A state of exhaustion experienced by air travellers when they cross several time zones in a relatively short time as when one flies from India to U.S.A.. The condition arises from disturbances in the body’s habitual rhythms of ‘internal clock’ by suddenly requiring it to adapt to a strange new 24-hour time-scale.
Time zones are imaginary lines that run from north to south on the map. These help standardize time throughout the world since it is only possible to cross them by travelling from east to west or visa versa, jet lag is, therefore, experienced only when long distances are travelled along the east-west axis.
Jet lag generally includes a feeling of fatigue, hunger at unexpected times, irregular bowel and bladder movements. The only way to combat it is adequate rest at the end of the flight.
