What should you know about east-west jet lag?

Jet Lag occurs when your internal body clock is out of step with the local time after crossing time zones. Eastward travel usually requires an earlier sleep and wake time, while westward travel calls for a later rhythm. Daytime sleepiness, Difficulty Sleeping, poor concentration, headache, appetite changes, and irritability may follow. The discomfort usually improves as the body clock adjusts.

Start shifting bedtime and waking time toward the destination before travel when practical. After arrival, use daylight and activity during the local daytime, keep meals on the local schedule, and make the sleep space dark and quiet. Drink water and avoid heavy alcohol use. Short naps may help alertness, but long or late naps can make nighttime sleep harder. A Travel Health Consultation can help with complex itineraries or medical conditions.

Speak with a clinician if sleep disruption continues after your routine has had time to settle, repeatedly affects work or driving, or resembles ongoing Insomnia. Do not drive or operate machinery when very sleepy. Seek urgent care for chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, confusion, or a sudden severe headache rather than assuming these symptoms are jet lag.

How should I shift my sleep before this trip? Is light exposure or a sleep aid suitable with my medicines? When should persistent symptoms be assessed?