Jet lag running you down? A cure may be in sight thanks to this hormone

It's always been a mystery how jet lag affects some travellers and not others, but no more - the culprit is a hormone called vasopressin. Vasopressin is responsible for maintaining our internal clocks, and sensitive people can be more susceptible to its effects.
Researchers genetically engineered mice that do not respond to vasopressin. Both engineered and normal rodents lived in a set cycle of light and dark for 2 weeks. Then the researchers changed the light cycle by eight hours. And the vasopressin-insensitive mice recovered from their induced jet lag much more quickly than did their hormone-sensitive peers.
For many people, jet lag isn't simply an inconvenience. The symptoms can be extreme, causing your vacation to be wasted as you spend time catching up on sleep. While there's no cure for jet lag yet, the article Cutting Hormone Could Trip Jet Lag offers us a little hope that a remedy is on the way.
Get your own travel assistant, help with your trip and personal travel advice, all for free
More Travel Advice Like This
World's Longest Sea-Crossing Bridge is First Land Link Between 2 of Asia's Most Exciting Cities
TransportationThey're calling it a $20 billion 'umbilical cord'. The longest bridge in the world to...
Read More8 Facts About the Panama Canal
TransportationPanama is one of the fastest-growing destinations in Central America, and the Panama Canal is...
Read MoreLie Flat Beds in Economy Class? This Airline Says, "Yes, You Can!"
TransportationAn airline has cracked the code to providing some of the same comforts for economy...
Read MoreVideo: Take the Scenic Train from Alaska to Canada's Yukon
TransportationIt's only 20 miles from Skagway, Alaska's deepwater port on the coast, to the border...
Read More