How ‘jet lag' could be making you depressed — even if you didn't travel anywhere
Jet lag is a common occurrence after long flights. Flyers can feel tired and struggle with digestive issues because their internal biological clock, also known as their circadian rhythm, isn't aligned with their new time zone.
Now, researchers are warning of a phenomenon called 'internal jet lag.' A startling examination of young Australians who sought mental health treatment revealed that some of these patients appeared to have jet lag symptoms — even though they didn't travel.
Advertisement
4 Jet lag is when a person's internal biological clock, also known as their circadian rhythm, isn't aligned with the new time zone after flying.
EdNurg – stock.adobe.com
'We analyzed participants' core body temperature, cortisol levels and melatonin levels, which we know play important roles in how our bodies manage the circadian rhythm — our 24-hour cycles — which regulate things like wakefulness and sleep,' said Joanne Carpenter of the University of Sydney.
'When we looked at these three measures in young people who presented to mental health services, we found that 23% of patients were experiencing a kind of physiological jet lag.'
Advertisement
The peculiar findings suggest that healthcare providers should target biological clocks when treating mood disorders.
Mood disorders can be characterized by persistent sadness (depression), extreme happiness (mania) or a combination of both (bipolar disorder).
4 'Internal jet lag' is when biological 'clocks are not just delayed but not lining up with each other.' It could be linked to mental health disorders.
Marco – stock.adobe.com
The new study featured two sets of participants. The first group were 69 people aged 16 to 35 who visited a mental health clinic in Sydney.
Advertisement
The other group of 19 young people didn't have a history of mental illness.
The participants swallowed a sensor that continuously logged their body temperature. The researchers also measured their sleep and the circadian-related hormones melatonin and cortisol.
Your body naturally produces melatonin, which helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle by signaling that it's time for bed.
Advertisement
Cortisol, meanwhile, prepares the body for activity upon waking.
'We were able to measure melatonin and cortisol levels using saliva samples in the lead up to sleep and after participants woke,' Carpenter said.
'[This] is the first time these key markers of the circadian rhythm have been combined with body temperature to study how circadian rhythms might be misaligned in people with mood disorders.'
4 This graphic from the study shows correlations between circadian measures and depressive symptoms in youth with emerging mood disorders.
sagepub
Carpenter's team found that at least two of these circadian rhythm measures were out of sync in 23% of the mental health patients.
She described 'internal jet lag' as when the 'clocks are not just delayed but not lining up with each other.'
'While we do see teenagers sleeping later because of normal developmental shifts in the body clock to later timing across adolescence, what we are seeing here is a more extreme kind of circadian disruption,' Carpenter explained.
Advertisement
'This is similar to the disruption we see when traveling across time zones or undertaking shift work, when the body clock becomes out of sync with the external environment,' she added.
The study authors noted that the findings — published this week in the Journal of Biological Rhythms — don't establish 'internal jet lag' as a cause of mental disorders.
They did find a link between greater depressive symptoms and core body temperature cycles running on an earlier clock than other rhythms and sleep-wake patterns.
4 More research is needed to explore the potential relationship between body clock and mental health to better understand mood disorders.
kwanchaift – stock.adobe.com
Advertisement
They acknowledged that their sample sizes were small and their data was collected over just one sleep cycle.
Also, a few participants in the 'healthy' group showed signs of clock misalignment.
More research is needed to explore the potential relationship between body clock and mental health to better understand mood disorders, which are often treated with a combination of therapy and medication.
