How Do I Combat Extreme Fatigue During My Period?

First and foremost,  having a period are a struggle for girls and ladies out there. It is important for me to say this, plain and clear, before I share advice I have found through research or experience. Okay, now that we have cleared the air, let us begin.

If you want to fight fatigue, you have got to eat. Eat several meals all day long instead of three big meals. This keeps your energy at a constant level. If you allow your body to go without nourishment for too long, you may end up crashing and feeling exhausted. Get plenty of protein each day as well by adding a serving to each meal. It can be found in foods like chicken and fish, which will work to boost your energy and keep you feeling alert all day.

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Next, you do not just have to eat enough, you have to drink enough. Drink water, that is. “Drink water instead of soda and juices, which contain a lot of sugar. Water will keep you hydrated, which can prevent feelings of fatigue caused by dehydration.

This reminds me to mention something else, too, in relation to drinking, Avoid caffeine and alcohol while menstruating. These substances can make it difficult for you to sleep soundly all night, which can leave you feeling exhausted the next day. Relying on caffeine for a perk up will only make you awake for a short amount of time and will result in a crash that leaves you even more tired later. Talk about crashing and burning after drinking caffeinated drinks! I crash really badly after drinking caffeinated drinks in general, so I avoid them in my daily life.

Wisegeek.com shares the importance of including iron in your daily intake, especially when you are on your period. An iron deficiency can make an individual feel tired and worn out, and with added blood loss thisfatigue can become even worse. Iron supplements or an increase in the amount of iron in the diet can help keep levels of this vital nutrient high. Adding a B6 vitamin every day can also help, as well as making sure there is a sufficient amount of calcium in the diet. Together, these three key supplements can help reduce fatigue as well as other symptoms such as joint pain and muscle aches.

Before I forget, it is crucial that you get some exercise. According to livestrong.com, “Get some exercise each day. It can be something as light as a 30-minute walk. The important thing is to get up and get moving, which will give you an energy boost and allow you to rest more fully in the evening.

Medical Treatment for Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal glands are an important part of your body. They are, “small, triangular-shaped endocrine glands, situated on the top of the kidneys. These glands regulate body’s stress response through the synthesis of catecholmines and corticosteroids, including adrenaline and cortisol.

Stress is usually the reason behind adrenal fatigue. Excessive stress may be due to work pressure, moving, change in job, death of a beloved one, marital problems and physical illness. Some other factors that contribute to adrenal stress are fear, anger, guilt, depression, anxiety, excessive exercise, physical or mental strain, sleep deprivation, trauma/injury, surgery, toxic exposure, chronic pain, chronic infection, maldigestion, malabsorption, chronic illness, low blood sugar and nutritional deficiencies.

Adrenal

Adrenal Fatigue is a condition that was first described in medical texts in the 1800’s. However, over most of the last one hundred years, doctors argued as to whether it was a legitimate medical condition or not. The main stumbling block to the recognition of Adrenal Fatigue as a scientifically valid medical condition was that science had yet to determine a way to test for its existence.

There are so many symptoms for adrenal fatigue. For instance, it causes weight gain, and an inability to lose the weight. There is also “High frequency of getting the flu and other respiratory diseases that tends to resist treatments” and “Experiencing upper back or neck pain with no apparent cause.” Next, there is reduced sex drive. There is also the difficulty in waking up in the mornings. Also forgetfulness is another symptom of adrenal fatigue.

There are more symptoms: there is the feeling of being lethargic in the evenings and still being unable to sleep. Furthermore, there are “cravings for salty, fatty, and high protein foods such as meat and cheese,” and an increase of PMS symptoms for women. It does not stop there. The “periods are heavy and then stop, only to start flow again a couple days later.

Proponents of the adrenal fatigue diagnosis claim this is a mild form of adrenal insufficiency caused by chronic stress. The unproven theory behind adrenal fatigue is that your adrenal glands are unable to keep pace with the demands of perpetual fight-or-flight arousal.

Take your blood pressure while sitting down. Then, stand up and immediately take your blood pressure again. Your systolic (first) number should have raised 8 to 10 mm. If it dropped, you probably have adrenal fatigue. Pupil dilation exam — (Equipment required: Flashlight and a mirror) Look into the mirror and shine the flashlight into the pupil of one eye. It should contract. If after 30 seconds, it stays the same or, even worse, dilates, you most likely have adrenal fatigue. Pain when pressing on adrenal glands (located over kidneys).

How to Beat the Mental Fatigue Associated with Stress?

It is harder to deal with stress the older you get as the pressures of work, personal life, friendships, relationships, and dreams, goals, benchmarks become more demanding. So, what is a guy or gal to do?

First, there are cardinal rules about taking care of yourself. You probably know them: eat well and sleep well. Alan Li writes, “The simplest method for beating fatigue is to get enough sleep each night. Build a routine. Go to bed at the same hour every day and try getting up at the same time each morning. Make sure not to distract yourself by reading or watching TV late into the night and take whatever precautions you need to get an uninterrupted night’s sleep. Also, begin a regular exercise routine. Being in better shape gives you more energy to burn.

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Li explains, Eating regular nutritious meals helps your body keep in tip-top shape and lets you perform better. Be sure to eat breakfast, because failing to do so can leave you sluggish for the entire day. If you can’t find the time eat a healthy breakfast, consider snacking more often between meals to make up for it. Avoid eating junk foods with high fat and sugar content. The point is to make sure your daily meals are nutritious, healthy, and with controlled portions. Make sure you are drinking lots of water, taking lots of walks, moving your body as much as possible.

