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MEDICAL INFORMATION
Jet Lag Key Facts
Jet Lag is a common problem people get when travelling across time zones. This is a temporary problem, but can still cause tiredness, insomnia, changes in body temperature, mental health issues and stomach upset. Here, we will take a closer look at the causes, symptoms, and ways to manage and prevent Jet Lag.
What is Jet Lag?
Jet Lag (Jet Lag disorder), is a short term sleep disorder that occurs when your internal circadian clock is out of tune with local time. Circadian rhythm is your body’s internal clock. It regulates your sleep-wake cycles and metabolism and is affected by daylight and darkness, which help to maintain your sleep schedule.
When you travel across a number of time zones, your internal clock struggles to adapt to the new time zone, causing a disruption in your sleep patterns. Frequent flyers, such as pilots, flight attendants, and business travellers generally suffer from Jet Lag the most.
Causes of Jet Lag
Jet Lag occurs when your body clock is out of sync with the local time. This is caused by:
Disruption of Circadian Rhythms
These rhythms are regulated by your sleep-wake cycle. Exposure to light plays a large part in aligning your internal clock. Exposure to light changes when you travel across time zones, causing your circadian rhythms to be out of line with local time.
Length and direction of travel
Travelling East tends to cause more intense symptoms of Jet Lag compared to travelling West. Also, the more time zones you travel across, the greater your circadian rhythms is disturbed and the greater your symptoms of Jet Lag.
Individual factors
The elderly may find it more difficult to adjust to a new time zone than younger people. Sleep patterns, general health, and the ability to adapt to change will also impact how you are affected by Jet Lag.
Symptoms of Jet Lag
Jet Lag may affect both your physical and mental health. Symptoms tend to appear within 1 or 2 days after traveling. Common symptoms include:
Sleep problems
You may have difficulty falling asleep or wake too early. You may have broken sleep, and poor sleep quality, leaving you feeling unrested.
Daytime tiredness
Jet Lag may cause daytime sleepiness and feelings of tiredness, making it difficult to stay alert during the day.
Digestive issues
These may include diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, stomach discomfort, and changes in appetite.
Mood disturbances
Jet Lag may cause irritability, mood swings and anxiety. Mood changes are often due to a disruption of your sleep patterns
Physical and cognitive impairment
You may find it more difficult to concentrate, remember information, or make decisions. Your coordination and reaction time, may also be affected by Jet Lag.
How is Jet Lag different to travel fatigue?
Feeling tired after you’ve had a long days travel can be confused with Jet Lag. Travel fatigue, however includes symptoms such as tiredness and headaches, that may occur due to the physical stress of travel.
As a result of air travel you may experience respiratory problems, dehydration, bloating, swelling in your lower-limbs and general fatigue, causing you to feel very tired after a long flight. This is not the same as Jet Lag, as travel fatigue does not affect your circadian rhythm. Travel fatigue will also go away after a good night’s rest, while Jet Lag can continue for days or even weeks. It is possible for you to have both travel fatigue and Jet Lag after a long flight, but Jet Lag is more likely to have longer lasting symptoms.
Managing and preventing Jet Lag
Several strategies can help reduce the effects of Jet Lag. By following these recommendations, you can reduce discomfort and improve your overall well-being during and after long-distance travel.
Plan ahead
Adjust your sleep schedule before you travel to match the time zone you are travelling to. This adjustment may help you adapt to the new time zone more smoothly.
Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your flight to prevent dehydration. Good hydration will support your general well-being and reduce some of the discomfort caused by Jet Lag.
Time your light exposure
Exposure to light is important to help regulate your circadian rhythms. If traveling East, expose yourself to bright light in the morning, to help you adjust your internal clock. If traveling West, expose yourself to bright light in the evening. Also, time outdoors and exposure to natural light will help you to adjust to the local time.
Optimize sleep environment
Create an environment, friendly to sleep to promote good sleep. Eye masks, earplugs, and white noise machines to block out any potential disturbances. Maintain a cool and comfortable temperature in your sleeping area, and ensure that the room is dark and quiet. Bringing familiar items, such as a favorite pillow or blanket, can also help create a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol
While a cup of coffee or tea can help you stay alert during the day, it’s important to moderate your caffeine intake, especially in the afternoon and evening. Caffeine can interfere with sleep and exacerbate the symptoms of Jet Lag. Similarly, avoid alcohol, as it can disrupt your sleep patterns and dehydrate your body.
Incorporate strategic napping
Short naps can help combat fatigue and increase alertness during the day. Limit your naps to no more than 20-30 minutes and avoid napping too close to bedtime, as it may interfere with nighttime sleep. Strategic napping can provide a quick energy boost without disrupting your sleep-wake cycle.
Consider Melatonin supplements
Melatonin is a hormone produced by your body to help make you feel sleepy and manage your circadian rhythm. It is normally produced in the evening, several hours before bedtime, and is released at night. Your natural cycle of producing Melatonin can be disrupted by Jet Lag.
