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Ratigue is a sensation we all experience, at least to some
degree. It may be the feeling of being wiped out at the end
of a busy day at work or a long day at some recreational
activity. Fatigue of this kind usually responds to a good
night's rest and is gone in the morning. More significantly,
fatigue may be chronic, the feeling of being mentally and
physically tired all the time. Long lasting fatigue is so
overwhelming that sometimes you are all but bedridden.
This sort of fatigue may be associated with illness, often
with severe illness.
Chronic fatigue is a common medical complaint whose cause is
often very difficult to diagnose according to many doctors.
And it may be a symptom of countless medical conditions, such
as an underactive thyroid gland, diabetes, mononucleosis,
lyme disease, or anemia. However, chronic fatigue - a daily
lack of energy - is very often a result of circumstances and
lifestyle choices. If your doctor has found no underlying
reason for your fatigue, taking a long, hard look at those
circumstances and choices is in order.
A good night's sleep leaves you energized and alert in the
morning and plays a big role in your overall health and well
being. No one is certain why this is so. Some researchers
suggest that sleep gives your body tissues time to recover
from daily wear and tear, others that it restores brain
function. A bad night, on the other hand, leave you with
slower reaction times, poorer concentration, and a smaller
pool of energy from which to draw the next day. People vary
widely in their sleeping patterns: Some feel rested after
five hours' sleep, others need nine or 10. And sleep-wake
patterns change as you age, with elderly people experiencing
more wakefulness during the night than they did when younger.
If you wake up feeling tired and are not comfortably alert
during the day, you are not getting the sleep your body needs.
Exercise also has a bearing on your health and now many experts
believe that exercise may be the best way to stave off fatigue.
Vigorous activity is energizing because it wakes up the nervous
system and speeds up the metabolic rate. A fast metabolic rate
ensures a good supply of energy leaving a person feeling less
fatigued, not only during the exercise session but for up to
eight hours afterward. Over the long term, exercise leads to
physical fitness, the stamina to do more and endure more without
fatigue.
Another factor that may contribute to fatigue is poor eating
habits. What you eat and when you eat it can have profound
effects on your energy level throughout the day. Food is our
source of fuel and of essential vitamins and minerals.
Carbohydrates provide the body's preferred fuel: glucose.
A diet rich in complex carbohydrates such as grains, cereals,
and starchy vegetables provides the best staying power because
these foods are digested slowly. Simple sugars in candy or
cookies on the other hand, can cause a sudden surge of glucose
in the blood, quickly followed by a drop in blood sugar and a
feeling of tiredness.
In addition to providing fuel for the body's cells, food triggers
the release of certain chemical messengers, or neurotransmitters,
in the brain either to energize or to calm us. You should plan your
individual meals to work in your favor. For instance, a good
balanced breakfast will boost your energy during the morning.
A high-protein lunch lays the groundwork for a productive
afternoon, and a high-carbohydrate dinner will prepare you for
a sound night's sleep and the replenishment of your energy pool.
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