Under The Radar – The Rise Of Extreme Fatigue Cases Among The Youth

Over the past few years, many health experts have voiced their concerns over the prevalence of lifestyle diseases like obesity and diabetes, not only among adults, but even among the youth. But if there is one thing that seems to slip under the radar, that is the rise in the number of people who have succumbed to extreme fatigue syndrome. It is one thing to feel extremely tired after doing a couple of overtime shifts or burning the midnight oil to review for exams. But then again, it is an entirely different matter to feel that you are running on empty despite getting long hours of sleep. As such, there is a single culprit that can be considered the main reason for the prevalence of such cases, even among the youth who are expected to have boundless energy for most of the day. One area that should definitely be looked into is the culture wherein parents put too much pressure on their kids to achieve. It is one thing to want your child to do well in school and in their extracurricular activities, but it is entirely another thing to expect nothing less from them than top marks in every endeavor they get into. By subjecting children to unnecessary pressure, they are succumbing to anxiety instead of simply enjoying their youth. In turn, it is not surprising to see children resorting to concoctions with high caffeine content like blended coffee and energy drinks. While these drinks indeed give a quick boost in energy, the trade-off is that you will feel more tired once the effects wear off. Why? Caffeine adversely affects the adrenal glands, making it produce adrenaline, cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine. This, in turn, results in adrenal fatigue. What this means is that your body is primed to assume a “fight or flight” state when it does not really need to. Another main culprit that people, particularly parents, should look into is the amount of sugar in the diet of their children. Just like caffeine, too much sugar has an adverse effect on the body as it can stimulate the release of epinephrine. Epinephrine is responsible for breaking down the body's stored energy. When this happens, your body will experience a rollercoaster ride in terms of energy levels. As a parent, you might ask what can be done to turn things around. First, the most important thing you can do is limit, if not eliminate altogether, the consumption of drinks with high sugar and caffeine content. One reason why people feel tired is simply because they are dehydrated. Naturally, the logical thing to do is to drink lots of water. In addition to this, the body will greatly benefit from a diet that incorporates fruits and veggies instead of processed food. Another useful habit you and your kids should start getting into is to establish regular sleeping hours. Put simply, that means getting into bed as early as you can so you can get adequate rest. In turn, this normalizes your circadian rhythm and allows the body to regulate the production of hormones. It would also be helpful to sleep in a pitch-black room as the presence of lights can disrupt melatonin production in your brain. If you do not have thick drapes to use in your bedroom, one quick fix is using a sleeping mask.