Jet Lag and Biological Clock

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In this age of speed the distance is gradually losing its identity. But this has given rise to a problem to which frequent and distant flyers suffer. That is jet lag. It is due to the maladjustment of the biological clock. Like our wrist watch body maintains a clock for its activity, the circadian rhythm, called biological clock. It is a function of the brain.

Most of the researchers agree that the effect of light on eyes sets it into motion, maintains it and adjusts it whenever required. Light stimulus is felt in part of brain called suprachiasmatic area which maintains the biological clock. Circadian rhythm refers to the daily activity of body in relation to the day and night. Some hormones are secreted according to a set time.

Melatonin is a hormone responsible for inducing sleep is secreted around 10 PM and ends towards 5 AM. Of course, it may shift a little this way or that way according habit of sleep of a person. Corticosteroid hormones are secreted towards 5 AM to make the person active and face the challenge of the day to day activity. So, if it is 12 midnight in the biological clock and a local time is morning 6AM, body cannot respond to it and the disparity ensues. Of course, biological clock adjusts but not very swiftly. And, that is the Jet lag; to cope with it players are flown to distant places sufficiently ahead of scheduled time.