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…

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An introduction to sleep

Sleep is common throughout the animal kingdom. We do know there is still a lot to be leaned about sleep, despite considerable research. All animals require sleep and no permanent non sleeping species exists. Even plants and bacteria have a regular period of rest and inactivity. Humans spend one-third of their lives sleeping. Far from……

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……

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……

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……

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……

Anxiety and fatigue

While the symptoms of anxiety disorders change with the specific diagnosis, the common theme is an overwhelming sense of worry and the associated lack of concentration, feeling tired and irritable. To put it simply, anxiety is when you worry about being worried.  Feelings of anxiety are common in certain situations throughout life. However, when people……

Sleep & physical activity

Do I exercise or just have a sleep? It is not uncommon for people experiencing fatigue to put this down to lack of sleep, when in actual fact there are underlying physical and/or functional fitness problems. Physical or functional problems may be related to poor physical fitness, poor strength, inflexibility, injury, illness or inappropriate functional……

Top 10 sleep tips

Poor sleep habits have often been reinforced over many years. The good news is that there are some common things you can do that will improve your sleep hygiene. Different things may work for different people. The main thing is to try not to worry about not getting enough sleep. The odd poor night’s sleep……

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……

Body weight & fatigue

EXCESS BODY FAT INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF SOMEONE GETTING FATIGUED Imagine walking around all day with a backpack on containing a 10 kg brick. Wouldn’t you feel more tired at the end of the day? Well, body fat is “excess weight” you simply have to carry around. The more you have to carry, the more……