Berkeley, When to travel through several time zones, people often experience jet lag.Recent studies have shown that people with chronic jet lag can have problems in memory or become forgetful.

Jet lag or also referred to the time zone change syndrome, is a sleep disorder because people who travel across several time zones. Jet lag is caused by interference with the body’s internal clock or circadian rhythm. The more time zones crossed, the greater the possibility of experiencing jet lag.

Symptoms caused if someone is having jet lag is feeling tired, lazy, lethargic after the trip, changes in bowel activity or experience constipation and can not sleep at night.

A study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, showed that chronic jet lag or a long-running can change the brain so that it can cause problems with memory and learning ability.

This is caused by continuous change in the brain, especially in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that plays a complex role in memory processing.

From this study, researchers found that research subjects who experienced chronic jet lag has only half of new neurons in the hippocampus after a month of experiencing jet lag.

In fact, should continue to grow new neurons in the hippocampus da important to the learning process that depends on the hippocampus. Decreasing the number of new neurons causing memory problems associated with the maturation of cells in brain structure.

“This is the first time carried out controlled trials of the effects of jet lag on the brain and memory function. And we not only found that cognitive function was disrupted for jet lag, but we see the impact until a month afterward,” said Lance Kriegsfeld, professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and member of the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute.

These findings have been published in PLoS ONE.

People who travel far better to reduce the symptoms of jet lag does not last for long and become chronic. Here are some ways to reduce feelings of jet lag:

Before flight

1. Create a training plan to conform with the time in the city of destination, such as diet.
2. Get used to regulate sleep patterns to a new time zone a week before the 3.airlines, like when I wake up and go to sleep.
3. Get used to perform work in accordance with the time zone to be addressed.
4. If you wish to attend an event, give yourself enough time to overcome jet lag, try to destinations at least 3 days before the event.

During flight

1. If you will arrive to the destination city in the daytime, try to sleep during the flight. If you have problems with insomnia, ask for a sleeping pill that enables people wake up without headaches or dizziness after 4 to 6 hours of sleep.
2. Reducing alcohol intake and avoid coffee and tea.
3. Eating foods high in carbohydrates but not in large quantities.
4. Consumption of sufficient fluids during the flight.
5. If you must arrive at night, you should refrain from sleeping on the plane. Able to perform static activities or take a walk on the plane if possible.

Upon arrival at destination

1. Light rays can help the body’s physiological clock, so affected by exposure to sunlight outdoors is recommended.
2. Do not go to sleep if it reached during the day.
3. Increase fluid intake when they arrive at the destination.
4. Do not jump on the move, let your body rest for at least the first 2 days.

By following these steps, the symptoms of jet lag after long flights will be reduced, thus also reducing the impact is more severe in the brain.