How is jet lag treated?

Jet lag occurs when the internal body clock is out of step with local time. It can cause difficulty sleeping at night, daytime sleepiness, reduced concentration, mood changes, or headache. Symptoms are influenced by the direction of travel, the number of time zones crossed, sleep lost during the journey, and how quickly you need to function. Most care focuses on helping the body adjust rather than simply masking tiredness.

Use the destination clock for meals, waking, and bedtime soon after arrival. Seek daylight at a time that supports the new schedule, keep evening light subdued, and use a dark, quiet bedroom when sleeping. Drink fluids, move gently during the day, and avoid heavy meals, alcohol, and late caffeine if they disturb sleep. Short naps may be useful, but long or late naps can make night sleep harder. Insomnia Management offers further sleep-routine guidance. A Travel Health Consultation can help with planned trips, medicines, and work that requires alertness.

Speak with a clinician if sleep disruption or daytime sleepiness continues after your body has had time to adjust, repeatedly affects safety or work, or occurs with severe headache, confusion, chest symptoms, or another unusual feature. Avoid driving or hazardous work when very sleepy. Seek urgent help for sudden severe headache with weakness, speech trouble, fainting, or confusion, because these symptoms need assessment beyond jet lag.

How should I time light, sleep, caffeine, or any medicine for this journey? Is my current daytime sleepiness safe for driving, and could another condition such as Insomnia be contributing?