Your circadian rhythm (body clock) is less confused if you travel westward.
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So, you will be jet lagged about three days if you change three time zones to the east. If you are traveling west: You may wake up earlier than you actually want to. But it doesn't take your body quite as long to adjust traveling this way.
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.
One of the best ways to minimize jet lag is to try and sleep during the flight. Using earplugs, eye masks, or noise-cancellation headphones helps to block out light and noise.
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.
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.
Pilots, flight attendants and business travelers are most likely to experience jet lag. Being an older adult. Older adults may need more time to recover from jet lag.
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.
Jet lag can last anywhere from four to five days. Some specialists say that traveling over just one or two time zones is minimally problematic. Individuals who encounter jet lag feel better a few days after arriving at their destination. But it can take up to one week for some people to feel back to themselves.
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.
According to experts, not eating while you fly can actually help to reduce jet lag. (And that's not the only thing your flight attendant won't tell you.) Turns out, traveling on a plane can do a lot of bad things to your body—including shutting your digestive system down once you reach a high altitude.
Melatonin. As a sleep aid, melatonin has been widely studied and is a common jet lag treatment. The latest research seems to show that melatonin aids sleep during times when you wouldn't typically be resting, making it beneficial for people with jet lag.
Bananas are another excellent in-flight snack that can help minimize your symptoms of jet lag. Bananas contain magnesium and potassium, which are electrolytes that help your body retain water when you rehydrate. They not only help you feel better but promote a healthy night's sleep, says Carvosso.