The Science of Jet Lag... And How To Prevent It

What is jet lag? Can we cure it? And why is it a big problem for astronauts going to Mars? Kate dives into the science of circadian rhythms, and armed with the facts, sets out to find a cure.

The term ‘jet lag’ flew into the dictionary in 1966, courtesy of Horace Sutton. It describes the physiological strain that long distance air travel can put on your body. Internal rhythms, governed by regular molecular processes known as circadian clocks, keep our bodily functions in a consistent 24 hour pattern. Although these rhythms can keep time on their own, they are amenable to external inputs, such as light. When you fly across the world and plunge your body into a new time zone, the rhythms that have over time lined up with your daily life are thrown out of synch.

The result? Your whole body feels the strain as your clocks try to wind themselves back into the right time. But once you understand how changes in light levels can trigger the internal processes at the root of jet lag, you can try this simple trick to try to stave it off.

This film is part of our new series that will provide the blueprint for a scientifically perfect summer. From sweating to hay fever, insects to jet lag, Kate Mulcahy will help you hack summer to engineer the perfect season. Taking a different topic each Thursday, the videos will gradually build up an equation for summer perfection; a summer survival guide certified by science.

Music:
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[yk.smnthaa]

I’ve been to the Philippines for more than a week and now I’m home in Canada and I’m falling asleep while typing this rn

[shahar]

I have the worst jet lag ever.
Its been like that for a week, i am awake most of the day and i become really tired in day light, so i fall a sleep from like 12-1 pm till 8 pm and its the worst feeling ever.
I really don’t wish anyone to experience it.
It fucks up my whole day.

[SnoopyDoofie]

I wonder how pilots deal with this when they fly long distances.

[goldiefatale]

i feel terrible after all flights even in the same time zone..i feel bad because flying wears the body out. the time zone has little to do with it.

[jeeperscreepers]

Its day 2 after my 12 hour flight back to the east, writing this at 4am, wide awake....hi

[SomeoneCrazy]

Just get up when you have to and deal with being tired, you'll be back to normal in a few days. It's the only way, really.

[pbyt]

I have really bad Jet lag atm. I travelled eastward from Los Angeles to Dubai which is a 12 hour difference. Wish me luck.

[chrisms]

I lived underground for quite a few years. My docs say that it's part of the reason I'm so messed up. I've yet to recover a proper circadian rhythm even though it's been years since I lived in darkness.

[LEMMYLEMON]

It’s terrible to experience jet lag but it was so cool to go across Australia from east to west and my body actually woke up earlier. I could feel minor jet lag. Best of luck to the people reading this who are currently jet lagged

[thinkamc]

if you're 12 timezones apart from your current to target destination, what's the difference between going to bed one hour earlier versus one hour later, prior to the trip?

[tintiniitk]

Jet lag is more effective but easier to handle over shorter trips. I live in India. In 2019, I visited London which was 4.5 hours behind India. I was there all of 3 days, and ended up waking up 4 am and going to sleep by 9 pm almost involuntarily each day. It was weird at first, but I got used soon enough. It also helped me get back to the normal schedule once I was back in India.

[thursdayplurbonym-boyporri]

Tbh I just traveled for 10 hours straight and I'm actually dying

edit: 2 years later, 18 hours this time, so much fun

[nancyj.]

why is my whole entire life a jet lag:

[monikathomas]

I’d assume not many ppl could go to sleep at 17:00 or 5 pm with the traditional work schedule, so not sure how this could work

[myevilfish]

I left London and landed in New Zealand 5 days ago. It was a 36 hour flight. I'm now 13 hours ahead of my family and I'm not okay 😅I'm so exhausted I've started seeing spiders out of the corner of my eye. I've also caught myself talking out loud in public. Help!

[realshyttttt]

Thailand back to NYC, my jet lag is kinda crazy..

[alvajay_]

I live in Hong Kong. I came back from Canada (12 hours behind hk) yesterday and im experiencing a horrible jet lag 💀😭

[sefinjames]

nobody's gona talk about the guy's forward head posture?

[rossmorebaz]

the east thing you can actually do is to FAST .. ie avoid eating anything before and during the flight .. and only eat once you arrive ... google about fasting and Jet lag

[prepperjonpnw]

For pilots it’s easy. They simply sleep in flight while the autopilot is on lol.