Fatigue
Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness, exhaustion, weariness, or lack of energy. It can be physical, mental, or a combination of both.
Some key characteristics of fatigue:
- It is subjective and personal - what makes one person feel fatigued may not affect someone else as much
- It increases during sustained periods of activity and reduces capacity to perform tasks
- It can fluctuate throughout the day
- It is often relieved by periods of rest
Physical fatigue occurs due to prolonged physical exertion, such as during exercise or manual labor. The underlying mechanisms involve:
- Depletion of muscle glycogen stores - glycogen is the main fuel source for muscles
- Buildup of lactic acid from anaerobic glycolysis
- Excitable disturbances in the neuromuscular junction affecting signal transmission between motor neurons and muscle fibers
Mental fatigue manifests when the brain expends sustained mental effort on cognitive tasks. This is associated with reduced motivation, increased perception of effort, and deteriorating performance. Complex mental tasks like problem-solving, reasoning, and decision making are particularly mentally fatiguing.
Some common causes of fatigue include:
- Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality
- Stress, anxiety, depression
- Dehydration or nutritional deficiencies
- Medical conditions like anemia, diabetes, thyroid disorders
- Side effects of medications or other drugs
- Overtraining
Fatigue can negatively impact a person's quality of life and ability to function. However, in many cases it can be successfully managed through adequate rest, sleep hygiene, nutrition, reducing stress, pacing activities, and seeking medical advice for any underlying conditions.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask the experts at Horizon Wellness Clinic.