Symptoms typically last 2 to 4 days but may persist for up to 7 to 10 days. Jet lag disorder involves a temporary mismatch between the timing of the endogenous circadian clock and timing required by the new time zone. (C) The sleep disturbance is not better explained by another current sleep disorder, medical or neurologic disorder, mental disorder, medication use, or substance use disorder. (B) There is associated impairment of daytime function, general malaise, or somatic symptoms (ie, gastrointestinal disturbance) within 1 to 2 days after travel. (A) There is a complaint of insomnia or excessive daytime sleepiness, accompanied by reduction of total sleep time, associated with transmeridian jet travel across at least 2 time zones. The diagnostic criteria established by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 3rd edition state that criteria A through C must be met in order for a diagnosis of jet lag disorder: Alternate names include time zone change syndrome, jet lag syndrome, and jet lag type ( 02). The current formal name used in the 3rd edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders is jet lag disorder.
For a minority that travel frequently by jet, time-zone change syndrome is a major health problem. Hundreds of millions of travelers cross time zones by jet each year and, for the majority of travelers, jet lag is a minor and temporary nuisance. Time-zone change syndrome (jet lag) did not exist prior to the invention of jet planes during World War II and became common when commercial transmeridian air travel by jet became commonplace in the 1960s. The best strategy for brief stays (2 to 3 days) in the new time zone is to keep the original sleep-wake schedule, if at all possible.įor longer stays, timed melatonin with strategic exposure to light and avoidance of light at particular times are the best strategies to accelerate the alignment of endogenous circadian rhythms to the new time zone. Jet lag symptoms are more severe for most individuals when flying eastward. Symptoms include difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, decrease in subjective alertness and performance, impairment of daytime functioning, and somatic complaints. Jet lag disorder is caused by a temporary mismatch between the timing of the sleep and wake rhythm generated by the endogenous circadian clock with that of the new time zones imposed timing of sleep and wake pattern and other behaviors, as well as the change in the light-dark cycle.
The authors provide an update on the current understanding of jet lag disorder, including diagnostic criteria based on the ICSD-3, pathophysiology, and therapeutic approaches to minimize symptoms. Jet lag disorder may be partially preventable or treatable by understanding the basics of circadian rhythm physiology and its interactions with the sleep-wake cycle. Individuals crossing several time zones can experience jet lag disorder, which is characterized by symptoms of difficulty falling asleep and/or excessive daytime sleepiness, general malaise, and somatic complaints. In todays society, transmeridian air travel is a common mode of transportation.