Sleep After Transmeridian Flights

Disturbed sleep-wake patterns during and after short-term international travel among academics attending conferences

“…Neither poor-quality sleep nor reduced sleep duration was observed among westward travelers, but sleep timing was affected. Our data at the eastward destinations are consistent with aircrew data that were collected during layovers following eastward flights (Graeber 1989;Graeber et al 1986;Lowden and Akerstedt 1999;Nicholson et al 1986). The results observed at the westward destinations agree with those of previous research using activity-based methods to measure the sleep of aircrews who flew westwards (Gander et al 1989;Harma et al 1994b), except for reports showing increased activity during the layover sleep following a westward flight (Lowden and Akerstedt 1998b;Sasaki et al 1993).…”

“…Previous research has documented that sleep-wake patterns of aircrews are disrupted at destinations (Graeber 1989;Graeber et al 1986;Nicholson et al 1986;Sasaki et al 1993;Spencer et al 1991;Waterhouse et al 1997). Similar consequences are likely among business travelers, but the way in which international travel affects sleep-wake patterns after the travelers return home is largely unknown.…”

“…We focused on variations in the sleep-wake patterns of travelers after their return home. Since jet-lag effects of eastward and westward flights are reported to differ (Graeber 1989;Graeber et al 1986;Nicholson et al 1986), data obtained are presented separately according to the direction of travel.…”

A Phase 3, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Armodafinil for Excessive Sleepiness Associated With Jet Lag Disorder

“…[1][2][3][4] Effects tend to be more severe when a greater number of time zones are traversed, and following eastbound travel. 2,5,6 Although the percentage of people flying across multiple time zones who develop jet lag disorder is unclear, it is estimated that possibly up to two-thirds of all travelers experience jet lag and may experience symptoms such as excessive sleepiness during the day or insomnia. 2 A treatment for excessive sleepiness that promotes daytime wakefulness may be especially beneficial to travelers who have a limited amount of time at their destination, precluding a circadian readjustment.…”

Epworth Sleepiness Scale outcome in 616 brazilian medical students

“…This biphasic pattern was experimentally determined in young adults and elderly subjects tested for sleep latencies each two hours during a full 24-hour period 25 -31 . Two somnolence peaks were recorded, one between 0100 and 0600h, and the second between 1400 and 1800h' 3 -2 '\ This circadian sleepiness rhythm is part of a circadian system 25 . The acute sleepiness that shift workers and transmeridional flights travelers experience results from the placement of sleep and wakefulness at times that are out of phase with the pre-existing circadian rhythm 25 -2y .…”