Jet lag medically referred to as desynchronosis and rarely as circadian dysrhythmia, is a physiological condition which results from alterations to the body's circadian rhythms resulting from rapid long-distance transmeridian (east-west or west-east) travel on high-speed aircraft.
Generally, all patients who had surgery under general anesthesia will suffer from sleep disturbances. This is also termed as post-operative jet lag. This patient can experience the jet lag for about a period of 2-3 days, which can set back their recovery.
Therefore, University of Auckland researchers used the bees to determine why patients lose track of time post-operation. For this they used bees for their research. The bees were anesthetized for six hours and they woke them up at 3 pm, in spite of having a jet lag, these bees did a waggle dance when they were exposed to the sun as if the time was 9 in the morning.
Associate Professor Guy Warman had stated that the sun light exposure was the key to reduce chemically-induced jet lag. He explained that the bees had an inbuilt sun compass that they used to navigate and move their bodies with the time they thought it was.
This technique had been researched on kidney donor patients because these operations will take place in the early morning hours. The patients are exposed to blue light and post-surgery helped them resume to the usual sleep patterns without any jet lag.
Professor Warman will present his findings at the annual meeting of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in Auckland.
Generally, all patients who had surgery under general anesthesia will suffer from sleep disturbances. This is also termed as post-operative jet lag. This patient can experience the jet lag for about a period of 2-3 days, which can set back their recovery.
Therefore, University of Auckland researchers used the bees to determine why patients lose track of time post-operation. For this they used bees for their research. The bees were anesthetized for six hours and they woke them up at 3 pm, in spite of having a jet lag, these bees did a waggle dance when they were exposed to the sun as if the time was 9 in the morning.
Associate Professor Guy Warman had stated that the sun light exposure was the key to reduce chemically-induced jet lag. He explained that the bees had an inbuilt sun compass that they used to navigate and move their bodies with the time they thought it was.
This technique had been researched on kidney donor patients because these operations will take place in the early morning hours. The patients are exposed to blue light and post-surgery helped them resume to the usual sleep patterns without any jet lag.
Professor Warman will present his findings at the annual meeting of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in Auckland.