Wednesday, 21 January 2015

Mind and Body Lag

I drove 800kms in two days (almost seven hours on both occasions) and was wondering over my mental state. I was not alone and my wife kept on reading the sign boards and the name of the hotels and which village we passed by and discussed where we could lunch or have tea. Back home my head was numb and my activities lethargic to say the least. I began thinking whether it was similar to a Jet Lag.

I often travel long distance in trains and my condition is not so different.

We travel a lot these days. It could be for business or for pleasure. We could be travelling by an aircraft or in a train or wading through waters in deep sea on a cruise liner. We all suffer from this syndrome in some way or the other and suffer bouts of drowsiness, indigestion, nausea or vertigo.

International flights across time zones in different directions lead to jet lag. This can cause circadian dysrythmia or desynchronosis which is disturbance of the internal body clock. I have often found travelling in a train from the eastern part of India to the western disturbing my mindset and although the sunrises and sunsets may differ by about 45 minutes the continuous heaves and rattling below could leave the traveller shattered. It could take more than a day to come to your original state. This could even be the reason when you are resting in a ship with your eyes closed or only concentrating on the interiors of the ship and the oscillations of the ship could cause all the discordance with equilibrium.

Eating a healthy food and keeping yourself aware of the travel could obviously help you. Light food, fruits and soups could have control over your bowels and conducting light exercise like sitting on the edge rotating your neck, stretching yourself often in airport lounges, railway platforms and liner decks. We must never forget to keep taking deep breaths at comfortable intervals even if you are driving and also indulge in some hip and trunk exercises and contract your bellies often. Some snoozes will also help you a lot. Quite relaxing music can help.

Hormone melatonin could help you if you are travelling across time zones. Some doctors may prescribe sleeping tablet for a couple of days to recuperate. Across the counter drugs like Stugeron or Promethazine could help but it is always good to take doctors advise.


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