{ ar t i c le }
FIGHTINGFATIGUE
Feeling constantly tired or requiring an excessive amount of sleep to function properly can really impact your quality of life. Energy is a complicated area, but low energy could indicate that there is a hormone imbalance at play. If you feel like you are constantly fighting fatigue, there are two hormones that could be out of whack. However, it’s important to always speak to your practitioner about finding the exact cause of fatigue.
Melatonin
Appropriately the “sleep hormone”, melatonin works together with your circadian rhythm to aid sleep onset. The circadian rhythm is your body’s internal clock, or sleep-wake cycle. nicknamed Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland, deep in the centre of the brain, and is responsible for signalling to our body that it’s time to go to sleep.
This hormone induces physiological changes that promote sleep such as reduced body temperature and respiration rate. When we’re exposed to darkness, melatonin levels typically rise, while light suppresses the production of this hormone, so during the day, melatonin levels will decrease. Too much light (particularly blue light) before bed, a lack of sunshine during the day, shift work, smoking, alcohol, and of course stress, can all cause lower levels of melatonin.
22
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker