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FRAZZLED NERVES Analyse the reason and find ways to overcome it

It will surprise you to know that a large percentage of people feel fatigued on a daily basis. More surprising, and worrying is the fact that they all take it for granted. In the general Indian mindset, cross 35 and you ‘gracefully’ accept losing the vitality and enthusiasm that characterises the teens and the twenties. The fact, however, is that people couldn’t be more off the track.

The human body does have its biological clock, but it doesn’t have to spell doom so soon! Feeling tired is a natural response of the body to the demands placed on it. It is a signal to rest, recuperate and replenish the body’s reserves. That is what the process of sleep achieves. But feeling tired most of the time, despite rest, is abnormal and must be addressed.

Dr. T.M. Perumal, a family physician from Chennai, says, “Fatigue has the capability to completely disrupt the normal routine. It affects not just the patient, but also his family members and friends. It has a cascading effect on all the aspects of his life, even leading to depression.”

In the West, there is considerable awareness of this growing phenomenon of fatigue and its consequences. For instance, in 1999, an international campaign ‘Fatigue Kills’ organised by the London based International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) raised people’s awareness about consequences of tiredness on roads.

In India, urbanisation and changing lifestyles have taken their toll on the health of the city dweller. Somehow, despite having washing machines, microwave ovens, refrigerators and dish washers, there is always too much to do in too little time. This leads to a feeling of being overwhelmed and the mind-body system raises an alarm that it needs to rest.

Fatigue can be physical, mental and emotional and can be caused by a variety of reasons such as extra work, emotional upheaval and disturbed sleep patterns. But in today’s world the most potent precipitator of fatigue is stress.

Stress, caused by trying to deliver beyond one’s capabilities, exerts undue pressure on the body-mind complex. The modern lifestyle has a number of factors that cause fatigue – social pressures, working couples and job stress. Dr. Perumal says, “Around ten per cent of patients I see everyday suffer from fatigue.”

The alarming statistics reflect the growing stress levels in society. Dr. G. S. Kailash, Medical Superintendent of Venkatesh Rao Hospital, Chennai, says, “Fatigue can happen to anyone. Be it students, housewives or elderly people. If you are not happy doing what you are doing, it will lead to a feeling of tiredness. In turn, when you are not able to achieve the previously set targets, you get stressed.”

The repercussions of stress are manifold. Dr. Kailash explains, “Stress can lead to psychosomatic disorders, where the person falls prey to diseases such as fever, cold, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, high blood pressure and heart attacks. Most of the time the root cause is stress.”

As is apparent, fatigue and stress are inter-related and one must be addressed to manage the other. Fortunately, there are options to help you manage stress. One way could be to simply convert to a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, sleep and nutritious food. Dr Perumal says, “Diet is very important to counter stress and fatigue. I recommend the ratio of one portion of rice to five portions of fruits and vegetables. Moreover, fruits are better than fruit juices as the latter are devoid of fibre and have added sugar.”

In case your hectic work schedule doesn’t permit you to cook wholesome home-made food, try and explore the healthier options on store shelves. Daily intake of fortified foods like a health food drink can also be a good option. Choose one that is designed to help take care of our daily requirements of key nutrients like vitamins and minerals, is high in fibre and protein, plus has features such as low-fat, zero added sugar and zero-cholesterol. Dr. Perumal agrees and says, “Though nothing can replace natural sources of nourishment, in the absence of enough fruits and vegetables it is definitely useful to take a health food supplement.”

Therefore, start managing fatigue! Analyse and address the cause, be it sleep, lifestyle, work or food and reclaim your life.

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