Fitness levels

REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY leads to improved physical and functional (i.e. real-life, every day activities) fitness which has a major impact on reducing fatigue. This is because increasing fitness enables our bodies to operate more efficiently right throughout the day, which means our perceived effort to carry out daily activities is much less. If you do…

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Managing stress and Fatigue

Stress is something that has been with us for a long time. Even though the cause of our stress has changed, the response in the mind and body has remained the same. When stressed or in danger, the body engages its “fight or flight” response. This response evolved in ancient times when stressors were often……

What causes fatigue?

Fatigue is caused by a range of different factors. It is usually not just one factor but a combination of factors that will explain someone’s fatigue. Being able to characterise the symptoms will enable you to identify the underlying cause/s of your fatigue and take action to increase your fatigue resistance. The Fatigue Cause Model……

Mood & physical activity

Think about the last time you took a brisk walk. How did you feel afterwards? I bet you felt good! You don’t have to wait for the good feeling physical activity brings. It starts right away – and then gets better. Studies have shown that regular physical activity reduces stress-related symptoms and decreases the risk……

Energy requirements & fatigue

Eating too much food will provide more energy than we need for metabolic and activity needs, leaving the extra energy stores as body fat (weight). The greater your body weight, the more chance you are of experiencing fatigue. The graph below shows that, as body weight increases above 86kg for an average height man, and……

Meal type and fatigue

It is often promoted that foods high in carbohydrate make you drowsy because they increase the uptake of the amino acid tryptophan by the brain. Tryptophan is a chemical that can work together with another important brain chemical called serotonin, to help promote a calming effect and sleepiness. Foods rich in protein, however, increase production……

The impacts on circadian rhythm and melatonin production in visually impaired people

Light is captured through photoreceptors in the eyes which transmit this to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), or internal body clock, via a dedicated neural pathway. Each day the light-dark cycle resets the internal clock, which in turn synchronizes physiological and behavioural patterns known as our circadian rhythms. People who are visual impaired with no perception……

Fitness levels

REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY leads to improved physical and functional (i.e. real-life, every day activities) fitness which has a major impact on reducing fatigue. This is because increasing fitness enables our bodies to operate more efficiently right throughout the day, which means our perceived effort to carry out daily activities is much less. If you do……

What is fatigue?

Fatigue is not a condition, but rather a symptom of many different situations, illnesses or conditions and can be defined quite simply as a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy. The presentation of fatigue can be unpredictable and its causes diverse, making its management difficult. One thing is for sure: that each and……

What is fatigue amnesia?

Have you ever driven into your driveway at home and on arrival thought to yourself, How did I get here? I cannot recall the trip home or the last part of the trip. You may have suffered from fatigue amnesia. Amnesia, in simple terms, is the loss of memory. Fatigue amnesia is where a person……

10 nutrition tips to beat fatigue

Eat breakfast based on breads, cereals low fat dairy and fruit. Pack a lunchbox with snack including at least 2 pieces of fruit. Portion dinner plate correctly with half the plate coloured vegetables, ¼ the plate potato, rice, pasta or bread; and palm size portion of meat. Eat to be comfortably satisfied not full to……