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Jetlag and its effects
For most of us, it is just a matter of feeling tired for a few days but scientists claim it could go further than that.
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Kayte Platts Tuesday 30 November 2010 |
For most, jet lag is just merely a matter of feeling rather tired for a few days. However, scientists are claiming it could also play havoc with your memory for some time after your holiday is over.
Experiments carried out suggest that repeated re-setting of the body clock affects the brain’s memory hub, which can lead to forgetfulness, making it hard to learn.
The work was carried out on animals, but the researchers believe that jet lag has implications for frequent fliers as well as shift workers.
As expected, during the jet lag period, the hamsters had trouble learning simple tasks. However, the effects persisted after the animals started to sleep normally.
The disruption to their body clock, or circadian rhythms, also meant the creatures had fewer mature cells in the brain’s memory hub.
The impact was seen up to a month afterward. It would appear not to matter whether you are a flight attendant or rotating shift worker, repeated disruption of circadian rhythms is likely to have a long-term impact on cognitive behaviour and function.
Previous research has linked the constant crossing of time zones with learning and memory problems, decreased reaction times, increasing incidences of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer, and reduced fertility.
Dr Kriegsfield, who was responsible for the research, says that "the evidence is overwhelming that disruptions in circadian timing have a direct impact on humans".
Jet lag does tend to kick in on journeys that involve travelling across more than three time zones. Eastward journeys, such as those to Asia, tend to be more problematic than Westward ones, as the body finds it harder to adjust to a shorter day than to a longer one.
Experts advise that people allow one day of recovery for every one-hour time zone shift.
| Comments | Post a comment |
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Ashley, Glasgow 30 November 2010, 05:00PM | |
Personally i believe that the way our brains work and fuction are different to those of a animal so the consequences that are found of jet lag in animals might not necessarily apply to humans. | |
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Jenny Fitzgerald, Nottingham 1 December 2010, 07:04PM | |
I think these findings make interesting reading. I travel a lot and I find jet lag a real problem as I do not often have the luxury of upper class travel facilities. I find it almost impossible to sleep aboard a plane. | |
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Sophie, Newcastle 2 December 2010, 03:17PM | |
I can relate to this as I am a frequent flyer and have been for a number of years. I have in the last few years noticed that each time I return from a trip I seem to take longer to recover from jet lag. | |
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Simon Alton 2 December 2010, 03:44PM | |
I suffer terribly with jet lag whenever I travel transatlantic, any new research and solutions can only be a good thing in my mind. | |
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Kerry, Cheapside 3 December 2010, 09:30AM | |
I do suffer from jetlag when I travel economy as the seats are obviously not the best. However when I travel on business and get the luxury of travelling business class find that I recover alot more quickly as the seats are more comfortable and I generally tend to sleep on most of the journey. Therefore I am not convinced about the recent research I think it is probably more to do with the level of service you get when flying. | |
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Lucie, Everton 6 December 2010, 01:48PM | |
Jetlag is bound to have an effect on humans. When so many of us now travel to the other side of the world we are bound do be effected. I think this research is rubbsih and a complete waste of time. | |
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Jet Lag is much more of a problem than the general public realise. I know many flight crews who are unable to sleep properly during their rest periods when flying from Europe to the Far East, and have had plenty of experience of this myself. | |
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Lewis, The City 10 December 2010, 05:36PM | |
I agree with Sophie, I travel a lot with work and after every single trip time it takes me to recover from jet lag seems to get longer and longer. | |
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Finn, Beckenham 24 March 2011, 01:50PM | |
I found it intersting reading this article as I used to suffer from terrible Jetlag when I flew economy. Luckily in the last few years I have been able to fly upper class and having more comfortable seats makes a huge difference. | |
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PaulM, London 16 May 2011, 10:21AM | |
Nice article. I travel a lot with my line of work and have suffered terribly. I found getting a good sleep and cutting out the booze helped a lot. I have tried tons of other techniques from wrist bands to supplements, the best I can recommend is called Protex H. My wife was given a few packs through work to test out so she used me as the guinea pig! | |
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