(HealthDay is the new name for HealthScoutNews.)
SUNDAY, July 27, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Overseas vacations are great fun, but jet lag can leave you miserable if you don't take precautions to reduce its impact.
Jet lag occurs when you travel across several time zones in one day and your internal body clock gets out-of-step with the time at your destination. The more time zones you cross in a day, the more likely you are to suffer jet lag, and it's usually worse when you travel from west to east, says the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Symptoms include sleep problems that can lead to fatigue, difficulty concentrating, weakness, memory problems, clumsiness and irritability. Headache, appetite loss and upset stomach are other symptoms of jet lag.
The AAFP offers some suggestions on how to prevent and treat jet lag. They include:
More information
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more about jet lag.