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What is Jet Lag, Symptoms, How Long it Lasts & More

Tara Youngblood Aug 23, 2022

What are Jet Lag and How Long Does Jet Lag Lasts

We’ve all been there or at least know someone who has. You plan a trip, map out every detail, arrive at your destination on time, and spend the first few days staring at the ceiling of your hotel room.

Jet lag – when your body thinks it’s early evening after a long flight from Los Angeles to Boston, but it’s actually after midnight – can wreak havoc on travelers. Rather than enjoying your trip the first couple of days, you stay up past your usual bedtime, feel drowsy during the day, and lack focus.

We’ll explore below what jet lag means, the cause, symptoms, and how you can prevent it, and we’ll even throw in some helpful tips on ways to avoid it.

Did You Know: Jet lag can occur anytime two or more time zones are crossed.

What is Jet Lag

Jet lag is also referred to as circadian desynchrony. [1] Our body has its own internal clock (or circadian rhythms) that tells us when it’s time to awaken and go to sleep. [2] It’s essentially a mismatch between this internal body clock with external environmental cues (daytime and nighttime in particular). [3]

Jet lag causes the mistaken need to stay wide awake and active because of two main problems:

  1. Your visual system has not had enough time to grow accustomed to the darkness.
  2. Your core body temperature is too warm and has not reached the cooler temperature needed for a restful night’s sleep. [4]

In short, the normal clockwork and hormones (mainly melatonin) that regulate wake/sleep cycles tend to desynchronize due to travel through time zones. [5] [6]

Social Jet Lag

Feeling like you just traveled across the globe but haven’t left your couch? Check out our article on social jet lag to see how your weekend habits could be the cause.

Understanding Jet Lag

Ultimate Sleep Recovery

To help prevent Jet Lag, it's helpful to get a great night's sleep before traveling. Improve the sleep quality through precise temperature regulation, ranging from 55-115º, with our cooling sleep systems and cooling mattress toppers.

Jet Lag vs. Travel Fatigue

Travel Fatigue

Jet lag is often mistaken for travel fatigue. It can be caused by a demanding and hectic schedule, stress from being away from family, or lack of sleep. Also, It occurs with any method of travel, such as cars or trains. Symptoms of travel fatigue can include headaches and tiredness because of the physical toils of traveling.

Did You Know: Travel fatigue doesn't involve circadian rhythm disruption.

Jet Lag

Jet lag, as defined above, is related to the changes in time zones and how changes affect the circadian rhythm. In scientific terms, this intricate system is controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), located deep within our brains in the hypothalamus. The SCN is situated near the visual system to take cues from sunlight and darkness. This allows our bodies to react by waking up or falling asleep.

Sleep Study: Travel Fatigue and Jet Lag

What Causes of Jet Lag

Jet lag is quite common as it affects all age groups , but the elderly have a harder time adapting to destination time zones than younger people.

Researchers agree that west-to-east plane travel leads to more serious symptoms than going from east to west. The greater number of time zones traveled may lead to more intense bouts of jet lag.

When traveling from north to south or vice versa, jet lag is not an issue because there is no crossing of time zones. Therefore, people experiencing disturbed sleep or tiredness are more likely to have travel fatigue.

Which Direction is Worse for Jet Lag?

It's been reported that traveling east has more issues than people traveling the same number of time zones west. The concept is that it's a more significant challenge to advance rather than delay the body's internal clock. Most people have an endogenous circadian rhythm longer than 24 hours, so prolonging a day is less problematic than shortening it.

Symptoms of jet lag

Symptoms of Jet Lag

The common question is, what does jet lag feel like? If you're not too familiar with it, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms of jet lag, including:

  • Disorders of disturbed sleep, such as insomnia
  • Difficulty concentrating or impaired thinking
  • Stomach problems, including lack of appetite or nausea.
  • Tremendous lack of focus
  • Headaches often occur
  • General malaise, which is a feeling of discomfort or illness
  • Excessive tiredness during the day
  • Shifts in mood throughout the day

The above symptoms appear after extended flights to different time zones because of disrupting your circadian rhythm. It affects how and when your body produces hormones, which can impact your sleep and other bodily processes. Fortunately, the symptoms improve steadily as the body gets used to the new time zone. [7]

Did You Know: 60-70% of long-haul travelers will experience some form of jet lag symptoms.

