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intl flyers die early?

Quote:

Jet lag shortens life span of older mice, study says

By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay via Gannet News Service
If flying to London throws off your body clock for a few days, be happy you're not a rodent. According to a new study, elderly mice die earlier if they're exposed to time shifts that replicate the effects of jet lag.

While there's no indication that older humans shorten their lives by flying across time zones or doing shift work, the research does suggest there might be a potential problems, said study co-author Gene Block, a professor of biology at the University of Virginia.

"Most people report it's more difficult to cross time zones as they age," he said. "But whether it's really deleterious or not, we don't know yet. And we don't know if there is cumulative damage, whether those exposures create problems later on in life."

One thing seems clear: Older mice have a hard time tolerating shifts in patterns of light and dark. In both humans and rodents, light acts to synchronize body clocks and adjust sleeping patterns. Traveling across multiple time zones or changing work shifts can throw off those internal systems, however.

Block and his colleagues were inspired to launch their new study after they noticed that a large number of older rats died after undergoing changes in how they were exposed to light.

In the new study, the researchers experimented on young mice and old mice that were 28 to 32 months old, the rough equivalent of a human who's between 70 and 90. Through changes in light, the time clocks of one group of mice were shifted ahead six hours once a week — the equivalent of flying from the East Coast of the United States to Europe. Essentially, morning and night came six hours later for the mice.

Other mice were shifted backward by six hours once a week, while another group didn't undergo any time shift at all.

Nearly all the young animals "did fine" and survived the time shifts, Block said. And 83% of the old mice survived under the unchanged schedule.

But only 47% of the old mice survived the forward time shift, and 68% survived the backward time shift.

"It appears that eastward adjustments are more difficult — advances are more difficult than delays," Block said.

The results are in the Nov. 7 issue of the journal Current Biology.

In searching to explain the findings, the researchers at first thought the older mice were simply stressed out, but tests suggested that wasn't the case.

One possibility is that the changes in schedule deprived the mice of sleep, Block said. "Another possibility would be that the immune system can be compromised in animals with altered light schedules," he said.

Dr. Bob Vorona, a sleep specialist and associate professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School who's familiar with the study findings, said there are some signs that changes in light schedules can harm humans, too.

According to Vorona, shift work has been associated with higher rates of breast cancer and heart problems. One Israeli study even showed a higher rate of mental problems in tourists who traveled through multiple time zones.

For now, Block isn't recommending that anyone stop traveling. But, the findings should make people more alert to "the fact that time-zone changes can be stressful" and require proper rest and recovery, he said.

Chase the money by flying all the Intl you can, and then die early. Or even just back side of the clock flying hub turns. I think i'll stick to day flying and stay senior. Make less money, more time with family, live longer. of course to Jack i would be "part of the probelm".:)

The numbers posted in that article mean absolutely zilch... more of the older mice died than the younger mice.. wow.. what a finding. The number they should have put in the article is the difference in the rate of death of the older mice that were timeshifted vs. the older mice control group. Obviously the reporter doesn't understand what he was reporting on/statistics or he threw out the wrong numbers to make it newsworthy....can you say truthiness? I thought you could!

Nobody is getting out of this life alive and everyone has to die of something. Personally I'd rather enjoy my life while flying around the world, seeing places and meeting people that I'd otherwise never have had the chance to experience. Have you every had a massage in Bangkok, Manila, Hong Kong, or Shanghi? Spent any time on Manley or Bondi beaches in Sydney? Ever taken the tram to the top of the mountain in Vancouver? IMHO, any of these beats the crap out of a layover in Lubbock, St. Louis, Fresno, Baltimore, etc, etc. Besides, the last around-the-world trip I did had 8 legs in 14 days. Stress, you betcha.. Throw me in that briar patch. The other day I did a one-legger from IAD to MEM, except we were held for two hours at IAD before they gave us a new flight plan to first go to DSM and then into MEM. Believe me, this domestic stuff is not all that great either. And we've not even hit winter yet.

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Originally Posted by Jetjok (Post 78964)

a massage in Bangkok

Did you know that Thai massage is code for prostitution? My husband and I were in Bangkok and went to a local joint. We got two very young girls who represented themselves as "experienced," but even they thought it was perverted that we wanted our massages together in the same dingy room. After checking out the goods (us), the more senior girl said to the other: "you take the pasty looking white guy and I'll take the hot chick." ;) At the end of an hour, I think the girls should stick to being hookers because they knew nothing about the fine art of Thai massage. :rolleyes:

You can't get a massage and a "happy ending" in Lubbock.

Platinum Plus MEM... best in the USA.

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Originally Posted by vagabond (Post 78972)

Did you know that Thai massage is code for prostitution?

That's not always true madam. One block from the Grand Sukhuvit hotel in Bangkok, on the second floor, right below their sign, is a fantastic massage salon. They give a really nice massage, sans happy ending. You're in a robe and the massuse is dressed as well. Granted you can easily find the other kind as well, but I wasn't talking about them, although they also have their place in the grand scheme of things. But you madam, are one wild and crazy girl. A foursome. Very cool. Besides, why are you hanging around with a "pasty looking white guy" anyway?

My goodness, you have the wrong impression of me! We did not have a foursome; we were looking for a massage salon and the tuk tuk driver decided for us the exact place to have such a massage. Alas, there was no happy ending for anyone.

The pasty looking white guy is my husband. Been hanging around him for 20 years. No choice really. ;) It might have been a different story if I had my Captain Alaska with me. :)

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Amen! I have done many of those things, especially Manley and Bondi in Sydney. :) I wouldn't trade my travels for a few extra years of life. (if that is really the case.) Anyone can get a study published. And even if this study is truly scientific, I still wouldn't trade my experiences of travel and meeting new friends from all over the world. Life is too short to not enjoy it.

Reference massage verses the other thing...

A few years back I was in Singapore on a DACT deployment. I found a great beauty shop that did the massage, haircut, backrub, etc etc. Several squadron mates inquired about "happy endings...", but to my knowledge that wasn't on the menu there. I pointed out that I had a beautiful, loving wife at home and enjoyed a happy, healthy sex life. However--after 10 years of marriage, there was no way in hell I could talk my spouse into giving me a backrub for over an hour! So...I was going to enjoy what was being offered. I don't think I could have enjoyed anything else any more than those haircuts and massages....