Introduction to Fatigue

Optimising sleep for night shift

In a 2018 article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ 2018;360:j5637 doi: 10.1136/bmj.j5637 [Published 1 March 2018]) the topic of optimsing sleep for night shift was covered with the aim to provide sleep management skills for the individual. The article presents the best evidence from trials, guidance material and expert opinion, but outlines the limited……

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Building fatigue resilient workplaces

Imagine being able to do everything in your working and personal life without thinking: “I don’t have the energy to do this”? The good news is that you can take steps to be more fatigue resistant…most of the time.Building fatigue resistance is like completing a puzzle each day. Think for a minute what makes completing……

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What can you do to manage fatigue?

Taking action against fatigue happens in two forms: 1) the action you take when you experience fatigue; and 2) the action you take to prevent fatigue and therefore become more fatigue resistant. Figure 1 below summarises the causes of fatigue and identifies the areas that need to be focused on to build fatigue resistance. Although……

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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……

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Why is fatigue a problem?

The consequences of fatigue are unpredictable. They can range in severity and should not be taken lightly. The simple act of falling asleep may result in something as harmless as lost production, but it could also cause an accident or catastrophic event, whereby you may injure or kill yourself and/or others! Fatigue typically leads to……

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Who is responsible for your fatigue?

Fatigue affects everyone, at some time or another!…making US ALL responsible! When someone is fatigued, who is the first person to experience the effects? That’s right…you are! You will experience the adverse effects of fatigue long before you have a fatigue-related incident. Anyone who has fallen asleep at the wheel will have felt the effects……

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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……

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What are the signs and symptoms of fatigue?

Some of the key signs to look out for are listed below. Drowsiness is an impaired awareness associated with a desire to sleep and signs include:errors in familiar tasksrepeated yawningdifficulty keeping eyes open, head nods, microsleepsirritability or impatiencememory loss or forgetfulness (e.g. not being able to remember the last 5min driving)difficulty concentrating/Dream-like thoughtsblurred visions, heavy……

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Assessing your Fatigue

Your personal safety, and the safety of those around you, is dependent on three factors when it comes to fatigue: recognition that you are feeling fatigued;understanding the potential consequences of an accident whilst doing the task; andtaking action to manage your fatigue. You may be able to do some tasks during times of fatigue if……

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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……

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When will fatigue occur?

The time of day affects fatigue, due mainly to the body’s circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are natural body rhythms that are driven by the cycle of day and night. The start of the cycle is typically linked to the rising of the sun, and the person getting out of bed after a night’s sleep. During……

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