How to Reduce and Avoid Jet Lag

It’s possible to use light, temperature, meals, and exercise to get accustomed to the new environment. These are called zeitgebers, which means "time givers" in German. They are particularly helpful when traveling from west to east when losing time.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) describes zeitgebers as any external cue that resets the body’s internal clock, essentially getting the sleep-wake circadian rhythm back on track. [8]

The following zeitgebers can be instrumental in resetting sleep signals: [9]

Daylight

Bright light is an incredibly important time giver. Once you get to your destination, get as much natural light as possible if you need to stay awake. Doing so helps keep the body from producing melatonin, a natural sleep hormone.

If you arrive at your destination when it's dark outside, try to utilize artificial light from the overhead lights and lamps. Yet try to avoid the flashing lights of your cellphone or laptop.

Temperature

There’s extensive scientific evidence that transitioning to restful sleep is much easier when core body temperature (CBT) drops. Sleep experts recommend adjusting the room temperature to between 65- and 72- degrees Fahrenheit.

Read More: Why Do I Get So Hot When I Sleep

Exercise

Any exercise, such as brisk walking, stretching, and calisthenics, is a perfect way to reset your circadian rhythm. If exercise is part of your at-home routine (which we highly recommend), try to exercise well before bedtime and at the same time of the day.

Mealtimes

Your eating schedule and meals have a definite effect on jet lag. Remember that beverage and food choices affect insulin levels, which can impair the sleep cycle.

How Long Does Jet Lag Last?

The symptoms of jet lag depend on different factors. A more extended recovery period is required when traveling from west to east. Jet lag can last anywhere from four to five days. Some specialists say that traveling over just one or two time zones is minimally problematic.

A good rule of thumb is about one day per time zone. Other factors to consider are the utilization of treatments and pre-flight strategies

Individuals who encounter jet lag feel better a few days after arriving at their destination. But it can take up to one week for some people to feel back to themselves.

What to Do While Traveling

It's recommended to drink lots of water! The dry air of the airplane cabin can cause dehydration. Dehydration can be detrimental to the circadian system in addition to overall health.

If you have a watch or packed a travel clock, adjust it to your destination upon takeoff. It can help you mentally adjust to your new destination sleep cycle.

Explore in-flight sleep aids such as noise-canceling headphones and weighted blankets.

Get Up and Move on the Plane

  • Perform breathing exercises
  • Turn your head
  • Roll your feet
  • Stretch your arms overhead
  • Relax and contract your legs

When to Be Concerned

  • Suppose you are a frequent traveler or work in the aviation industry. In that case, contact a sleep specialist or a physician for long-term advice on sleep hygiene practices and medications that suit your needs.
  • Assume the symptoms of jet lag last longer than about a week. It’s important to note that symptoms can sometimes mimic other illnesses.
  • If symptoms are serious, to cause significant disruption to your business or vacation plans.

Final Thought

Extensive research and the expert opinions of health professionals emphasize that although jet lag can be a troublesome feature of in-flight travel, it does not need to interfere with our plans for success, productivity, and enjoyment. You can take many steps to avoid jet lag and its challenges.

  • Jet lag is an interim condition in which the internal clock of the body, mainly the circadian system, becomes misaligned with the environmental cues of the destination.
  • Symptoms are more intense when traveling (for example, from California to New York), as opposed to east-west travel.
  • Time gives, also known as zeitgebers, can be highly beneficial in managing jet lag.
  • Preparations made before travel can positively impact your ability to conquer jet lag.

Citations

[1] Choy, M., Salbu, R.L. (2011). Jet lag: P&T, 36(4). 221-231. View Study

[2] Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Jet lag disorder. Mayo Clinic. [Blog Post]. View Resource

[3] Choy, M., Salbu, R.L. (2011). P&T, 36(4). 221-231. View Study

[4] Roach, G.D., Sargent, C. (2019). Interventions to minimize jet lag after westward and eastward flight. Front. Physiol. View Study. View Resource

[5] Choy, M., Salbu, R.L. (2011). Jet lag: Current and potential therapies. P&T, 36(4). 221-231. View Resource

[6] Caliandro R, Streng AA, van Kerkhof LWM, van der Horst GTJ, Chaves I. Social Jetlag and Related Risks for Human Health: A Timely Review. Nutrients. 2021 Dec 18;13(12):4543. doi: 10.3390/nu13124543. PMID: 34960096; PMCID: PMC8707256.

[7] Schwab, R. J. (2020, June). Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders. Merck Manual Consumer Version. View Resource

[8] Choy, M., Salbu, R.L. (2011). Jet lag: Current and potential therapies. P&T, 36(4). 221-231. View Resource .

[9] Ibid.

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