Jet Lag
Jet lag is a condition in which a person’s normal sleep cycle is disturbed by travel across time zones. Once you have travelled between different time zones, your internal body clock needs to rest itself and adjust to the new time zone. Jet lag occurs because there is now a change in the schedule of normal activities that your body has become used to.
The symptoms of jet lag include:
What is the role of melatonin in jet lag?
Melatonin is a hormone that plays a key role in body rhythms and jet lag. Once the sun sets, the eyes become aware of darkness and alert the hypothalamus to begin releasing melatonin, which promotes sleep. On the other hand, when the eyes become aware of sunlight, they tell the hypothalamus to withhold melatonin production. However, the hypothalamus cannot readjust its schedule instantly; it takes a couple of days. There are no medical treatments for jet lag, only time will make jet lag disappear.
The symptoms of jet lag include:
- Loss of appetite, nausea, digestive problem
- Headache, sinus irritation
- Fatigue, irregular sleep patterns, insomnia
- Disorientation, grogginess, irritability
- Mild depression
What is the role of melatonin in jet lag?
Melatonin is a hormone that plays a key role in body rhythms and jet lag. Once the sun sets, the eyes become aware of darkness and alert the hypothalamus to begin releasing melatonin, which promotes sleep. On the other hand, when the eyes become aware of sunlight, they tell the hypothalamus to withhold melatonin production. However, the hypothalamus cannot readjust its schedule instantly; it takes a couple of days. There are no medical treatments for jet lag, only time will make jet lag disappear.