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What is jet lag? – The Hindu

admin — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 11:40:00 +0000

What is it?

Travel is an amazing activity one can take up to explore beyond the horizons of their knowledge. However, there are two sides to everything, both good and…not so good. Jet lag is one of the major drawbacks when one travels past multiple time zones (five or more) by plane. It is a physiological condition that affects the human body when the circadian rhythm, or the body’s internal clock, desynchronises from the time zone it finds itself in. When this happens, one would find themselves experiencing fatigue, sleep disturbance, headaches, indigestion, etc. In simpler terms, the body is normally used to functioning according to an invisible 24-hour clock that physically responds to certain environmental factors. But when these factors change and turn different to what the body is accustomed to, it causes jet lag.

The discovery

The first description of the symptoms of jet lag arose in 1931, from the book Around the World in Eight Days, which was co-authored by aviator Wiley Post. However, the Federal Aviation Administration did not see the connection between the symptoms and the disruption of the body’s circadian rhythm until a study conducted in 1969. Before that, the symptoms were considered to be the collective result of travel fatigue. Jet lag gained attention with the introduction and rise in entrainment (synchronisation of one’s biological clock to an environmental cycle) research. The term ‘jet lag’ was created based on the experiences of people who travel at high speeds across various time zones on a jet-like mode of transport. The body quite literally lags or falls behind the cycle of the time zone. The term was first used in an article by Horace Sutton, written in the Los Angeles Times in 1966.

What causes it?

So what exactly are the main causes for the body experiencing jet lag? It is just an intangible time difference. How can that affect the body so strongly and create a wide array of symptoms? Well, the answer to that lies in a few things. For one, the environment. Time may be intangible, but the physical connection between our bodies and the environment is what must be focused on. For example, there is the light-and-dark cycle. This is how the body synchronises its functions to the Earth’s day-and-night rotation. The sunlight detected by the retinal ganglion cells present in the eyes sends signals to the brain that affect body temperature, melatonin secretion (melatonin is a sleep hormone that is secreted in response to dim light or darkness), etc. Another main cause for jet lag is the disruption that occurs in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a region in the brain that is located in the hypothalamus and is mainly responsible for the sleep cycles in organisms. The time taken to adjust to different time zones differs from person to person. The more time zones that are crossed within a low amount of time, the higher the risk factor of jet lag. One would be both mentally and physically affected by the alteration of the time zone, which is further emphasised by the symptoms of anxiety, irritation, fatigue, insomnia, headaches, reduced appetite, etc.

Small solutions

The effects of jet lag can be prevented or at least reduced if proper steps are taken. For example, slowly and gradually shift your sleeping schedule three to four days before you are to head to the airport. Advance your normal bedtime by one hour if you are planning to travel east, and in case you are going west, try and go to sleep one hour later than normal. While you are on the flight, slowly change the timing of basic tasks like eating to match that of the destination’s time zone. Ensure that you are properly hydrated and take short naps. Once the flight lands at the destination, the first thing to ensure is that your body receives light exposure. Morning light in the case of eastward travel, and late afternoon light if it is a destination from westward travel.

Published – December 26, 2025 05:10 pm IST

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93% Of Gen Z, Gen Alpha Shape Family Travel Plans In India: Report

admin — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 16:26:41 +0000

Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, represents 30 per cent of India’s population.

New Delhi:

Family travel in India is increasingly guided by the preferences of Gen Alpha and Gen Z, revealed a new survey that found an overwhelming 93 per cent of young travellers are now actively contributing to their family’s vacation planning.

The findings, part of “Small Voices, Big Choices: Hilton 2025 Trends Report”, suggest a significant shift in family travel planning with India’s youngest generation taking charge and shaping the future of the travel industry.

“A striking 93 per cent of Generation Alpha and Generation Z in India actively shape family travel plans, now positioning them as key decision-makers in the travel process,” reads the report, adding that 76 per cent of Indian parents (compared to 70 per cent globally) choose vacation destinations based on their children’s interests.

