Medical Transcription

Physical activity is a great way of boosting your energy levels and avoiding fatigue. If you’re unfit, then that generally makes you feel tired, and being tired means you won’t feel like exercising! You may have to break this cycle of inactivity to get yourself feeling less tired and more energised. Just introduce some physical activity into your routine — even if this means simply getting off the bus a few stops earlier and walking the rest of the way to work, or even cycling in. Of course, if you can also fit in some other exercise into your day, such as running, swimming or going the gym. Just make sure you keep it regular and that it fits in with your life.

People frequently get in the habit of trying to do too much. The demands they are putting on themselves may leave them feel fatigued — and if there are not enough hours in the day to juggle their job, family and friends, then they may end up not getting enough sleep either. On the other hand, having a more balanced lifestyle, making some time for yourself, and learning to relax and slow down sometimes will mean you’ll be more able to function efficiently. Think about what you could change to give yourself more time for relaxation. It’s also best to have realistic expectations about what you can achieve rather than running yourself into the ground!

While Caffeine might be great for giving you a boost in the daytime, and while some people just can’t do without their early morning wake-up cuppa, by the evening time you really need to start thinking about laying off the caffeine unless you want to get a restless night’s sleep! Caffeine — contained in things such as tea, coffee, chocolate and cola drinks — can cause restlessness and sleeping difficulties, which will only add to your tiredness the next day. It may also result in you needing more caffeine to keep you going — so it’s best to try and break the cycle by cutting down on the amount of caffeine you drink.

Your diet can have a big impact on how you feel. Without a proper, balanced diet you can start to feel a bit sluggish and are likely to become fatigued — so ensure that you eat healthy meals and at the correct times. Skipping breakfast will ensure you start your day on the wrong footing and force you to run on empty until lunchtime! Eating ‘little and often’ can work for some people, as it means that they’ve got something to sustain them rather than going for longer periods between meals — which will help them to avoid the feeling of being hungry and tired prior to their main meals. Keeping blood sugar levels stable is also important to avoid fatigue — so make sure you eat enough carbohydrates.

Stress is one of the most common reasons for feeling tired — so beating stress will naturally help to alleviate your tiredness. There are several ways in which to tackle stress, but the most important thing to do is identify what is causing your stress in the first place. It may be work that is the main cause of your stress — perhaps because of bad work relationships, long hours, or an unfulfilling job. If that’s the case, then look at your options about how you can improve the situation. Also, make sure you switch off from work in your leisure time, and try out some relaxation techniques such as having a massage, taking a hot bath or listening to some music.

To avoid tiredness you should ensure you get enough sleep! Remember that your body needs sleep in order to recharge — and staying up and watching a movie which starts at midnight isn’t going to help! If you are having any trouble sleeping, then aim to have a better sleep routine such as going to bed and getting up at the same time. You could also improve your sleeping environment by making sure your bedroom is quiet, dark and comfortable. Also, by using your bedroom for sleep alone, your body will come to associate it with sleeping rather than reading or watching TV.

Fatigue has both a mental and a physical component. Physical fatigue shows up as a weakness in the muscles that makes it harder for you to do everyday activities. In contrast, mental fatigue makes it harder for you to concentrate and maintain focus. The causes of fatigue are usually obvious. Partying till 3 a.m., doing 12 hour days at work, then taking the kids out is bound to have an effect on everyone. You will be tired. However, fatigue cannot always be caused by the hectic lifestyles many men and women lead today. Fatigue may be caused by such conditions as stress, sleep apnoea, anaemia, thyroid disease, depression, and side effects of medication. Anyone suffering long term fatigue should see their doctor to see if any of these are the reasons for their condition. Long term untreated fatigue may result in the sufferer being predisposed to 'chronic fatigue syndrome'. Fatigue is usually a temporary situation brought on by overdoing it on a particular day or group of day...