There are few things worse than reaching your final destination in a state of exhaustion, but not being able to rest.
Desynchronosis, a rather fancy term for jetlag, is one of the less glamorous effects of long-haul travel, and wreaks havoc on your body clock, leaving you lethargic, irritable and very often with a headache and insomnia.
But, is it true that only certain people are prone to the condition, while others seem to double cross multiple time zones without a hitch? The Association of Southern African Travel Agents tries to demystify this dreaded lurgy.
Who gets jet lag?
While some people claim they’ve travelled the world and never lost a wink of sleep because of jetlag, the truth is if you have a pulse, you’ll likely at some point or another, experience one or multiple symptoms of jet lag.
Jetlag is totally indiscriminate. It can affect young and old, men or women, even people who travel regularly like flight attendants.
So it certainly is not a question of if, but when it will happen to you if you buckle up for a long-haul flight across multiple time-zones.
Why do we get jet lag?
Let’s start by saying there’s no shame in getting beaten by jetlag. It is actually a certified medical condition.
According to Medical News Today, jetlag occurs when our Circadian rhythms or 24-hour cycle gets disturbed. Simply put, it is the disturbance of our internal clock that regulates our daily activities, such as sleep, waking, eating, and body temperature regulation.
If this clock is ‘forcibly’ reset, it causes jetlag, and despite the name, it’s not unique to travel. Rather, shift workers can also be affected.
North, east, south and west
According to experts and scientists, jetlag is predominantly linked to trans-meridian routes, meaning travelling west to east or east to west.
Thus, crossing the International Date Line does not in itself contribute to jetlag. Rather, the guide for calculating jetlag is the number of time zones crossed, with a maximum possible time difference of plus or minus 12 hours. Should the time difference between two locations be greater than 12 hours, you must subtract that number from 24.
This explains why a 10-hour flight between Europe and Southern Africa does not cause jet lag, as the direction of travel is primarily north–south. However, if you are travelling east for example, the time zones crossed will be more and you will find it more difficult to adjust your internal body clock.
It is also true that when you are flying west it adds hours to the day, which gives our bodies added time to sync up with a circadian cycle, making the adjustment period smoother. Flying east, on the other hand, eats up hours, and forces circadian rhythms to be cut even further.
Is there a quick fix jet lag cure?
There’s no sure-fire way to ensure that you don’t get hit by jetlag, but there are a number of things you can do to minimise the effects:
Fit and healthy – Studies have shown that people who are physically fit, who rest properly, and eat a well-balanced diet tend to have fewer and lighter symptoms than other individuals. If you do have existing medical condition, such as a lung disease, heart 
disease, or diabetes, following the treatment plan can help minimise the impact of jet lag.
Stay hydrated – You can reduce jetlag symptoms by staying well hydrated during your flight by preferably drinking water and steering clear of alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
A break within a break – If you are prone to jetlag, consider breaking up your trip by transiting in a ‘middle-of-the-way’ destination for a couple of days.
Adapt – Try to adapt to local timetables immediately. This will speed up the body clock’s adaptation to a new environment.
Melatonin – Ask your pharmacist for a jetlag remedy also known as Melatonin which is available without prescription. It is best taken at least 30 minutes before you plan to sleep, but check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist on the best course of action. Just avoid alcohol when taking it.
There are of course some non-scientifically proven ways that you can try out to relieve jetlag symptoms. These include sitting outside in the sun to boost up on your Vitamin D supplies, supplementing your system with Vitamin B, walking barefoot in a ‘grounding’ exercise and even doing yoga.