Generation Alpha, aged 14 and younger, accounts for a quarter of India’s population, while Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, represents 30 per cent.

While these young travellers’ input is strong in picking activities and destinations, as per the survey, the logistical decisions — including transportation (44 per cent), dining (40 per cent), accommodation (32 per cent), budgeting (28 per cent), and trip duration (26 per cent) — are still primarily managed by parents.

The report also sheds light on the youth of India being avid travellers, with young travellers averaging two to three trips annually, and as many as 94 per cent of them travelling at least once.

“This passion for travel is evident in their future plans, with nine in 10 (90 per cent) Gen Alpha and Gen Z in India likely to travel in the next year. Additionally, 87 per cent take pride in their ability to explore new destinations. These findings highlight the strong and growing demand for travel among younger generations,” it added.

Zeroing in on Indian youth’s travel preferences, the report said the Gen Alpha and Gen Z travellers in India are excited about exploring both local and international destinations, which means while they eagerly seek out India’s rich landscapes and cultural heritage, they also show a growing enthusiasm for global adventures.

So, according to the report, the emerging generation is increasingly interested in travelling beyond Asia to immerse themselves in diverse cultures. Their preferred countries to travel are India (34 per cent), Singapore (28 per cent), America (22 per cent), Australia, and the United Kingdom (17 per cent).

Here, the report also talked about Gen Y (millennials), which unlike Gen Alpha and Gen Z, still gravitates towards familiar Asian destinations for convenience and comfort — Japan (29 per cent), India (28 per cent), Singapore (25 per cent), Maldives (21 per cent), and Malaysia (17 per cent).

“The Generation Alpha and Z are redefining the landscape of travel. Their evolving preferences are driving the industry to innovate, creating opportunities for more meaningful, immersive, and culturally enriching experiences that align with their values. This shift is not just about the destinations they choose, but how they interact with and experience the world,” said Alexandra Jaritz, senior vice president, brand management, Asia Pacific, Hilton.

These findings are based on two surveys: a global Ipsos poll conducted from June 5 – 26, 2024, and an APAC-focused survey by OnePoll conducted from August 12 – 26, 2024.

While the Ipsos survey sampled 13,001 adults (18+) across 13 countries, the OnePoll survey included 8,000 Gen Z and Millennial parents (born in or before 1981) with children aged 6 to 19, from Australia, mainland China, India, Japan, and Singapore.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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India Relaxes Travel Ban On Libya, Urges To Avoid “Non-Essential Travel”

admin — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 19:14:17 +0000

Last week, the Indian Embassy in Lebanon advised all Indians to leave Lebanon. (Representational)

New Delhi:

India has relaxed its travel ban on Libya from the previous advisory after assessing the prevailing security situation in the country, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.

Earlier, Libya along with several other countries was on the list of New Delhi’s travel ban list.

The modified statement advises the Indian nationals to “avoid non-essential travel to Libya.”

“In partial modification of MEA’s Press Release dated 23 May 2016 imposing ban on Indian nationals traveling to Libya and in response to our assessment of the prevailing security situation in Libya, Indian nationals are advised to avoid non-essential travel to Libya,” the release stated.

The MEA has also urged Indian nationals to exercise caution and stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tripoli.

It also provided an emergency phone number to contact the embassy: +218943992046

“Indian nationals in Libya are advised to exercise caution, avoid inter-province travel by road and remain in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tripoli at emergency phone number: +218943992046,” MEA added.

Last week, the Indian Embassy in Lebanon advised all Indian nationals to leave Lebanon as tensions escalated between Israel and Lebanon in the Middle East after the rocket attack at Golan Heights, followed by the killing of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

The embassy advised the Indian nationals to not travel to Lebanon till further notice.

Meanwhile, it further advised the Indian nationals living in Lebanon to exercise extreme caution and avoid any movements.

It also asked them to remain in touch with the Indian embassy in Beirut.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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