Jet Lag

Traveling across many time zones can cause a temporary sleep problem called jet lag. Your body has a natural internal clock, called a circadian rhythm, that tells it when to sleep and wake up. This clock is set to your home time zone. When you fly across many time zones, your body's clock doesn't immediately adjust. The more time zones you cross, the more likely you are to experience jet lag.

This mismatch between your body's clock and the new time zone can lead to feeling tired during the day, not feeling your best, having trouble staying awake, and even stomach problems. While these symptoms are usually temporary, they can make it hard to enjoy your trip, whether it's a vacation or business trip.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to lessen or avoid jet lag.

Traveling across many time zones can cause jet lag, which affects your body's natural sleep-wake cycle. The symptoms of jet lag can vary from person to person. Some people might only experience one symptom, while others might feel many.

Common jet lag symptoms include:

• Sleep problems: This can mean trouble falling asleep, waking up too early, or having restless sleep.
• Tiredness during the day: You might feel unusually sleepy or fatigued during the day, making it hard to concentrate or perform your usual tasks.
• Difficulty concentrating: Jet lag can make it harder to focus on work or other activities.
• Stomach issues: Some people experience digestive problems like constipation or diarrhea.
• Feeling unwell: You might just feel generally unwell or off.
• Changes in mood: Jet lag can sometimes lead to irritability, anxiety, or other mood changes.

These symptoms usually start within a day or two of traveling across at least two time zones. The severity and duration of the symptoms typically depend on how many time zones you cross. Traveling east tends to be harder on your body clock than traveling west. It often takes about a day of recovery time for each time zone crossed. This means a longer trip across many time zones will take longer to recover from. Jet lag is temporary and usually goes away on its own. However, if you travel frequently and experience significant jet lag, it might be beneficial to talk to a doctor specializing in sleep disorders.

Traveling across time zones can disrupt your sleep patterns, causing jet lag. While jet lag is usually temporary, if you fly frequently and find yourself struggling with its effects, talking to a sleep doctor could be helpful. A sleep specialist can offer personalized advice and strategies to manage jet lag and improve your overall sleep health.

Jet lag happens when you travel across many time zones. Your body's internal clock, called your circadian rhythm, controls your sleep and wake cycle. This clock is set to your usual schedule. If you fly from New York to Paris, for example, and leave at 4 pm on Tuesday and arrive at 7 am Wednesday, your body still thinks it's 1 am. So, you're tired when people in Paris are getting ready for the day. It takes time for your body to adjust to the new time zone. Your sleep, appetite, and even your bowel movements can be affected until your body's clock catches up.

Your circadian rhythm is mostly controlled by sunlight. Light affects a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin helps your body's cells work together. When it's dark, your eyes send signals to a part of your brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus tells a tiny part of your brain, the pineal gland, to release melatonin. This makes you feel sleepy. During the day, the light signals stop the pineal gland from releasing melatonin, and you feel awake.

Because light is so important, trying to match your exposure to daylight with the new time zone can help your body adjust faster. But it's important to expose yourself to the light at the right time to get the best results.

Airplane travel itself can also contribute to jet lag. Changes in air pressure and altitude, and the low humidity in planes, can dehydrate you. Not drinking enough water during the flight can make jet lag symptoms worse. So, staying well-hydrated before, during, and after your flight can help.

Jet lag is a common problem for travelers. Several factors make it more likely you'll experience jet lag.

How many time zones you cross is a key factor. The bigger the difference in time zones you fly through, the more likely you are to have trouble adjusting. For example, flying from New York to Tokyo (many time zones) will likely cause more jet lag than flying from New York to Los Angeles (fewer time zones).

Flying east often leads to more jet lag than flying west. Imagine your body's natural clock is set to a certain time. Flying east makes you arrive at a time that's behind your internal clock, which can be tougher to adjust to than flying west and arriving at a time that's ahead of your internal clock.

Frequent flyers are particularly vulnerable to jet lag. People who travel frequently, like pilots, flight attendants, or business travelers, often have to adjust their sleep schedules very rapidly. These repeated changes can make it harder for their bodies to adapt to different time zones.

Older adults may also find it harder to recover from jet lag. Their bodies might take longer to adjust to new sleep-wake cycles. This is similar to how it can take longer for some people to recover from other types of fatigue or stress.

Being jet-lagged might make you more likely to have a car accident due to falling asleep at the wheel.

People who are jet-lagged often have their body clocks disrupted. This disruption can affect their alertness and ability to stay awake, increasing the risk of drowsy driving. When you're tired, your reaction time slows down, making it harder to react safely to situations on the road. This means jet lag can be a serious factor in car accidents.