Symptoms of Jet Lag

Jet lag symptoms usually start within a day or two of arriving and fade as the body clock adjusts.

Common symptoms

• Trouble falling asleep at night or waking too early
• Daytime sleepiness and fatigue
• Poor concentration, slow thinking and memory lapses
• Irritability, low mood or anxiety
• Headache
• Loss of appetite, upset stomach, constipation or diarrhoea
• Feeling generally unwell, with dizziness or light-headedness

Timing

• Symptoms are strongest in the first 1 to 3 days.
• A rough guide is about one day of recovery for each time zone crossed, but it varies.
• Flying east often causes more trouble than flying west.

Effects on daily life

Reduced alertness can affect driving, work, study and sport. Take care when driving or operating machinery in the first days.

Symptoms that are not jet lag

Jet lag does not cause:

• Calf pain, swelling or redness in one leg, which may be a blood clot (DVT)
• Chest pain, sudden breathlessness or coughing blood, which may be a clot in the lung
• High fever, severe vomiting, severe diarrhoea or a rash after travel
• Persistent low mood that lasts for weeks

Seek urgent help

Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department for chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, or a swollen painful leg after a long flight.

Key point

Tiredness, poor sleep and poor focus after a long flight are typical. Pain, swelling or breathing trouble are not.

Before your appointment

Note where and when you travelled, how many time zones you crossed, and how long your sleep problems have lasted. List all medicines, melatonin, herbs and supplements you take, and your caffeine and alcohol use. Mention snoring, low mood, anxiety, leg pain or swelling, and any existing conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy. If you are pregnant or travelling with a child, say so. Ask about safe sleep aids and the warning signs that need urgent care. Call 112 for chest pain or severe breathlessness.