- 80% of people who travel from Mexico to other continents suffer from Frequent Traveler Syndrome.
- Among its affectations is sleep disturbance, irritability, fatigue, lack of concentration, anxiety, headache, changes in mood and gastrointestinal problems.
- In older adults it can lead to cardiovascular problems.
Having the possibility of traveling is always positive to discover new places. It can be within the same country or towards other nations. It is very useful to break the routine and reduce the levels of stress and tiredness accumulated during daily life. Although not everything is positive because it can also be develop the problem called Jet Lag or Frequent Traveler Syndrome.
Now that international borders are open again and the restrictions caused by the pandemic have been lifted, millions of tourists have taken the opportunity to go on vacation. Especially when the flights are long, the circadian rhythm is affected and this leads to physical, mental and behavioral changes.
The Dr. Carmen Amezcua, an integrative psychiatrist, points out that changing hours from one moment to another causes a temporary sleep disturbance. Sometimes it only lasts a couple of days but in others it can last longer. This is precisely what is known as Frequent Traveler Syndrome.
“80 percent of the people who fly from Mexico to the east (Europe) suffer from jet lag. It occurs when the body’s biological clock does not agree with the local time of the place that is visited.
The brain is an organ that has a cellular habit. When it is modified, there are alterations at the immunological, hormonal and neurotransmitter levels, which affect sleep and are accentuated when traveling to another continent.
He also indicated that jet lag can cause insomnia, irritability, fatigue, lack of concentration, anxiety and headache. Also mood swings and gastrointestinal problems such as constipation or diarrhea, which can ruin a vacation or business trip.
severe complications
The specialist explained that a healthy traveler takes about two to three days to adapt to the time use of another country. However the Frequent Traveler Syndrome It can cause severe damage to people who have a previous condition, especially the elderly. The most serious medical implication caused by jet lag is cardiovascular problems.
“80 percent of patients with arterial hypertension is due to changes in cortisol, the hormone that organizes the metabolic system in our body and when there is no adequate sleep it triggers and inflames, causing cardiovascular complications.”
It can also bring hormonal changes, especially in the production of serotonin and melatonin. The latter influences the sleep cycle and when one of these two hormones is affected it causes irritability, anxiety, inattention and even depression, among other conditions.
Also, jet lag can lower the immune system, making travelers more prone to illness, especially when visiting another country.
Precautionary measures
The integrative psychiatrist said that there are some measures to avoid or cope with Frequent Traveler Syndrome. First of all, he stressed that it is important to prepare before traveling so that the transition is less aggressive.
Days before the trip, meals and bedtimes should be reviewed to adapt the body to the change in time zone. During the journey, exposure to light must be regulated to adapt to the new location. Also stay hydrated, rest on the plane and try not to sleep until it is night at the destination and synchronize food with those of the local time.
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