May 2020 - Page 2 of 2 - Eurobio

Very often we hear the word “stress” among our friends and families, but what do they actually mean?

Stress can be defined as the degree when one felt overwhelmed or unable to cope with the current situation as a result of pressures that are unmanageable. Sometimes, stress response is good as it can help us to push through difficult situations. However, when stress becomes excessive or too much to deal with, rather than helping us this pressure can make us feel overwhelmed and will have a negative impact on our health.

Stress can come from anywhere. You might feel stressed out at work due to long working hours, heavy workload or dealing conflicts with your colleagues. Stress might also come from your daily lives, such as having a traumatic injury, moving to a new home, or even just having a small argument with your family members.

People constantly suffering from stressful situations might experience the following:

• Physical symptoms, such as headache, fatigue and sleep disturbances
• Mental symptoms, such as poor concentration and judgment
• Emotional symptoms, such as irritability and depression
• Behavioral symptoms, such as eating disorders and nervous habits like nails biting

It is difficult to avoid stress in our lives, but we can learn to manage it:

• Stay active. Regular exercise can lift your mood.
• Learn to relax. Relaxation technique such as yoga and deep breathing can activate the body’s relaxation response.
• Connect with others. Spend some time with the people you love that will bring up your mood.
• Eat a healthy diet. Cut down on processed food and go for foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Some days we are so low on energy that we are drowsy by lunchtime and in need of a nap by midafternoon. What is making us so tired all the time? Fatigue can have a variety of lifestyle causes, including lack of sleep, stress and anxiety, overwork, inactivity, poor eating habits and certain medications.

Most of the time, fatigue can be traced to one or more of our habits or routines. We have the power to put the vitality back in our life.

How can we combat tiredness, fatigue and general lethargy?

• Eat healthily and drink enough water. If our body is receiving enough vitamins, minerals and water it needs, we will experience less fatigue.
• Take B Vitamins. B Vitamins are a group of water-soluble nutrients that are essential for the proper functioning of our body. They ensure that our body is provided with energy from the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and protein, and also for the maintenance and health of the nervous system in general.
• Exercise will help enormously with tiredness. If our body gets a good work out every day, we will sleep better at night. Even a simple 15-minute walk can give you an energy boost.
• Learn methods of relaxation like yoga or meditation.
• Decreasing stress in our life will help relax our body and we will sleep better at night.
• Practice good sleep habits to combat our tiredness. Keeping a regular bedtime is important for our energy levels. Avoid eating, reading or watching TV in bed.
• Avoid alcohol. Alcohol makes us tired for hours after consuming no more than only a drink or two.

Fatigue and tiredness, if constant and prolonged, can be a debilitating/tiring condition. If we still experience problems sleeping or feel constantly tired after plenty of sleep, we should either visit a physician or make the necessary lifestyle changes. Underestimating the importance of fatigue and general lethargy may only lead to more complicated problems.