Melatonin is available only with a prescription in the U.K. but is available as a dietary supplement in some other countries. 1 to 3mg of Melatonin can be used to reset your body clock and help with sleep if taken at the right time. Research shows that Melatonin may help to reduce Jet Lag. Melatonin, like light, can affect your body clock. The timing of when you take Melatonin is very important. Some people however, are recommended not to take Melatonin. You should check whether it is safe for you to take Melatonin with your doctor. You are advised not to take Melatonin for the first time on your flight, in case you have an adverse reaction.
Alternatives to Melatonin include prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines. Natural sleep aids, will help you fall asleep or stay asleep, but will not change your circadian rhythm. Sleeping pills may cause side effects, such as drowsiness. Speak to your doctor before you travel to discuss the risks and benefits of each medication.
Follow local time
Once you arrive at your destination, adjust your routines to those of the local time. Your body will adjust to the new time zone if you stick to the local times.
Conclusion
Jet Lag can affect your sleep patterns when you travel across multiple time zones. Understanding Jet Lag, its causes and taking the necessary steps, will help reduce it effects, making it easier for you to adjust to a different time zone.
Sources
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.
Service Guide
Everything You Need to Know About Getting Treated Privately for Jet Lag
What does the Get Treated Privately service for Jet Lag do?
The Get Treated Privately service is a private prescribing service which is designed for adults aged 18 years and over, who are experiencing health issues and who would like to receive a fast-track assessment and if applicable, a treatment plan from a qualified prescribing clinician. Treatments for Jet Lag are dispensed and delivered to your home or workplace from our regulated online pharmacy.
Is this a safe Jet Lag prescribing service?
Yes. Our formulary of medications prescribed for Jet Lag are controlled, governed, and continuously risk-assessed by our Medical Director, Dr Ihtesham Sabri. Unlike other prescribing services which operate using faceless questionnaires, our Jet Lag prescribing service is conducted through remote video consultations, also known as synchronous consultations. This builds patient safety and prescribing appropriateness into our service, ensuring our prescribing clinicians can be satisfied with who and what they are treating. There is no guarantee of supply of medications, and any prescriptions supplied are at the sole discretion of our clinician prescriber. There is no charge for the Jet Lag consultation.
What is a prescribing clinician and is it safe for me to use them on the NowPatient platform?
Our prescribing clinicians are board-certified pharmacists, nurses, or doctors who can also prescribe any medicine for any medical condition, subject to accepted accreditation and good clinical practice. They are all registered with their respective regulatory bodies. For example, a pharmacist independent prescriber is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Each prescribing clinician undergoes an extensive background check including a disclosure and barring service check (DBS). In addition, they undergo a rigorous license verification process. When you book an appointment with our prescribing clinicians you will see their full name, license number, and any specialized credentials they have.
Is the service available worldwide?
Yes, you can get treated privately for Jet Lag worldwide.
Do I need to pay for this service?
Yes. This is a private service. You do not need to pay for the consultation. You only pay for the cost of the Jet Lag treatment that you are prescribed.
How do I book a consultation?
Once you have logged into your account, you will need to navigate to the Get Treated Privately service card which is located as a service item on the dashboard.
Using the action button on the service card, you can select one of the following – ‘Search Treatments’ or ‘Search Conditions’. From here you can search for Jet Lag.
Depending on the search type and the product/condition that you would like to get treated, you will be taken to a consultation booking screen. Follow the simple steps to complete your booking. During the booking confirmation, you will be able to select a date and time that is convenient for you, along with the preferred language and gender of the prescribing clinician you wish to choose. You will then see a list of all available expert clinicians who are trained to assess the medication or condition chosen. Once you have confirmed your booking, you will see a summary of the appointment including preliminary information about the consultation. At this point, you will also be able to add a reminder to your calendar. Always ensure your account health profile is up to date before any consultation. This ensures that our clinicians have the most up-to-date information about your current health status and anything that may influence their prescribing decisions. You will receive a push notification, SMS notification and email reminding you of your consultation, 30 minutes before the virtual consultation is due to start.
Depending on certain medications which require our clinicians to have your up-to-date blood pressure readings, you may be required to submit a virtual blood pressure check, using your smartphone or device. We will provide you with full instructions, when this is required.
What happens during the remote video consultation?
During the consultation, the clinician will ask you a series of questions that will allow the clinician to assess your condition and potential treatment options for Jet Lag. At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide which treatment options are safe and suitable option for you.
If it is, the clinician will discuss the treatment option, so that you can jointly agree on the treatment plan. Once you have jointly agreed on a treatment plan, the clinician will issue a prescription treatment for your Jet Lag which will be available in your Cart at the end of the consultation.
Also, with your consent, the clinician may wish to inform your doctor of the treatment that was prescribed. We recommend that you agree to this since your doctor is responsible for your overall care and they should have a record of this consultation and medication prescribed. In addition, our clinician may take the opportunity to advise you on your overall health including advice on healthy living or stop smoking.
What happens at the end of the Jet Lag consultation?
At the end of the consultation, you will receive a notification which will summarise the outcome. It will also advise you if any referrals were made to your doctor, along with any other advice that was given to you by the clinician.
