Remaining in one position for an extended period of time is not suitable for social beings such as ourselves, humans. Migrating all of our things that we used to do outside of our home brought even more tension to an already stressful situation. You may have been experiencing fatigue as a result of the new standard way of living.
Fatigue is a persistent feeling of exhaustion, tiredness, or a lack of capacity for physical and/or mental tasks. It’s a symptom brought about by a slew of lifestyle, social, psychological, and overall well-being influences. Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated the department’s concern in a Laging Handa public briefing, “After so many months of being quarantined, people feel restless; people feel anxious; they’re irritable.” She said that people must build a coping strategy and embrace the fact that everything will not return to normal, and that they must begin to adjust to the new normal.
Changing your current lifestyle may seem more difficult than it is, but these four simple but successful coping mechanisms may be just what you need to maintain a balanced blood and immune system.
- Taking Short Walks/Light Exercises
It sounds counterintuitive to go on a walk or do light exercises when you’re already feeling tired for most of the day, but mobility is actually an important component in maintaining a healthy wellbeing as an adult.
Scientists found in a study that exercise boosts your energy level, increases strength and endurance. 3 Light exercises and short walks also stimulate the production of endorphins — the chemical that reduces pain and relieves stress. Not only does this improve your mobility, but it also boosts your immunity.
- Having the Right Amount of Sleep
Practicing a healthy sleeping schedule is vital so the body can recharge. 4Your body follows an “internal body clock” known as circadian rhythms which dictate your cycle of sleep, wakefulness, and alertness. This is influenced by external factors like long working hours, shift work, eating habits, and sleep deprivation. 5
It’s helpful to establish a bedtime routine to achieve the right amount of sleep. Simple cues like putting on pajamas, brushing your teeth, and reading a book helps the body adjust and learn that it’s time to sleep and drift off. Stimulants like caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and gadgets should be avoided before bedtime. 6
1. “Fatigue.” Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003088.htm
2. “DOH cites ways to avoid ‘quarantine fatigue’” Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118873
3. “Effects of chronic exercise on feelings of energy and fatigue: A quantitative synthesis.” Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.132.6.866
4. “How much sleep do we really need?” Sleep Foundation. sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need.
5. “Circadian Rhythms.” National Institute of General Medical Sciences. https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadian-rhythms.aspx
6. “Sleep hygiene tips.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/sleep_hygiene.html
The recommended amount of sleep for adults is at least seven hours and no more than eight hours. Try to limit the difference in your sleeping schedule so your body is consistent with its sleep-wake cycle. 7Your body is programmed to function through habits. By consistent efforts these can greatly help alleviate the feeling of fatigue.
- Cutting Down on Caffeine and Alcohol
Alcohol raises the body’s level of epinephrine, a stress hormone that generally stimulates the body, which can keep you up at night even when you’re supposed to rest. Your body might also urinate more than you usually do when you consume alcohol, which can disrupt your sleeping pattern. 8 Meanwhile for caffeinated drinks, it’s best to consume those with less to no sugar content. When sugar is processed by the body, it can cause a rapid rise in your blood sugar. The sudden spike and succeeding instant fall can make you feel exhausted and tired.9
Dietary changes are a necessary step to address fatigue since your body runs on the energy that you feed it. If you have a habit of consuming caffeinated drinks or alcohol, you might want to slow down to feel less fatigued.
- Take Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+)Your Health Blood Ally, With Proper Nutrition and Exercise
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in people who are experiencing iron deficiency anemia — which happens when the blood has a lower amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin than normal. Itcauses the body to feel weak, tired, dizzy, look pale, and experience headaches. 10
When unnoticed, iron deficiency anemia can feel like nothing. But as time progresses, the body becomes more deficient of iron, putting immunity and blood health at stake — which intensifies the symptoms and signs of iron deficiency anemia.
Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+) is an iron supplement with vitamins and minerals that helps to replenish iron stores and increases red blood cell levels in the body for those experiencing iron deficiency anemia. It has ferrous gluconate, a type of iron salt which allows better absorption of iron in the body, Folic acid, and vitamin B12 which are vital for production of red blood cells and during pregnancy. It also contains Vitamin C which helps improve iron absorption, and Copper sulphate and manganese sulphate that helpin the metabolic processes of blood cell production. 11With proper nutrition, ample exercise, and by taking Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+), you can maintain immunity and keep your blood health at its peak.
7. “Sleep deprivation and deficiency.” National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sdd
8. “Pre-sleep drinking disrupts sleep.” ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150117104306.htm
9. “The effect of the interaction between glucose tolerance and breakfasts varying in carbohydrate and fibre on mood and cognition.” National Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1080/10284150600955099
10“Iron-Deficiency Anemia.” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/iron-deficiency-anemia.
11 “About-Sangobion.” Sangobion, https://www.sangobion.sg/about-sangobion.
Recommended intake is one to two capsules daily, during or after meals, or as prescribed by your doctor.
The new normal has brought endless challenges and difficult hurdles. As advised by the DOH, we have to accept the reality of the new normal and incorporate healthy coping mechanisms for the security of our well being and immunity. Remember to keep your health in check and practice these coping techniques to lessen the possibility of experiencing fatigue. Keep your blood healthy through proper nutrition, exercise and take Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+).
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
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