'This strong early evidence opens up exciting new ways we can study and potentially treat common mental health disorders and hopefully improve the lives the thousands of young Australians living with depression anxiety,' Carpenter said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Aussie researchers warn of 'unintended' Starlink issue amid growing adoption
Australian researchers are highlighting a frustrating problem in the skies above us as the growing number of satellites providing high-speed internet connectivity are having unintended consequences, potentially hindering our ability to understand the universe. New research has shown how the satellite technology of private companies like Starlink — increasingly relied upon by Aussies — is inadvertently interfering with the ability of researchers to study the depths of the cosmos. The warning comes after astronomers in Western Australia undertook the world's biggest study of low frequency satellite radio emissions. And it comes at a particularly critical time as construction continues in the state on what will become the world's largest radio telescope — a massive project known as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) that promises to help answer some of the biggest questions in the field. "It's going to be the largest radio telescope of all time, and it's looking for very faint signals from the early universe," PhD candidate and study lead Dylan Grigg told Yahoo News Australia. "And so what we wanted to do was understand the prevalence of satellites at the frequencies that the Square Kilometre Array would be looking over." The researchers essentially took an image of the sky every two seconds for about a month, totalling some 76 million images. "We detected a lot of satellites in the images. The overwhelming majority of those were Starlink satellites," Grigg said. "And what we found was that they're not transmitting at their designated downlink frequency, there's some emissions coming from some electronics on board the satellites." At some frequencies about a third of the images were ultimately impacted, and the disturbance was observed at frequencies that are set aside for radio astronomy. For instance, 703 satellites were identified at 150.8 MHz, which is meant to be protected for radio astronomy. While Starlink, which had more than 7,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit during the period when the study was carried out, isn't doing anything wrong, the devices "just happen to be [emitting] over frequencies that radio astronomers will want to be conducting science with the SKA," Grigg said. Industry and academia clash as space fills up Australians in regional areas have increasingly adopted Starlink's internet services, with the company previously saying it has more than 200,000 local subscribers. While many residents in the bush rely on it for fast home internet, caravan travellers also take it on the road to stay connected at campgrounds and remote spots around the country. The WA astronomers don't dispute the boon the service provides, but hope the research will help lead to solutions to ensure scientists and private business can operate in harmony. "We've had a dialogue ongoing with SpaceX about it. They've made good mitigations in the past for optical astronomy, like they've painted their satellites with a darker paint, and they've put visors up on them. So we're hoping that by doing a study like this, we can continue the dialogue with them and hopefully see if we can get them to make some similar mitigations for radio as well." With Amazon launching satellites in a bid to compete with Starlink, and a raft of other companies launching their own satellites for various networks including emerging direct to mobile technology, low-Earth orbit is becoming an increasingly busy place. "Starlink isn't the only satellite network, but it is by far the biggest and its emissions are now increasingly prominent in our data," Executive Director of the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy and study co-author Steven Tingay said in a statement. New SKA project puts astronomy on 'edge of golden era' Being assembled at more than 500 sites in the Australian outback and due to be finished by the end of the decade, the SKA will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope on the planet. The international project has been likened to one of the world's biggest science experiments that will be able to peer back into the earliest time of the universe. "It'll be a game-changer," Grigg told Yahoo News. Professor Tingay said it will help answer some of the most important questions we have. "We're standing on the edge of a golden era where the SKA will help answer the biggest questions in science: how the first stars formed, what dark matter is and even test Einstein's theories," he said. "But it needs radio silence to succeed. We recognise the deep benefits of global connectivity but we need balance, and that starts with an understanding of the problem, which is the goal of our work." Their research highlighting the "unintended Starlink broadband emission on radio astronomy" in the SKA bands was published this month in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
10,000 steps a day and 4 other fitness myths debunked
Whether you prefer the treadmill or a countryside ramble, you will have no doubt heard that walking 10,000 steps a day is the ideal fitness goal. And despite its non-health-related origins (it's actually thought to originate from a Japanese ad campaign ahead of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, as the symbol for the number looks like someone walking), this seemingly arbitrary number has since become the global standard. But while there are many benefits of walking – not least that it improves mental health, increases stamina and endurance, burns calories and improves cardiovascular and brain health – do we really need to be walking so many steps each day to improve our health and fitness levels? According to a new study by the University of Sydney, which examined data from dozens of studies from around the world, including in the UK, the answer is: no – ish. The research instead found that walking just 7,000 steps a day is likely enough to protect ourselves against diseases and improve our longevity. It discovered that people who walked 7,000 steps each day appeared to have a protective effect against a number of diseases including: a 25% lower risk of heart disease; a 14% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes; a 38% lower risk of dementia and 22% reduced risk of depression. The experts behind the study said of their findings: "Although 10,000 steps per day can still be a viable target for those who are more active, 7,000 steps per day is associated with clinically meaningful improvements in health outcomes and might be a more realistic and achievable target for some. "7,000 steps per day was associated with sizeable risk reductions across most outcomes, compared with the reference of 2,000 steps per day." So what's the truth behind other common fitness myths? Four other fitness myths – debunked 1. The heavier the weight, the better the gain Lifting weights can increase muscle mass, bone density and endurance, but requires consistency to see results. Some studies have also shown that you can improve muscular progression without lifting weights at all. It's also not just about the heaviness of the weight, but the amount of reps you do and how sustained the movements are over time. As Sam Quinn, personal training lead at Nuffield Health, explains to Yahoo UK: "You don't need to lift heavy weights to see improvements in performance, body composition or overall health. Resistance training offers a wide range of physical and psychological benefits and can be tailored to suit various goals. "Choosing the right load, selecting an appropriate number of repetitions, and allowing sufficient rest between sessions are all more important considerations than simply lifting heavy if you want to see and feel a difference." 