General Article

Causes of Feeling Tired – What You Can Do to Stop Feeling Tired All the Time

Are you tired all the time? Do you feel like everyone around you has a million times more energy than you do? Do you wake up in the morning to your alarm clock and want nothing more than be able to go back to sleep for the rest of the day? Well, the causes of feeling tired and the contributing factors to your fatigue are specific and exclusive to your individual self. However, here are a few fundamental tips to help battle tiredness.

1. OVERSLEEPING does not help

Sleeping extra hours per night is not the solution to feeling tired all the time. Oversleeping is a contributing factor and one of the many causes of feeling tired. What is important is one’s quality of sleep, not quantity. It is important to evaluate sleep cycle’s and your body’s rhythm. Oversleeping disturbs your body’s natural rhythm and is counterproductive in battling fatigue.

2. CAFFEINE and other artificial stimulants (i.e. energy drinks) do not help

The human body clashes with the intake of caffeine and other artificial stimulants. If you are a coffee drinker and are puzzled by why you are still tired all the time despite drinking coffee all day long, you may want to take this to heart. To put it short, caffeine causes unnecessary adrenaline production within the brain. Why would you want adrenaline pumping just to sit at your desk in the office all day? You don’t need that. It is much more important to harness natural energy rather than artificial.

3. DIET & EXERCISE

I’m sure you hear these all the time in regards to just about anything health related. If you are seeking the causes of feeling tired that affect you, you may want to turn towards these factors. Exercise is important to allow your body time for work and time for rest. Engaging in no physical activity throughout the day is not healthy and may be a triggering factor in why you are constantly fatigued. Your diet is also extremely important. What you put into your body is hugely influential and may be your cause of feeling tired. Maintaining a healthy, consistent diet is critical in helping you to battle chronic tiredness.

These 3 tips are fundamental and the foundation of your action plan. You are unique and so are your causes of feeling tired. Starting with these suggestions, however, is a good way to begin analyzing what exactly is contributing to your tiredness. A personalized regimen may be needed if these ideas don’t fully work for you.…

Personality Changes – Lack of Motivation Following a Brain Injury

It is often the case that the injured person is not even interested in activities that had been enjoyed previously. They may have no interest in events and complain that there is nothing to do. It is more that there is nothing they are interested in doing or have the energy to pursue because fatigue is also part of the personality changes. As a result they may prefer to sit on the couch all day.

Motivation requires persistence and determination in order to be able to follow through on something. It requires self-confidence and a degree of self-esteem to realize their potential for accomplishment. And it requires effort, even if something is started, to be able to sustain the activity through to completion.

The following are ways to assist someone who lacks motivation:

– make a list of activities they may be interested in doing;

– help them initiate an activity;

– encourage their continued effort;

– assist them, if necessary;

– check off the activity when it has been completed to support their feeling of accomplishment.

Sometimes if something can be found that really interests them, it will help towards motivation. Perhaps suggest a potentially interesting activity that may appeal to them; borrow a book on various hobbies from the library or have someone talk to them that has a particularly creative hobby which may be of some interest for them. Cognitive therapy can also help but it is difficult to get and is rarely covered under medical plans.

Lack of motivation or interest can also be a result of depression which is common following a brain injury. This in turn leads to feeling tired all of the time; a general feeling of fatigue, no energy and a complete unwillingness to do anything. If depression is suspected, encourage a visit to the doctor to be properly assessed. There are medications which can help. Depression can be very serious if not properly treated. If lack of motivation is a result of depression, once the depression is treated then motivation could cease to be a problem.

Personality changes with lack of motivation being the root can cause problems in relationships and families. For those who are assisting anyone with this problem, continue to encourage and support as best as possible.…

3 Tips to Beating Holiday Travel Fatigue

So it’s Holiday time again, which, if you’re like me, means, among other things, long-haul road trips. And for me, that used to mean drive-through food for lunch and dinner and several doses caffeinated soda and chocolate to fight the inevitable fatigue that would set it somewhere between the 4 to 6 hour mark.

And I guess I’m not alone. Triple A reports that in 2011, 32 percent of drivers surveyed admit driving while fatigued, and 2 in 5 say they have fallen asleep at the wheel. Joke all you like about family dysfunction during the holidays, but I would much rather spend a few hours with irascible in-laws than not arrive at all.

Obviously, I always managed to make it safely where I was going, but I would eventually arrive dehydrated, jittery and wired with dry, scratchy eyes. I would not be able to sleep, and it would usually take a couple days for my system to resume full regularity.

Here’s what I was doing wrong: The fast food for lunch would cause my blood sugar to first spike, then dive, leaving me feeling even more craving more. The candy bars would do the same, as would any other snacks which followed. Drinking soda after soda pumped me full of caffeine which would eventually kick in, but at the cost of dehydrating me and affecting my sleep and regular digestive function for days.

