Medical experts explain the causes and symptoms of jet lag

Medical experts from the Fnomceo platform, ‘Dottore ma è vero che…?’, have provided insights into jet lag, describing it as a temporary imbalance of the internal biological clock rather than a disease. The condition occurs when there is a misalignment between an individual's circadian rhythm—which regulates sleep, body temperature, and other functions—and the local time of a new destination.

Jet lag typically manifests when traveling across more than three time zones, with eastward flights often proving more challenging than westward ones. Common symptoms include difficulty falling asleep or early waking, daytime drowsiness, concentration issues, digestive disturbances, general malaise, and mood changes. Recovery time varies by individual but generally requires approximately one day for every time zone crossed.