Is jet lag worse east or west?

Flying east or west makes a difference to jet lag 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. Jet lag does not occur on north-south flights that do not cross multiple time zones.

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Causes of Jet Lag Symptoms may be more pronounced as more time zones are crossed. 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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Flying east or west makes a difference to jet lag 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). Travelling eastwards, however, runs in direct opposition to the body clock.

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Jet lag is more evident if you fly from west to east because it is more difficult for your body to adjust to “losing time” when you journey east than to “gaining time,” when you fly from east to west. ? Adjust your bedtime by an hour a day a few days before your trip.

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Jet lag symptoms usually occur within a day or two after traveling across at least two time zones. Symptoms are likely to be worse or last longer the farther you travel. This is especially true if you fly east. It usually takes about a day to recover for each time zone crossed.

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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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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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How long jet lag lasts will depend on several factors. These include how far you traveled, your body's unique rhythms and your overall health. Many people who experience jet lag feel better a few days after arriving to their destination. For some people, it can take up to one week to feel fully back to themselves.

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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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A jet lag rule of thumb says it normally takes one day per time zone to get back to “normal” (flying west to east). That means, after a nine-hour time change on a flight from the US west coast to Germany, you'll need nine days before your body fully adjusts to Central European Time.

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Six Ways Flight Attendants Live With Jet Lag
  1. 1 Water.
  2. 2 Eat light.
  3. 3 Use breaks.
  4. 4 Down route.
  5. 5 Sleep.
  6. 6 Don't push.


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Adjust your sleep-wake schedule: Getting on the sleep-wake schedule at your destination quickly may help with jet lag symptoms. Focus on getting quality sleep: Sleeping on the plane, if you can, may help your body adjust faster to a new time zone.

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Hydrate and Eat Sensibly: In-Flight Care During the flight, take actions to minimize jet lag. Stay hydrated by drinking water and herbal teas and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Choose light, balanced meals and snacks to keep your body nourished but not overloaded.

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How long jet lag lasts depends on the time difference between your point of departure and your destination. The greater the time difference, the longer it tends to take your body to adjust. Researchers have found that, on average, it takes people about one day to adjust for each 1 to 1.5 hours of time change.

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In addition to shift work, the two types of employees who work on aircraft, pilots (also known as flight deck or flight crew) and cabin crew (also commonly known as flight attendants), regularly experience jet lag.

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You can use the fasting reset to get the circadian rhythm back on track. If you abstain from food while you travel and indulge in a filling meal the moment you land, you will supply the body with the necessary energy. Just like you would get from a regular morning meal. With fasting, jet lag symptoms can subside.

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Finally it is possible to get a 1 hour difference jetlag — if you live somewhere daylight saving time is observed and have problems adjusting to the change, you've experienced this. Traveling is often tiring even if you don't move at jet speeds and don't cross any timezones.

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According to an August article in the New York Times, your body clock makes it more difficult to travel east. Steven W. Lockley, of NASA's fatigue management team, estimates that three-quarters of the population experience more jet lag when traveling eastward.

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