No jet lag how does it work

This content does not have an Arabic version. Treatment Jet lag is generally temporary and usually doesn't need treatment.

More Information Light therapy. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Weir RE. Jet lag and shift work. Sleep Medicine Clinic. Goldstein CA. Jet lag. Accessed Sept. Kryger MH, et al. Shift work, shift-work disorder and jet lag. In: Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. Louis, Mo. Accessed Aug. Longo DL, et al. Jet lag will continue to disrupt sleeping, waking, eating, and other routines until the body clock recalibrates to suit the new environment.

When traveling eastward, symptoms can feel more severe because the body has less time to recover. Traveling westward adds hours to a day, but traveling eastward reduces them. As a result, a person has less chance to catch up with sleep, which can delay recovery.

One study of 10 athletes found that jet lag continued to impact athletic performance up to 4 days after traveling across eight time zones from west to east. In contrast, their performance significantly recovered by day 2 after traveling the opposite way. When traveling between north and south, changes in season may affect a person.

However, for jet lag to occur, there must be an east-west or west-east movement. For example, flying directly south from Chicago to Santiago in Chile may cause discomfort, but it will not lead to jet lag. The World Health Organization WHO recommends limiting the consumption of alcohol or caffeine during or before flights, as they may worsen symptoms of jet lag.

They may exacerbate them by contributing to dehydration and affecting sleep quality. A study in mice found a possible link between environmental levels of oxygen and jet lag. This could result in lethargy, which may worsen the symptoms of jet lag. The researchers suggested that oxygen modulation therapy could help reduce the effects of jet lag.

There is currently no treatment for jet lag and no medical approach that can cause the body clock to reset. However, researchers have looked at several options. They include controlling light exposure , possibly with one or more of the following:. Some people already use melatonin and sleep aids, but there is little evidence that they are effective, and they may actually have adverse effects. Some early research has suggested using drugs that target genes that play a role in regulating the body clock.

It was not double-blind, or even halfway rigorous. Nevertheless, I did my best to devise a coherent methodology. I would test homeopathic and relaxation-oriented remedies on one leg of the trip and more technological cures on the other, and make sure to stay as sober and hydrated as possible both ways.

In order to gauge whether the products were working, I would keep track of when I woke up each day, when I started to feel tired, how long I slept, the time of day I started feeling particularly loopy, and so on. Jet lag happens when your internal circadian clock—the part of your brain that regulates your sleep cycles—is disrupted by travel. The feeling can be exacerbated by stress and restlessness. Many products claim to relax you, thus fostering sleep and tranquillity, and I tested these while wending my way over the North Pole to Tokyo.

I did this faithfully for the duration of the trip, to no discernible effect. Halfway through the flight, I slathered my temples and neck in Badger Sleep Balm, an herbal, Vaseline-like product that claims to promote slumber.

Smelling like a human cup of lemon verbena tea, I then donned the Glo to Sleep mask, which emits a dim blue light when activated. Theoretically, these blue lights are supposed to have a calming effect. In reality, it felt like I was staring at the inside of an MRI machine. Motor vehicle accidents caused by drowsy driving may be more likely in people who are jet-lagged. Regulate bright light exposure. Because light exposure is one of the prime influences on your body's circadian rhythm, regulating light exposure may help you adjust to your new location.

In general, exposure to light in the evening helps you adjust to a later than usual time zone traveling westward , while exposure to morning light can help you adapt to an earlier time zone faster traveling eastward. The one exception is if you have traveled more than eight time zones from your original time zone, because your body might mistake early morning light for evening dusk. Your body might also mistake evening light for early morning light.

So, if you've traveled more than eight time zones to the east, wear sunglasses and avoid bright light in the morning, and then allow as much sunlight as possible in the late afternoon for the first few days in your new location.

If you have traveled west by more than eight time zones, avoid sunlight a few hours before dark for the first few days to adjust to the local time.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Jet lag, also called jet lag disorder, is a temporary sleep problem that can affect anyone who quickly travels across multiple time zones.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Weir RE. Jet lag and shift work. Sleep Medicine Clinic.