Health and Fitness Information Center

Fatigue, Part 2

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• Fitness
• Nutrition
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• Stress
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• Weight Control

Are you eating properly? Drinking enough water? Poor nutrition is high on the list of fatigue factors. Insufficient vitamin and mineral intake along with poor protein balance can trigger tiredness. A diet too high in fat and carbohydrates can also contribute to a general sense of lethargy. If your fluid intake is poor, this can cause headaches and effect organ functions. Eating and drinking poorly often ties in with other fatigue factors such as not having enough time and too much stress.

Are you getting regular exercise? Many people believe that exercise will make them more tired, which isn’t true. Exercise can increase overall levels of energy. One reason for the increase is that aerobic exercise makes your heart stronger and more efficient. A fit cardiovascular system delivers about 25 percent more oxygen per minute at rest and up to 50 percent more oxygen during physical exertion than an unfit one does. Building stronger muscles allows you to move through your day more easily. Exercise can also improve the quality of your sleep, so you feel more rested even after spending the same amount of time in bed.

Can you reduce your level of stress? There is a lot of talk these days about ways to reduce stress. Two things that are on the top of the stress reduction list are better organization and doing less. And, of course, exercise.