the chest.
Leg Symptoms: Sudden major swelling of lower portion of one leg, more commonly the left leg (minor swelling in both legs fairly common in flights; do not panic); cramp or tenderness in lower portion of one leg; bruise or swelling behind a knee
Chest Symptoms: Shortness of breath; rapid, painful breathing; side cramps; chest pain, sometimes accompanied by shoulder pain
PREVENT JET LAG
If you have to travel on business, well, there’s no way you can avoid it. So, better be prepared!
Keep your body hydrated. Drink lots of water and other fluids while on board. However, avoid fizzy drinks and alcohol. Alcohol is very dehydrating.
Be regular with cardio-vascular exercises. While on board, do some exercises prescribed for flights.
Expert: Dr Sandip Budhiraja, internal medicine specialist
Are you one of those whose back resembles the contours of the aircraft seat? Do you frequently take 14-hour, red-eye flights? Do you hop, skip and jump across time zones? If you are such a frequent flyer, then you better gear up to tackle jet lag and associated disorders.
COMMON FLYING RELATED DISORDERS
For efficient functioning, your body releases certain hormones at a particular time of day. Flying across the globe disrupts the body’s day/night cycle and interrupts the hormone release. As a result, your Circadian rhythm gets altered. This imbalance can induce stress and depression.
The aircraft’s controlled temperature leaves your body dehydrated, leaving you with dry, cracked skin and dandruff. It can also cause severe headaches, even migraines. Your sleep cycle goes for a toss; insomnia is a common side effect. Perhaps the scariest problem is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), in which a blood clot forms in a deep-seated vein in the leg. If this clot manages to break away and travel through the bloodstream and heart into the lung, it can kill. Air travel is not the only factor that causes DVT, but it’s a pretty major one.
SYMPTOMS OF DVT
It is important to remember that symptoms of DVT may arise many days after a flight. Most patients, however, report symptoms within a week of the trip. The symptoms could manifest in the leg or in the chest.
Leg Symptoms: Sudden major swelling of lower portion of one leg, more commonly the left leg (minor swelling in both legs fairly common in flights; do not panic); cramp or tenderness in lower portion of one leg; bruise or swelling behind a knee
Chest Symptoms: Shortness of breath; rapid, painful breathing; side cramps; chest pain, sometimes accompanied by shoulder pain
PREVENT JET LAG
If you have to travel on business, well, there’s no way you can avoid it. So, better be prepared!
Keep your body hydrated. Drink lots of water and other fluids while on board. However, avoid fizzy drinks and alcohol. Alcohol is very dehydrating.
Be regular with cardio-vascular exercises. While on board, do some exercises prescribed for flights.
Expert: Dr Sandip Budhiraja, internal medicine specialist
No comments:
Post a Comment