Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- history of jet travel across at least 2 time zones
- difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep
- reduction of total sleep time
- daytime sleepiness
- reduced daytime alertness
Other diagnostic factors
- nausea, abdominal distension, constipation
- general malaise
- muscle cramps
Risk factors
- multiple time zones crossed and rapidity of travel
- sleep deprivation
- individual susceptibility to time zone shifts
- excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption
- stress
Diagnostic tests
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Ashish Adlakha, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor
Neurology and Sleep Medicine
UConn School of Medicine
VA Connecticut Healthcare
West Haven
CT
Disclosures
AA declares that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Ashish Adlakha would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Sudhansu Chokroverty, a previous contributor to this topic.
Disclosures
SC declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
David N. Neubauer, MD
Associate Director
Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center
Baltimore
MD
Disclosures
DNN has received consulting fees and honoraria for speaking programs from Sanofi-Aventis and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. These companies manufacture medications mentioned in this topic.
Peer reviewer acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.
Disclosures
Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.
References
Key articles
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders: Diagnostic and Coding Manual (ICSD-3). 3rd ed. Westchester, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2023.
Morgenthaler TI, Lee-Chiong T, Alessi C, et al. Practice parameters for the clinical evaluation and treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Sleep. 2007 Nov;30(11):1445-59.Full text Abstract
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Yellow Book 2024: health information for international travel. Section 8: Travel by air, land & sea - jet lag. May 2023 [internet publication].Full text
Herxheimer A, Petrie KJ. Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD001520.Full text Abstract
Reference articles
A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available here.
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