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Health and Medicine - How Does Jet Lag Affect One's Body?

How does jet lag affect one's body?

The physiological and mental stress suffered by airplane travelers when crossing four or more time zones is commonly called jet lag. Jet lag often affects eating and sleeping patterns, digestion, alertness, memory, and normal judgment.

There are more than 100 biological functions based on the 24-hour cycle (circadian rhythm) that may become desynchronized by jet lag. Most people's bodies adjust at a rate of about one hour per day. Thus after four time zone changes, the body will require about four days to return to its usual rhythms. Flying eastward, which subtracts hours from the day, is often more difficult than flying westward, which adds hours to the day.

Sources: Bair, Frank E. The Weather Almanac, 6th ed., p. 229; Larson, David E., ed. Mayo Clinic Family Health Book: The Ultimate Home Medical Reference, pp. 341-42.

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