Learn what a typical Jet lag prognosis is at Consumer Reports Health.

Jet lag

What will happen to me?

Jet lag is inconvenient, and some people find it spoils the start of their vacation or stops them from working on a business trip. But even without treatment, it lasts only a few days.

Jet lag is always at its worst soon after you arrive. However bad you feel, you'll get better over four days to six days. Your body clock resets by about an hour each day, so the more time zones you cross, the longer it will take for your jet lag to wear off.

Source:
Ryan ET, Kain KC.
Health advice and immunizations for travelers.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2000; 342: 1716-1725.

Long journeys can be stressful. They can disrupt your routine and make you tired. This may make jet lag worse for some people.

Source:
Herxheimer A, Petrie KJ.
Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag.
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.

Taking a hormone called melatonin at bedtime should help.

Source:
Herxheimer A, Petrie KJ.
Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag.
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.

² To read more, see What treatments work for jet lag? But if you don't want to take drugs, here are some other things you can try to make any long-distance trip less tiring and stressful:

Source:
Herxheimer A, Waterhouse J.
The prevention and treatment of jet lag.
BMJ. 2003; 326: 296-297.

Plan your trip in detail before you go
Find somewhere comfortable to stay if you have a stopover on the way
Eat some roughage (fiber) during the flight. Apples are good. But remember that you might not be allowed to take fruit or vegetables into the country you're traveling to
Drink plenty of water during the flight, and avoid alcohol, tea and coffee. You might want to take your own bottle of water on to the plane. Lots of airports don't let you take bottles of water through security. So you may have to buy water from a store in the airport after you've been through the security check
Refresh yourself with a shower or a short nap when you arrive. However, you might want to avoid napping if you think it might make it harder for you to sleep later.

If you need to take medicines at the same time every day, ask your doctor or pharmacist about timing the doses in your new time zone.

Sources for the information on this page:

Ryan ET, Kain KC.Health advice and immunizations for travelers.New England Journal of Medicine. 2000; 342: 1716-1725.

Herxheimer A, Petrie KJ.Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag. In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.

Herxheimer A, Waterhouse J.The prevention and treatment of jet lag.BMJ. 2003; 326: 296-297.

This information was last updated on Feb 05, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.