Jet lag disorder

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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Factors that increase the likelihood you'll experience jet lag include:

  • Number of time zones crossed. The more time zones you cross, the more likely you are to be jet-lagged.
  • Flying east. You may find it harder to fly east, when you "lose" time, than to fly west, when you gain it back.
  • Being a frequent flyer. Pilots, flight attendants and business travelers are most likely to experience jet lag.
  • Being an older adult. Older adults may need more time to recover from jet lag than may younger adults.

DS01085

July 11, 2008

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