Sleep medication

Sleeping medication may be helpful to overcome short term needs or significant life events, such as grief or high stress events. Sleeping medication can be used to improve sleep quantity and quality but should only be used for short periods to avoid dependency, as dependency will only lead to longer term sleep problems. It is…

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Types of mood disorders

Mental health can generally can be seperated into three categories: stress, anxiety, and depression and can all directly or indirectly increase the risk of fatigue. They are all common and treatable illnesses. Approximately 1 in 4 people will suffer from a mental illness throughout their lifetime. So it is likely that you or someone you……

What type of exercise should you do?

When you are planning activity you don’t have to choose one activity. Think outside the square. The only limit to Active Living is safety. There are three types of training that will improve physical and functional fitness: aerobic, strengthening and stretching. Aerobic activities Aerobic exercise is any extended activity that makes you breathe hard while……

Sleep medication

Sleeping medication may be helpful to overcome short term needs or significant life events, such as grief or high stress events. Sleeping medication can be used to improve sleep quantity and quality but should only be used for short periods to avoid dependency, as dependency will only lead to longer term sleep problems. It is……

What factors increase the risk of a fatigue-related incident?

The following factors have been found to increase the risk of fatigue-related incidents (e.g. lane crossings) and accidents By planning your journey more carefully, you are more likely to stay fresh and vigilant at the wheel, safeguarding your own safety and the safety of others. The strategies outlined in the Journey Planning Guiding Principles document……

Are you exercising hard enough?

A word of caution.If you have been inactive for a while, you may want to start with less strenuous activities such as walking or swimming at a comfortable pace. Beginning at a slow pace will allow you to become physically fit without straining your body. Once you are in better shape, you can gradually do……

Sleep debt

Sleep debt is the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep. Two kinds of sleep debt have been proposed: 1) partial sleep deprivation; or 2) total sleep deprivation. Partial sleep deprivation occurs when a person gets inadequate sleep for many days or weeks. Total sleep deprivation occurs when a person is kept awake for days……

How does alcohol affect sleep

Alcohol is a depressant that slows the nervous system down. It impacts on the quality of the naturally occurring sleep cycles, and can increase sleep disturbance. Some people will say, “alcohol helps them sleep.” This is true to a point! But it is also counter-productive. The figure below illustrates how alcohol affects sleep (red line).……

Exercise and sleep

Regular exercise can considerably improve the quality and quantity of sleep, as well as, having other benefits to general health and wellbeing. Exercise improves sleep by improving the release and uptake of neurotransmitters in the brain. This provides a positive environment for the brain to function allowing sleep to occur more naturally.There are some considerations……

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……

Smoking and sleep

Nicotine can hamper a person’s ability to fall asleep or get good quality sleep. Studies have shown that the average smoker gets 30 minutes less sleep compared to non-smokers. Trouble getting to sleep after a cigarette is likely due to the stimulatory effect of nicotine. Nicotine withdrawal during later sleep periods may also affect sleep……