2. Cardio alone will achieve weight loss Cardio generally burns more calories than weight training, but the latter changes your body's composition and builds lean muscle – which in turn can improve your resting metabolic state, the number of calories you burn while at rest. Your diet also plays a big part in weight loss. Quinn stresses that just because you burn calories at the gym, it doesn't mean you can then eat whatever and still expect to see results. He says: "It's unrealistic. Weight loss is best achieved through a calorie-controlled diet paired with an exercise plan tailored to your personal goals and needs. Simply exercising and then eating without consideration won't help you reach your goals." 3. No pain, no gain We're sometimes told by fitness instructors and PTs that "pain is weakness leaving the body". But while a bit of discomfort and fatigue is natural, pain isn't really what you should be feeling during a workout, according to Quinn. "It is an outdated and misleading approach to exercise," he tells Yahoo UK. "Pain during a workout can be a warning sign of injury, and training to the point of exhaustion – particularly for beginners – can compromise technique and hinder progress." He adds: "Extreme soreness that lasts for days suggests the workout was too intense for your current ability. Prolonged muscle soreness often indicates that the exercise selection, load or volume was excessive and not suitable for your current level." According to NHS Scotland, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) – AKA, stiffness and aches in the muscles following exercise – can last between two to five days, and can be eased with an ice pack, light stretching and painkillers. However, if you've injured yourself, you may notice: pain tenderness swelling bruising stiffness ...in which case, it's best to avoid exertion and to rest the affected part of the body for 48 to 72 hours to prevent further damage. If your symptoms are especially bad or persist for longer, talk to your GP. 4. You need expensive gym equipment As we all learnt during lockdowns, you don't need expensive reformer Pilates machines, Peloton bikes and gym memberships for a successful workout – however nice and fancy they are. Rather, you can use household items, handweights or even your body weight during your HIIT sessions or exercise regime as well as getting outside for a brisk walk or jog. You can also use free fitness tutorials for everything from yoga and Pilates, to circuit training. Some free workouts include: The NHS' Better Health site Joe Wicks' no equipment full body workout Yoga With Adriene's neck, shoulder and upper back yoga routine Read more about fitness and exercise 5 simple lifestyle tweaks to make in your 50s to help you live longer (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) How Rod Stewart stays fit at 80 (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read) Science Says Introverts Like Me Should Hate The Gym. Here's How I Learned To Love It Anyway (Huff Post, 4-min read)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Revealed: The number of steps you need to improve your life expectancy
Walking 7,000 steps a day is the sweet spot for preventing many chronic diseases that can lead to an early death, a major study has shown. While the goal of 10,000 daily steps has become firmly established in the public consciousness, an international team of researchers found even a modest amount of walking brings major benefits. British scientists said it finally 'debunked the myth' of 10,000 steps and should encourage people to try and hit the lower target. The major review of 57 studies involving 160,000 adults, which was published in The Lancet, concluded that for most conditions health benefits tended to level off beyond 7,000 steps. Hitting 7,000 steps a day was found to reduce all-cause-mortality by 47 per cent, cardiovascular disease by 25 per cent, cancer by six per cent, diabetes by 14 per cent, dementia by 38 per cent and depression by 22 per cent. Health benefits were also apparent from 4,000 steps when compared to 'inactive' people who walked just 2,000, the study led by the University of Sydney found. Every extra 1,000 steps brought better outcomes, researchers found. Commenting on the study, Steven Harridge, professor of human and applied physiology at King's College London, said: 'Humans are designed to be physically active – our evolutionary heritage as hunter gatherers. 'There has been debate about the amount of activity an individual should be doing with 10,000 steps as a generalised target, not well evidenced. 'This paper shows that 7,000 steps is sufficient for reducing the risk for most diseases covered, and 10, 000 steps does not confer much additional benefit.' According to World Health Organisation data, insufficient physical activity is the fourth most frequent cause of death in the world, with 3.2 million deaths a year related to physical inactivity. Many health organisations recommend hitting 10,000 steps a day, although there is little evidence for the target, which is believed to have arisen from a Japanese marketing campaign in the 1960s. In the run-up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the company Yamasa sought to capitalise on the sudden interest in fitness, so designed the world's first wearable step-counter. They called it the Manpo-kei, or '10,000-step meter'. The company appears to have chosen the figure at random, as a fun goal, but it has stuck ever since. The new paper found that for heart disease, walking more than 7,000 steps was beneficial, but for most conditions there was little gain from putting in more said it was still unclear why walking brings such striking benefits but said it is likely to increase cardiorespiratory fitness, which is known to be positively associated with better health and all-cause mortality outcomes. Commenting on the research, Dr Daniel Bailey, an expert in sedentary behaviour and health at Brunel University of London, said the 7,000 steps target was more achievable for many people than 10,000 steps. 'Just adding more steps from your starting point can have important benefits for health,' he said. 'This study adds to existing evidence by showing that the more steps people do, the less their risk of developing different health conditions. 'The finding that doing 5,000-7,000 steps per day is beneficial, is an important addition to the literature which helps to debunk the myth that 10,000 steps per day should be the target for optimal health.' The Alzheimer's Society also welcomed the study saying it demonstrated that inactivity is a major risk factor for dementia. Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at the charity said: 'It adds to the evidence that what's good for the heart is good for the head.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
