Picture this…You just got out of bed, as a matter of fact you’ve had more than the required 8 hours of sleep. You already feel tired and you haven’t opened your eyes yet. Stretching your aching body as you step out of bed is proving to be a struggle so you alternatively decide to save the little energy you can sum up and drag your body to the bathroom and freshen up.
This is a common phenomenon at this time and age especially with the change in lifestyles that has ascribed us to rather abnormal working hours. The reason behind this however is fatigue, which further explained is extreme tiredness resulting from illness or mental and physical exhaustion. It is true to say that fatigue affects persons of all ages and from all walks of life as it is manifested in a variety of ways.
According to a research done by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, fatigue should not only be blamed on busy lifestyles but other underlying causes like sickness and some of our eating habits. Eating too little; that is less than the required dietary needs, or eating unhealthy food especially in the morning is a major cause of fatigue. Eating foods high in sugar content like cakes early in the morning makes your blood sugar peak and drop instantaneously leaving you sluggish the entire day. Eating food like bread which contains gluten just before bed also causes the body to react in a manner likely to suggest fatigue the following morning. It is therefore advisable to eat food rich in protein and complex carbohydrates such as eggs and wholemeal pastries to ensure that your energy levels remain high as the food is slowly broken down.
Lack of sleep has however not been ruled out completely since the body needs enough sleep to ensure the body cells actively divide to yield new cells and more energy. Babies need about 16 hours of sleep a day while this varies in teenagers and the middle aged who need between 9 and 8 hours of sleep respectively. Generally, this shows that the older you get, the less sleep you need. Speaking of cells, Anaemia is also a cause of fatigue resulting from the body’s inability to produce enough red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body organs. Cases of anaemia can however be corrected by eating foods rich in iron such as lean meat or taking iron supplements.
Underactive thyroid is also a cause of fatigue. What’s a thyroid you may ask? Well, the thyroid gland is located in the neck and it controls metabolism; the speed at which the body converts the food you eat to energy. The condition associated with this is hypothyroidism and it can be corrected taking a blood test to confirm then synthetic hormones can be administered to bring your levels back up to normal. Other health conditions associated with fatigue include Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) which is commonly associated with a burning sensation when feeling the urge to pass urine. Though not an obvious symptom of fatigue, a visit to the doctor will lead to administration of antibiotics that will cure the UTI and ensure that the fatigue disappears along with it.
Diabetes and heart disease also cause fatigue for rather obvious reasons of wearing the body down. Diabetes is a condition that causes sugar to stay in the bloodstream instead of entering the body cells where it would be converted to energy used by the body in performing its functions. Heart disease is characterized by constantly being breathless especially after going up a flight of stairs or cleaning the house among others. After seeking medical advice, lifestyle changes and other therapeutic procedures are sure to bring the condition under control.
Depression is caused not only by emotional but physical symptoms as well. Fatigue, headaches and loss of appetite are among the most common physical symptoms. Seeking medical attention to treat depression is sure to lift the fatigue as well.
Conclusively, fatigue is not only caused by things we are subjected to but also the conditions we subject ourselves to. Eating a balanced meal at regular times of the day and having enough sleep are a sure way to kick out fatigue but generally having pleasant and relaxed thoughts also do the trick. Hoping you wake up happy and vibrant after reading this because fatigue is a choice you make.