If a referral letter was issued to your doctor, you will be able to view a copy of this in the ‘Documents’ section of the dashboard.
If you were prescribed a treatment, it will now be available in your Cart.
When you go to your Cart, you will be able to select the treatment, checkout and make payment. Once the checkout is complete, your prescription order will be sent to our regulated online pharmacy for processing.
What if the prescriber does not prescribe a treatment for Jet Lag?
We operate a safe prescribing service. This means that our prescribing clinicians always exercise their clinical judgment when prescribing . Unfortunately, we do not operate a self select service where you can choose a medication and simply buy. If the clinician that sees you does not prescribe anything, then you will not be charged.
Will I get status updates for my order?
Yes. When your Jet Lag treatment is approved, and after you have checked out and paid for your order, we will keep you fully updated with the status of your order. Every time the status of your order changes, you will be notified immediately. These notifications will appear in the ‘Notification Feed’ section on the dashboard.
How will my Jet Lag treatment be delivered?
All orders are shipped in discreet and unmarked packaging. This means it is suitable for delivery wherever you require (home, work, or a neighbour).
For thermo-sensitive orders (e.g. Insulin or weight loss injections) we use cold chain-validated packaging. Your parcel will normally receive an estimated delivery window from the courier on the day of delivery.
For your protection and safety, your first order can only be delivered to the address that is registered with NowPatient. Future orders can be delivered to any other address, for example, your workplace.
Do you ship cold-chain or temperature sensitive products?
Yes. We use a specialist courier service for all thermo-sensitive deliveries. This is to ensure that cold chain integrity is always maintained and thus the product quality, safety and efficacy.
Learn more about how we handle the delivery of temperature sensitive products.
Where do you deliver?
We currently deliver to all postcodes/zipcodes worldwide. Some postcodes in rural areas may have a slightly longer delivery time.
When will my order arrive?
We aim to ship all orders placed Monday – Friday before 3pm on the same day. Orders placed outside these times will be shipped the next working day. All deliveries are shipped by Royal Mail, which delivers Monday through Saturday in the UK. For deliveries outside of the UK, please check with your national postal service for accurate delivery days.
Our delivery options have the following delivery times:
- UK – Royal Mail Tracked 24 & Signed for Delivery – Next day delivery
- Europe – Royal Mail Tracked – Typical delivery of 3-5 working days
- Worldwide – Royal Mail – Typical delivery of 5-7 working days. If a tracked option is available for your country via Royal Mail, this service will be applied.
What should I do if my order has not arrived?
Delivery is normally made promptly after your dispatch notification is received. You can check the tracking details of your Jet Lag order in the ‘Notification Feed’ section of the dashboard, at any point after dispatch.
Unfortunately, packages can sometimes get lost in the delivery system. If after 10 days you have not received your delivery, please contact us and we will do all we can to resolve the problem.
Can you prescribe GLP-1 weight loss injections?
Yes. However, with GLP-1 weight loss medications, the license requires that there are support resources put in place as part of the plan including coaching for a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and diet. Our clinicians will discuss this with you, if you are prescribed this type of treatment.
You can learn more on our Weight Loss Programs feature page.
What’s included with my order?
If you are ordering a treatment for Jet Lag, your order will contain your medication only.
If you are ordering weight loss injections, your order will contain:
- Your prescription of pre-filled weight loss injection pens
- Needles
- Sharps bin for safe disposal of needles (if ordered as part of the bundle)
Can I reorder my medication, if I have already been prescribed a course?
Yes. However, as a responsible prescribing service, we do not issue more than one monthly cycle of medication at a time.
This means that, if you would like to reorder, you will need to rebook a consultation.
This is important, because it allows our clinicians to keep track on the progress of your treatment plan and ensure that the medication remains safe and effective for you.
What is the earliest I can reorder my medication or treatment?
14 days after you have received your first monthly supply of medication, we will send you a notification to advise you that you are eligible to reorder your medication. To ensure that we are able to safely prescribe the Jet Lag medication for the next supply, you will need to rebook a consultation.
This ensures that our clinician can check in on your treatment plan and ensure it is working as intended and continues to be safe, suitable and appropriate for you.
How do I reorder my Jet Lag treatment?
When you are eligible to reorder your next Jet Lag prescription, we will send you a notification reminder. This notification reminder will request that you book a consultation with a NowPatient Clinician.
You should book a suitable time and date for the consultation.
At the end of the consultation, the clinician may advise you to either
- Stop the treatment
- Stay on the current dose
- Increase the dose
If our clinician deems it safe for you to continue the medication used to treat Jet Lag, the prescription will be added to your cart, from where you can checkout.
Delivery will be made in line with our delivery timescales.
As a responsible prescribing service, we will always monitor your Jet Lag treatment plan to ensure that it remains safe, effective and suitable for you.
How do I reorder weight loss medication?
Our weight loss programs are built to closely monitor treatment progress and safety. Please refer to the Weight Loss Programs Service Guide that explains how you can reorder or step edit your dose.