Jet lag
Jet lag refers to a range of symptoms experienced while adapting to a different light-dark schedule following a flight to a new time zone.
It can affect people of all ages and is the result ofyour internal body clock not being able to adjust immediately to a new time zone.
Jet lag can disturb your sleep at night and make you feel drowsy and lethargic (lacking in energy) during the day. It can also sometimes cause digestion problems.
Crossing seven to 12 time zones usually results in more severe jet lag than crossing three to sixtime zones.Crossing one or two time zones doesn't usually cause any problems.
People usually report more severe jet lag for easterly flights compared with westerly flights across the same number of time zones.
Jet lag isn't the same as general travel fatigue and can't be cured by certain types of aircraft, a more comfortable seat, speedy-boarding or the class of travel.
Your body's natural 24-hour clocks control 24-hour circadian rhythms , which are disrupted after crossing time zones.
Your body clocks influence your sleeping and waking pattern, as well as circadian rhythms in:
Your body clocks are set toyour local time by light and social interaction, so that you're prepared for becoming active in the morning and for going to sleep at night.
If you travel across time zones, it can take a while for your body clocks to adjust to a new light-dark schedule and daily routine at your destination.
However, there's little evidence to suggest that long-term human health is affected by jet lag. For example, the risk of most cancers is lower in commercial airline crew.
In most cases, jet lag symptoms pass after a few days without the need for treatment. Not many proposed treatments have been tested properly in Research and clinical trials . The advice below is a "common-sense" approach that might help reduce the effects of jet lag.
When you arriveat your destination:
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It's not possible to prevent jet lag, and evidence about various treatments isn't very robust.
However, there are some things that might be useful to help reduce its effects, such as changing your sleep routine a few days before departure and making sure you get enough sleep before you travel.
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Find out what causes jet lag plus how to treat and prevent it.
The symptoms of jet lag can vary from person to person. The severity of jet lag symptoms depends on the number of time zones crossed.
Jet lag occurs when the body has to adapt to a new light-dark schedule and normal daily routine after crossing several time zones.
To help reduce the effects of jet lag, establish a new routine when you arrive at your destination. Don't sleep when you arrive at your destination and spend time outdoors.
Jet lag can't be prevented, but you can try some strategies that may reduce its effects.