Then last year, when I was faced with monthly 14-hour drives for my job, I stumbled on a better way. First, I changed the fast food I eat. Despite the variety of fast food chains, the vast majority is loaded with carbs. As we all know from countless diet plans and info-mercials, “bad” carbs lead to low blood sugar and cravings. I now make sure to order grilled chicken and leave off the bun. I usually find a franchise that offers side dishes besides fries like coleslaw or green beans. Anything but fries.

Second, sing. That’s right. Sing. When you start to feel a little drowsy, pop you favorite music in and sing. Really belt it out. Who cares? You’re in your car, your own little bubble, on the interstate. If you really look closely (as a passenger, that is) I’ll bet you’ll see most everybody else is singing, too, anyway. Not only is it fun, but your breathing will get deeper and send more oxygen to your brain – just the ticket to be more alert.

Third, Yerba Mate. Okay, so what it Yerba Mate? Yerba Mate is a sort of tea. Actually it is made from steeping the leaves of the celebrated South American rainforest holly tree. More antioxidants than green tea, as much natural caffeine as diet soda, 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino wonder it has been revered for centuries as the “Drink of the Gods.” It’s available in the organic section of your grocery store or in any health food store. Simply brew some up before you go, pour it into a thermos or water bottle, and take it with you. I usually get a full cup of ice whenever I stop, pour some Yerba Mate into it, and just sip it along the way. I will admit it tastes a little strange, so I add a lemon to the thermos. You quickly get used to the taste, and you may get addicted to how you feel.

That’s it. Better food, some singing, and Yerba Mate. It’s fun, healthy, refreshing, and I arrive without the sour stomach, jittery nerves, and sleep least none caused by the trip. The in-laws are a whole other matter.…

How Did I Develop Fibromyalgia?

If you asked someone 20 years ago what fibromyalgia was, they probably couldn’t have given you an answer. This condition is still somewhat misunderstood, but with a bit of knowledge and the right treatment, you can manage the symptoms and lead an active life.

There might be so many pains and problems in every part of the body. Doctor may do a lot of tests and might not be able to detect anything clearly. If you have felt this, it’s definitely fibromyalgia.

The disease is basically detected by muscular and joint pain. Pains may be felt in ligaments and other related areas which lot of tiredness. Pain may also be felt at places where pressure hits.

How does someone develop fibromyalgia? There is no direct answer to that question. Fibromyalgia generally occurs in women more than men and tends to occur in early to middle adulthood. If a relative has the condition, there is a chance that you could develop it too. Also, if you have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, your chances of developing the condition are higher.

The identifications of the conditions change based on the time, weather and body conditions. The condition called tender points is felt when strong pressure id felt in certain parts of the body. Back of the head, shoulder, hip area and knees are some of the parts that get affected.

The conditions may hinder the day to day progress. The condition can be so irritating when wrongly identified. The disease is not something that grows and develops but it does cause other problems.

It is important to highlight the importance of sleep. Lack of sleep inflames fibromyalgia but one may think that they can’t sleep due to the condition. You may think you are getting enough sleep but there is a likely chance that you are not. You wake up tired because you never reach the deep restorative stage of sleep. Sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome have been linked to fibromyalgia.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, lupus, osteoarthritis, post-traumatic stress disorder, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) and lupus are the problems that pop up with fibromyalgia.

Instead of taking medicines, naturally curing fibromyalgia is something that has to followed

If you want to keep yourself naturally fit and healthy, I suggest you to follow natural treatment program for Fibromyalgia and give it a try.…

Why Some Snacks Can Reduce Fatigue

Summer is in the air and many people feel listless all day. Then, do you know which snacks can let you burst with vitality and reduce fatigue? This article will give you some wonderful tips.

In order to prevent fatigue syndrome, it is better for us to combine work with relaxation. Do some appropriate exercise and make sure enough sleep. What is more important, we need to eat more alkalic food and food that are rich in vitamin C or vitamin B, for example, apple, orange and kiwi fruit. These food can help neutralize the acid body environment, so as to receive the effect of reducing fatigue. In addition, we can choose to enjoy some snacks, which can not only guarantee a balanced diet, but also help relieve fatigue.

1. Biscuits and Chocolate

The main ingredient of biscuits is wheat, and the energy it provides is from carbohydrate. Energy provided by ordinary biscuits, butter biscuits or breakfast biscuits can ensure that people will be energetic in the whole morning. If you add a fruit, an egg and a glass of milk, it is a complete breakfast with adequate energy. During the afternoon tea time, you can eat a few chocolate biscuits and a drink, which will make you still full of enthusiasm in the afternoon.

2. Dried Fruits

After the physical and mental activity, you often feel very tired. Then you can chew some peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts and other nuts. These dried fruits have magical effect of restoring physical strength, because they contain are rich in protein, vitamin B, vitamin E, calcium, iron and vegetable fat. So it is wise for you to put some dried apricots, almonds or hazelnuts and other snacks in the bag.

