How to Alleviate Jet Lag/The Chronobiotic Substances (Comment reduire les effects du decalage horaire: les substances chronobioktiques)
Abstract
The current operational concept relies upon sustained or continuous operations that demand 24-hour round-the-clock capability so that they need a high level of performances overnight and a good quality of sleep during short rest periods before working. Otherwise, numerous missions need air transportation across multiple time zones, making the personnel exposed to jet-lag desynchronosis. This results in sleep disturbances, daytime sleepiness and performance impairment that tend to increase the hazard of mission failure and of casualties. Therefore, alleviating these disturbances appears to be of major interest. It can be proposed at first organizational methods consisting of adapting workload to individual's skill and of relieving personnel as much as possible, regarding mission's scheduling. Physiological methods are known to alleviate jet lag syndrome by taking naps of at least 30 min.. of duration at anytime in the nycthemeron and to hasten resynchronisation by exposure to bright light or darkness according to an appropriate schedule, by taking meals and practicing physical exercises according to appropriate schedule. If all these methods cannot be applied due to environmental conditions, it can be proposed a pharmacological help using (i) hypnotic agents to promote sleep after the flight to assist in sleep timed to coincide with the nocturnal rest period at the destination or (ii) psychostimulant agents to maintain vigilance and performance during the flight and the following recovery period or (iii) melatonin to hasten the resynchronisation of the circadian system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADP013770
Entities
People
- Didier Lagarde
- Mauriace Beaumont