Temporary sleep disturbance caused by travel
If a person quickly crosses several time zones (time zones) during a long journey, a temporary sleep disorder may develop. This disorder is caused by the disruption of the body's internal biological clock and circadian rhythms, which normally dictate when it is time to sleep and when it is not. During long-distance movement, the circadian rhythm is still set on the old time zone, and it cannot adapt to new times (sunrise, feeding, sunset). The longer the trip, the greater the risk of developing a violation
Temporary sleep disturbance caused by travel causes fatigue, drowsiness and sometimes problems with the digestive system. The disorder is temporary, but prevents a person from having a good rest or going on business trips Fortunately, it is possible to prevent the disorder or alleviate the symptoms
Disruption of circadian rhythms Sleep disturbance develops when crossing two or more time zones The reason is the disruption of the internal clock and circadian rhythms, which normally regulate the sleep-wake cycle and temporarily cannot adapt to a new location.
For example, a flight from New York to Paris takes 6 hours This means that if you fly from New York at 4pm on Tuesday, you will arrive in Paris at 7am on Wednesday According to your internal clock, it's 1 am at this time, so you'll be asleep soon, and it's dawn in Paris
Because the body needs a few days to adjust, the sleep-wake cycle and the functions of hunger and digestion are temporarily disturbed.
Effects of sunlight Sunlight is important for the body's internal clock, because light regulates the release of melatonin, a hormone that synchronizes cells throughout the body.
Certain cells in the back of the eye (retina) receive a signal about light and inform the brain region - the hypothalamus. At night, when the signal is low, the hypothalamus tells the pituitary gland to release the hormone melatonin. During the day, the signal is amplified by light and the pituitary produces only a small amount of melatonin
Symptoms may improve with adequate light exposure in the new time zone.
Airplane Pressure and Atmosphere According to some studies, changes in air pressure and related physical forces contribute to the development of sleep disorders, regardless of time zones.
Insufficient fluid intake during flight leads to dehydration, and consuming large amounts of caffeine or alcohol on the plane also contributes to sleep disturbances and other symptoms.
The symptoms are many You may have one or more symptoms Common signs and symptoms include:
- Disturbed sleep – insomnia, early awakening, excessive sleepiness
- Daytime fatigue
- Disturbance in concentration and normal functioning
- Digestive system problems – constipation or diarrhea
- General feeling of being unwell Symptoms are more severe and last longer if you cross more time zones Symptoms are expected to last about 1 day for each time zone crossed
When to consult a doctor
Temporary sleep disturbance caused by travel will go away on its own If you are a frequent traveler and have this problem, it may help to consult a doctor
