What is fatigue?
Fatigue is a symptom, often it is fortunately nothing special, but sometimes it is the first sign of a more serious illness:- Reduced functioning of the glands
- Cancer
- An infection
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
Causes of fatigue
Insufficient sleep
Sleep is an essential function of life. We need this period of physical rest and rehabilitation of the nervous system. Poorly rested brains are constantly charged and after a while work less efficiently. We work slower and end the day with a to-do list. We are too tired to sleep and end up in a vicious circle. Try to work on your sleep hygiene to break this circle.
Stress
Work pressure and the associated stress have become a daily element. This stress is the result of several cumulative causes:- bad atmosphere at the workplace
- intimidation by superiors
- results-oriented work and staff reduction
- cancelled lunch
- noise pollution
- long commute and late arrival home
- household obligations
This constant pressure that gives the impression that you never finish anything, that your time is being stolen, gives you stress. This stress puts continuous pressure on the nervous system, ultimately resulting in fatigue.

Overloaded muscles
In strength athletes, but also athletes in general and manual workers, the muscles are often overloaded for a long time. The accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle can acidify the entire body. This manifests itself in fatigue.
Sugar problem
When we eat food with fast sugars, the glucose level in the blood will rise very quickly. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas and lowers the blood sugar level by storing glycogen in the liver. When this storage is full, glucose will be converted into fats. This spike in blood sugar - and the subsequent glucose crash - makes you feel exhausted. Craving quick energy, you instinctively reach for another portion of refined carbohydrates, which can lead to a vicious circle. Choose carbohydrates with slow sugars as an energy source.
Dehydration
Drinking enough is important. Fluid is an important co-factor in the transport of our nutrients. Every day we lose fluid through urine, breathing and sweating. Even mild dehydration can reduce energy levels and alertness. Make sure you drink enough to replace fluids lost during the day.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10, stored in mitochondria, is a compound that helps generate energy in cells. Mitochondria are responsible for producing energy. They also protect cells from oxidative damage and disease-causing bacteria or viruses. Your body produces CoQ10 naturally, but production tends to decline with age. Some other causes of CoQ10 deficiency include:- Nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B6 deficiency
- Genetic defects in CoQ10 synthesis or use
- Increased CoQ10 Needs Due to Illness
- Mitochondrial diseases
- Oxidative stress due to aging
- Side effects of statin treatments