Jet lag is a temporary sleep problem that can affect anyone who quickly travels across several time zones. It occurs because your bodys internal clock, called circadian rhythms, is synced to your original time zone and hasnt changed to the time zone of where youve traveled. The more time zones crossed, the more likely you are to experience jet lag. Jet lag symptoms usually occur within a day or two after traveling across at least two time zones and are likely to be worse or last longer the farther you travel. Some common symptoms of jet lag include fatigue, insomnia, irritability, and mood changes. It usually takes about a day to recover for each time zone crossed. Jet lag is temporary, but if you travel often and experience jet lag, you may benefit from seeing a sleep specialist.

Factors that can contribute to jet lag include lack of sleep before and during traveling, stress, use of alcohol and caffeine, and past history of jet lag. To prevent and reduce jet lag, it is important to quickly realign your circadian rhythm to synchronize with the time zone of your destination. Some strategies to manage jet lag symptoms include maximizing your exposure to daylight to reset your body clock, napping briefly during the day when sleepy, and modifying your sleep schedule in the days leading up to your trip.

Jet lag is a physiological condition that results from alterations to the bodys circadian rhythms caused by rapid long-distance trans-meridian travel. It is a chronobiological problem, similar to issues often induced by shift work and the circadian rhythm sleep disorders.