Jet Lag

Jet lag is a collection of symptoms that occur while your body clock adjusts to a new time zone when you travel. Until you get used to the local time, you may feel disoriented and tired during the day and have difficulty sleeping in new night-time. You may also experience poor concentration, loss of appetite and diarrhea or constipation.

Most people begin to feel the effects of jet lag only after crossing three or more time zones. Travelling from west to east (e.g. from Cairo to Kuala Lumpur) shortens the day and therefore burdens the body, compare to travelling from east to west, which extends the day and easier for body.

What you can do yourself

Use these tips to reduce jet lag effects and adjust quickly to the new time zone:

• If possible, fly during the day. You are less likely to feel jet lag if you arrive at your destination in the evening and stay awake until the bedtime.

• Get plenty of rest before you depart: at least 8 hours’ sleep at night in the week before you travel.

• Start adjusting to the destination time zone when you begin your journey. Set your watch to your destination time as soon as you board the plane. If it is the time for you to sleep on the flight, listen to soft music, use earplugs, wear eyeshades, and use a neck pillow. If it is the time for you to stay awake, keep active; get up and walk around the plane every hour, talk to your neighbor, read, or watch the in-flight entertainment.

Enjoy your in-flight entertainment to keep yourself awake. Have a pleasant journey!

• Drink plenty of water or fruit juice before and du ri ng the flight to prevent dehydration, and avoid alcohol (haraam), coffee, or cola drinks. Eat light meal and avoid fatty or salty foods.

• As soon as you arrive at your destination, adopt the local eating, waking, and sleeping times. Take a walk in daylight to help your body clock adjust.

• Avoid caffeinated drinks within 3 hours of bedtime as they will make sleep more difficult.

• Jet lag can affect judgement and concentration, so do not drive until you adapted to local time.

• If you are spending less than 2 days in a new time zone, you may be better off getting up, eating, and sleeping according to your home time.

• If you travel frequently, try using sedative antihistamine tablets to relieve temporary sleep disturbance. These medications are not addictive. Ask your pharmacist for advice on a suitable type. Alternatively, ask your doctor for a short-acting prescription sleeping pill.

Seek medical advice

Arrange to see your doctor if you are still experiencing symptoms of jet lag 2 weeks after travelling.

Source: Home Doctor, Self-help treatment for 150 common conditions, British Medical Association (BMA).