get off the hamster wheel
I don't get to watch a lot of T.V. but last night I caught most of a BBC show called "Doctor in the House". The episode was about two ladies who both suffer with fatigue. Fatigue is an issue that health professionals are faced with on a daily basis. Sadly the incidence is increasing and is very common among women. There are many factors, of course, that can contribute, and the show was great at highlighting this. Most of us will feel exhausted at some point in our lives and can easily attribute it to an overly late night, a new baby or similar. However, for some people, extreme fatigue is a daily struggle and they can become so exhausted that just getting through the day seems impossible. Illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, M.E. and fibromyalgia are now commonly diagnosed. Fibromyalgia for example, can also cause widespread pain as well as fatigue. In the past the only treatment that was available was in the form of medication. All too often the possible underlying causes were overlooked. Thankfully health professionals are now more able to help and last night's programme showed the many ways that we can try to help ourselves too.
Some psychologists believe that we were not designed to cope with the constant bombardment of information that is now in our lives. Our nutrition, exercise and family lives have all suffered at the hand of convenience, and the improvement in medicine has meant that all too often we reach for a pill rather than more natural and sustainable remedies.
Nutrition is big business now, with more people realising that how we fuel our bodies and therefore our cells, is vital. Foods that are high in sugar, for example, are known to cause inflammation and can reduce our ability to fight infection. Promoting good gut health is a good starting place for most of us.
Another way to start to improve your energy levels is by getting a good night's sleep. Blue light (from iPhones, iPads and tablets) eating too late (or the wrong foods), stress, and lack of exercise can all reduce your chances of a restful night's sleep.
Another piece of advice from the show was to try yoga or mindfulness classes. Tai-Chi and meditation can also be very helpful.
If you think that you are suffering with excessive fatigue you should visit your G.P. in the first instance.
The link to the show on BBC iPlayer can be found below:
Some psychologists believe that we were not designed to cope with the constant bombardment of information that is now in our lives. Our nutrition, exercise and family lives have all suffered at the hand of convenience, and the improvement in medicine has meant that all too often we reach for a pill rather than more natural and sustainable remedies.
Nutrition is big business now, with more people realising that how we fuel our bodies and therefore our cells, is vital. Foods that are high in sugar, for example, are known to cause inflammation and can reduce our ability to fight infection. Promoting good gut health is a good starting place for most of us.
Another way to start to improve your energy levels is by getting a good night's sleep. Blue light (from iPhones, iPads and tablets) eating too late (or the wrong foods), stress, and lack of exercise can all reduce your chances of a restful night's sleep.
Another piece of advice from the show was to try yoga or mindfulness classes. Tai-Chi and meditation can also be very helpful.
If you think that you are suffering with excessive fatigue you should visit your G.P. in the first instance.
The link to the show on BBC iPlayer can be found below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08rcjdb