Health Library

Jet lag prevention

Circadian rhythm sleep disturbances; Jet lag disorder

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Description

Jet lag is a sleep disorder caused by traveling across different time zones. Jet lag occurs when your body's biological clock is not set with the time zone you are in.

Causes

Your body follows a 24-hour internal clock called a circadian rhythm. It tells your body when to go to sleep and when to wake up. Cues from your environment, such as when the sun rises and sets, help set this internal clock.

When you pass through different time zones, it can take your body a few days to adjust to the different time.

How Does Jet Lag Feel?

You may feel like it is time to go to bed several hours before bedtime. The more time zones you pass through, the worse your jet lag can be. Also, traveling east can be harder to adjust to because you lose time.

Symptoms of jet lag include:

• Trouble falling asleep or waking up
• Tiredness during the day
• Confusion
• General feeling of not being well
• Headache
• Irritability
• Stomach upset
• Sore muscles

Tips for Prevention

Before your trip:

• Get plenty of rest, eat healthy foods, and get some exercise.
• Consider going to bed earlier for a couple of nights before leaving if you are traveling east. Go to bed later for a couple of nights if you are traveling west. This will help reset your internal clock before you travel.

While in flight:

• Do not sleep unless it matches the bedtime of your destination. While awake, get up and walk around a few times.
• During stopovers, make yourself comfortable and get some rest.
• Drink plenty of water, but avoid heavy meals, alcohol, and caffeine.

Melatonin, a hormone supplement, may help decrease jet lag. If you will be in flight during the bedtime of your destination, take some melatonin (3 to 5 milligrams) during that time and try to sleep. Then try taking melatonin several hours before bedtime for several days once you arrive.

When you arrive:

• For short trips, try to eat and sleep at your usual times, if possible, while at your destination.
• For longer trips, before you leave, try to adapt to the time schedule of your destination. Set your watch to the new time as you begin the trip.
• It takes a day to adjust to one to two time zones. So if you travel over three time zones, it will take about two days for your body to adapt.
• Stick with your regular exercise routine while you're away. Avoid exercising late in the evening, because it can keep you awake.
• If you are traveling for an important event or meeting, try to get to your destination early. This can help your body adjust ahead of time so you are at your best while at the event.
• Try not to make any important decisions the first day.
• Once you arrive, spend time in the sun. This can help reset your internal clock.

References

Drake CL, Wright KP, Cheng P. Shift work, shift-work disorder, jet lag, and jet lag disorder. In: Kryger M, Roth T, Goldstein CA, Dement WC, eds. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 81.

Higgins T. Jet lag. In: Higgins T, ed. Medicine for the Outdoors. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024: 440-441.

Markwell P, McLellan SLF. Jet lag. In: Keystone JS, Kozarsky PE, Connor BA, Nothdurft HD, Mendelson M, Leder K, eds. Travel Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 45.

Review Date: 7/8/2023  

Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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