How bad is jet lag from US to Europe?

One study claims it only takes two-thirds of a day per zone, or about six days to adjust to a nine-hour time difference (west to east). For westward flights it is somewhat easier to adjust to the time-zone shift, only requiring about half a day per time zone.



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Is there anything you can do to avoid jet lag?
  1. Start adjusting light exposure before your trip to decrease the length of time you will feel jet lagged. ...
  2. Consider taking melatonin supplements if you're traveling east. ...
  3. Time your flight. ...
  4. Try to sleep during your flight. ...
  5. Avoid long layovers in extra time zones if you can.


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Anyone who flies through multiple time zones has to grapple with the biorhythmic confusion known as jet lag. Flying from the US to Europe, you switch your wristwatch six to nine hours forward. Your body says, Hey, what's going on? Body clocks don't reset so easily.

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It usually takes about a day to recover for each time zone crossed.

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So, for that New York to London flight we mentioned earlier, you'd be crossing five time zones, so it could take you about five days to adjust. However, research in rodents suggests the liver, lungs, and muscles can take nearly six times as long as the SCN to adjust to jet lag.

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Is jet lag worse going forward or back? Your circadian rhythm (body clock) is less confused if you travel westward. This is because travelling west 'prolongs' the body clock's experience of its normal day-night cycle (the normal tendency of the body clock in most of us is slightly longer than 24 hours).

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Most people find that jet lag is worse when traveling east than it is when traveling west. View Source . Jet lag differs based on the direction of travel because it's generally easier to delay your internal clock than advance it.

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Researchers have found that, on average, it takes people about one day to adjust for each 1 to 1.5 hours of time change. So if you fly from the East Coast to the West Coast, which is a three-hour time difference, you should be over your jet lag in two to three days.

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If you need it, taking a short nap can help you stay awake during the day. But napping for more than 30 minutes can keep you from falling asleep at night. Try to stay awake until your normal bedtime and get up on time the next day.

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Is jet lag worse east or west? Yes. Adjustment to a new time zone is harder when traveling east than traveling west. This is because you “lose” time and you end up trying to fall asleep when your body is actually waking up.

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If you want to avoid jet lag as much as possible, try to find a flight that arrives in Europe in the mid-afternoon or evening. This means leaving North America in the early morning.

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Flying across so many different time zones, especially as frequently as flight attendants do, can cause jet lag, scientifically referred to as desynchronosis, which is a disruption of your body's internal clock and circadian rhythm.

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If you have the choice, try to book a flight that leaves between 8 am and noon and arrives between 6 pm and 10 pm. According to this book, flights that leave late at night (10 pm-1 am) and arrive in the morning (8 am to noon) give a much bigger risk for jet lag.

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Common ways pilots avoid jetlag is staying hydrated, good rest, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, exercising, or sleeping on the airplane. For long-haul flights airlines use multiple pilots for the flight to allow each pilot to get some rest. The more time zones that are crossed, the worse the jet lag.

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The maximum jet lag that you can experience is 12 hours. If the difference between your flight's departure point and its destination exceeds 12 time zones, then you have to subtract the actual number of time zones from 24 to calculate the actual number of hours of jet lag that you will feel.

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If traveling west, crossing multiple time zones, as long as you're not traveling late at night already, have a cup of coffee or two pre or mid-flight to help your body adjust to time lost. If traveling east, avoid consuming coffee before or during your flight as this can exacerbate the effects of jet lag.

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Melatonin is remarkably effective in preventing or reducing jet lag, and occasional short-term use appears to be safe. It should be recommended to adult travellers flying across five or more time zones, particularly in an easterly direction, and especially if they have experienced jet lag on previous journeys.

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The disruption of the circadian cycle can trigger any number of regulating processes that are pertinent to our everyday life including blood pressure, appetite, heart rate and more. “Scientists have a limited understanding of why some people are particularly susceptible to jet lag while others seem spared.

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