Fatigue is a symptom, not a disease, and it’s experienced differently by different people. This report, entitled Boosting Your Energy, describes different kinds of fatigue and ways to improve your energy level. For example, the fatigue you feel at the end of a long day or after a time zone change might feel similar to the fatigue resulting from an illness. The difference is that fatigue from stress or lack of sleep usually subsides after a good night’s rest, while other fatigue is more persistent and may be debilitating even after restful sleep.
How do you know if your low energy is caused by underlying disease or is the result of lifestyle factors, stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, or normal aging? Harvard’s Special Health Report Boosting Your Energy provides advice and information from world-renowned medical experts to help you discover the cause and find the right treatment or lifestyle changes. It includes a Special Section: A 6-Step Plan to Jump-Start Your Natural Energy.
Author(s): Anthony L. Komaroff MD, Nancy Monson, Anne Underwood
Series: Harvard Medical School Special Health Report
Publisher: Harvard Health Publications
Year: 2016
Language: English
Pages: 53
City: Boston
What is energy?
Physical energy
Mental energy
What determines your energy level?
Energy and food
The basics
Vitamins, minerals, and energy
Are there energy-boosting foods?
Fatty acids and energy
Don’t forget fluids!
The jolt of stimulants
Do the “energy boosters” work?
Energy and exercise
How activity boosts energy
How lack of activity drains energy
The exercise prescription
Energy and sleep
How sleep boosts your energy
Getting the right amount of sleep
Energy and stress
Managing the stress response
Special bonus section: A 6-step plan to jump-start your natural energy
Fatigue: Energy's enemy
Changing views of fatigue
How common is fatigue
Two types of fatigue
Common causes of fatigue
Depression or anxiety
Sleep difficulties
Shiftwork
Overwork
Menopause
Medications
Alcohol
Caring for a family member
Various diseases that cause fatigue
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Multiple sclerosis
Other neurological conditions
Other medical conditions
When to see a doctor
Resources
Glossary