3. Dairy Products

Dairy products are the most common food and you can easily get them in shops. Dairy products can provide protein, vitamins and calcium for you, and they do not contain too much fat. In addition, when you suffer from insomnia, drink a glass of warm milk half an hour before going to bed every day. This method is quite useful.

4. Protein-rich Food

Properly eating protein-rich food such as tofu, pork, mutton, poultry, and fish can replenish energy that your body lost. If the body consumes energy excessively, people will feel tired easily. Thus, it is necessary for you to replenish some food in order to eliminate fatigue.…

Successfully Curing Depressive Symptoms

Among the most prevalent and perhaps troubling symptoms of depression is the constant fatigue and cognitive dysfunction both of which make daily tasks seem like a frustrating ordeal. However this is by no means the definite destiny a depression sufferer has to accept and expect to experience constantly – the condition and its symptoms can be alleviated and even eradicated by determination and following basic tips such as these:

– Get a good amount of sleep: during sleep you allow your body to rest and enhance its recovery abilities. You might have noticed that not getting enough sleep is rather detrimental to your depression and tends to exacerbate its symptoms.

– Eat healthily: avoiding excess sugars and having several multiple meals throughout a day rather than a single large one will help you fight fatigue and the cognitive obscurity intrinsic to depression. Drinking water rather than sweet soft drinks is many times enough to achieve noticeable outcomes.

– Exercise: aerobic exercise has been implicated to facilitate neurogenesis or the formation of new neural connections in the hippocampus which is often the main target of depression. Exercise will not only help you combat the neurotoxic effects depression can, via increased cortisol levels, produce, but will also add to your mental/physical stamina further reducing possible fatigue and restlessness.

– Supplementation: vitamins and supplements such as B-complex, Zinc, Fish Oil, Branched Chained Amino Acids (BCAA) and many serve as precursors, factors, modulators, intermediates etc. in many bodily processes which might be directly or indirectly malfunctioning in depression. Because many of these substances are not-toxic and rather essential (within reasonable doses) it gives you an opportunity to experiment and find what works for your depression the most. I, personally, find BCAA and Fish Oil the most helpful in fighting fatigue and cognitive dysfunction among other depressive symptoms.

– Getting to know your depression: knowing the possible biological/psychological causes of depression can be of great aid in addressing your symptoms because you will be able to see deeper into the problem allowing you to make sound adjustments beneficial to the course of your malady. Reading depression related books and articles can and will therefore prove useful.

All of these, especially if combined, will help you take some considerable weight off your everyday depression making life more pleasurable and manageable. Give the techniques some time to start working because their true full potential unravels with continuous implementation.…

The Effects of High Blood Sugar Levels

A diabetic who is experiencing high blood sugar levels (or hyperglycaemia) will feel a number of related symptoms. A type 1 diabetic may feel dehydrated, may have an excessive need to use the toilet, they will feel very run down and very lethargic, and may experience mouth ulcers and dry skin. Their vision will also be very blurry if their levels have been running high for a long period of time. Another effect of hyperglycaemia is a pale skin colour and, when passing urine, the individual will notice it is of a very pale (almost transparent) colour. If a type 1 diabetic falls ill, then they have to keep a close check on their blood sugars throughout this time because they have a tendency to rise inexplicably during a fever or virus. During periods of ill health, blood sugar levels become much more difficult to control.

Those suffering a bout of hyperglycaemia are also much more likely to be diagnosed with a urine infection, and will be losing weight rapidly. In the long term, high blood sugar levels are very dangerous for type 1 diabetics and could result in liver or kidney difficulties, liver or kidney failure, and ultimately, if hyperglycaemia is left untreated for too long a period of time, the individual will die. This is why it is so important for the diabetic to deal with the complications as soon as they arrive, and to try to prevent them happening again.

The cause of hyperglycaemia is a result of the diabetic individual having too much sugar in their bloodstream (and their pancreas, not being able to produce insulin, cannot bring those blood sugar levels back down to the normal rate). This is the total opposite of hypoglycaemia – which is caused by the individual’s body having too little sugar in its bloodstream. Both hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia will result in the patient’s inability to complete simple daily tasks because their energy levels drop dramatically.

If you know anyone suffering hyperglycaemia, or you are a diabetic who is experiencing high blood sugar levels yourself, you should call a doctor, or contact your hospital, immediately. The doctors or nurses will treat the diabetic’s hyperglycaemic complications by putting the individual on a drip and keeping them in for observation overnight – or for a couple of days if their condition is not improving. Although hyperglycaemia can usually be treated, it is very important to not let high blood sugars occur regularly as this will see an overall weakening of the diabetic’s health and can lead to later serious problems.

Copyright (c) 2010 Paul Evans…