Travelling With Jet Lag? Fight It With Light Therapy

Traveling to two countries with different time zones may generally cause jet lag. It is actually a group of symptoms that occurs when the body clock cannot immediately comprehend the new time destination. Generally, at the first few days, the body clock is trying to adapt to the new time zone. Until such time that it is in-line to the local time. 

The symptoms of jet lag immediately subside the moment the body adapts to the new time zone.

Primarily, the most common symptoms of jet lag are sleep pattern disturbance and disruption of daytime alertness. Problems in falling and staying asleep are typically experienced by most travellers. These sleeping problems can distract the first few days of vacation. In case the trip is under business purposes, inability to function may be a problem.

How to Combat Jet Lag?

Getting into the new time zone demands the body to either reset or change in time. And the most forceful triggering factor to reset the body clock is the exposure to light. Light exposure prior and subsequent to a flight is important in identifying the length of time to synchronize the new local time with the jet lag duration

Light gives various impacts on the body clock during different day times. This light’s ability in altering the body clock timing may be helpful in lessening the time zone adaptation. Moreover, light also helps to reduce the onset of jet lag.

Having light at the specified time during daytime will alter the body clock to the right direction. This lowers the number of days in which jet lag symptoms may be experienced. What you need to know on your next trip is the ability to combat these jet lag symptoms by introducing light through light therapy lamps.

Light therapy prior to traveling

Altering your body clock based on the time zone of the new destination prior to the flight is one best way to lower the jet lag. Knowing this synchronization of the body clock to the local time upon arrival is important therefore, experiencing no symptoms of jet lag. 

Moreover, adapt yourself slowly prior to your flight as it may help to lessen the severity of jet lag. Additionally, undergoing a light therapy for a minimum of an hour may be beneficial as well. However, allow smaller breaks when doing the light therapy. 

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