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…

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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……

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……

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……

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……

Mealing timing and fatigue

Our bodies perform best when given a regular supply of food throughout the day rather than one large meal. This means that to start maximising your energy you need to have a good think about when you eat your meals, and how much you have. Once you find a good pattern of eating you will……

How hard do I need to exercise to burn fat?

This is probably one of the most common questions people ask about exercise and weight loss; and the most poorly understood. The answer to this question comes down to the intensity and time you spend exercising. We burn two fuels simultaneously, carbohydrate and fat. However, the proportion of each that we burn varies depending on……

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……

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……

Exercise and physical activity. How to finding the balance

Active living is a way of life in which physical activity and exercise are valued and integrated into daily life in a fun and enjoyable way. In other words, seeing physical activity as an opportunity not a chore. Remember being busy does not necessarily mean that you are active! Physical activity is any body movement……

When should I sleep?

Our levels of alertness and attention are influenced by our circadian rhythms, as shown in the figure below. Circadian rhythms allow us to feel more alert during the day and less alert during the evening. This is the primary reason it is difficult to stay awake at night and why we may struggle to sleep……