The stressors of a daily job, relationships, friendships, dating, marriage, engagement, or whatever is stressful for you, are plenty to handle. So, try to give yourself time outs, a leisure time, If removing these factors is impossible or impractical, try taking some time out of each day to listen to music, take a hot bath or doing anything else that you consider relaxing. Use your leisure time for relaxing rather than mulling over problems.

Finally, know your body and mind. Get to know when you are okay and when you are under the weather. And when you are under the weather, seek help. Seek medical help. As someone with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I can tell you that I was used to living with the stress. But it does not have to be like this. You can relax. You can handle the deadlines, the fights, the pressures to perform at a high level.

Sometimes, you just need to have the right team on your side, cheering you on, supporting you, and giving you the help you need. It is not vain to need someone on your team. If anything, it gives you the courage, the confidence, the extra oomph to face daily struggles.

When Does Fatigue Start in Early Pregnancy?

Fatigue starts, for some people, right away during a pregnancy. Trying to pinpoint and make general statements about pregnancy for everyone. According to Mayo Clinic, “Fatigue also ranks high among early symptoms of pregnancy. During early pregnancy, levels of the hormone progesterone soar — which can put you to sleep. At the same time, lower blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and increased blood production might team up to sap your energy.

As early as the first few weeks of pregnancy , hormones can rage as your body works to create and grow a tiny new life. Your body is working so hard that it’s no wonder one of the earliest signs of pregnancy is fatigue, which the American Pregnancy Association says can set in within as little as one or two weeks after conception.

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Between two to eight weeks, “Nausea is often one of the first warning signs that women may recognize as pregnancy. It can happen as quickly as the second week after conception , says the Mayo Clinic. While commonly classified as “morning sickness,” nausea in early pregnancy can occur at any time of day.

Afterwards, six to eight weeks later, your body starts to develop further. “Within six to eight weeks after conception, as your uterus expands, you may find yourself needing to urinate far more frequently. The American Pregnancy Association says that increased urination is a telltale sign of pregnancy. You may also find yourself craving certain foods, whether it’s pickles and ice cream or a big pizza. Food aversions also commonly appear within the first month or two after conception, and you may notice that some of your favorite foods suddenly make your stomach turn.

According to whattoexpect.com, there are so many tips to keep in mind. First, “Listen to your body. If you’re tired, rest. Pace yourself, keeping your body’s message in mind — and don’t try to be super (expectant) mom. Let the dishes wait until later, and turn the other way as the dust bunnies breed under your dining table. Don’t book activities — or take care of chores — that aren’t essential. Never been a napper — or a slacker? There’s never been a better time to try those on for size.

Another piece of advice is,  Ask for help. Don’t play the mother-to-be martyr. Let your partner know exactly how sapped you are, so he can do his fair share (and then some). If your friends or family ask if they can give you a hand, say yes — always! Having a pal pick up some groceries for you can mean you might actually have enough energy left to drag yourself out for a walk (before you drag yourself into bed).

Natural supplements to help with fatigue

Are you feeling tired? There are so many natural supplements out there to help you feel refreshed and energetic. One of them is licorice. “Licorice, also known by its botanical name Glycerrhiza glabra, is a sweet-tasting legume family herb. Licorice root is widely-used for a variety of ailments, including adrenal fatigue.

According to Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of “Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth,” licorice directly affects your body’s levels of cortisol by extending its biological half-life, resulting in increased effectiveness of this stress-managing hormone.”

natural supplements

Another natural supplement is Siberian ginseng, according to Livestrong.com. “Siberian ginseng, also known as Eleuthrococcus senticosus, is a Araliaceae-family herb. The root bark is used medicinally, and it has a bitter taste. Siberian ginseng is commonly used to treat exhaustion and weakness. Siberian ginseng is an adaptogen, meaning it balances your energy and helps you manage stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue.

To help you deal with your fatigue and sexual aspects of fatigue, These Panax ginsengs enhance your stamina and memory. They also help balance blood sugar abnormalities and sexual dysfunction, which may be associated with adrenal insufficiency. All of the ginsengs increase your resistance to illness.

Furthermore, there are vitamins to keep taking in order to feel energetic, “Vitamins that are commonly recommended for adrenal fatigue include vitamins C and E. B-complex may also be helpful, as well as the individual B vitamins pantothenic acid, B6 and niacin. These vitamins and others, as well as minerals, may be derived from a diverse, unrefined whole foods diet as well as in supplemental form.”

Let us focus more on vitamin B a little more. “Also known as pantothenic acid, vitamin B5 serves an important role in the manufacture of adrenal hormones. It converts into a acetyl co-enzyme A in the human body, required for the production of cholesterol. Any disturbances in the levels of cholesterol could affect the release of steroid hormones such as cortisol, DHEA or progesterone, as these are all made in the adrenal cortex from cholesterol.

Finally, there is magnesium, “magnesium plays a role in the function of more than 300 enzymes in the human body. Carolyn Dean, M.D., explains how magnesium can help with the high stress loads associated with adrenal fatigue. The mineral reduces the catecholamine release from cardiac tissue; these hormones, which include epinephrine, can contribute to the anxiety and sleep disturbances experienced by those with adrenal imbalance.

As always, rest. As a workaholic, I can tell you that it is not always the easiest step to take a break. It is crucial to know when it is time to take time out and rest. So, rest up.