Fatigue – when the body gets stressed, the brain gets tired

Fatigue is a term for mental exhaustion. We all know the feeling of being tired after a long day or a hard workout – fatigue is something else. Fatigue is an expression of your brain being exhausted after a prolonged period of stress. A distinction is made between acute fatigue and chronic fatigue. Chronic fatigue is defined as exhaustion that lasts for more than a week.

It is the chronic fatigue that is the major challenge, and which is unfortunately rising significantly in prevalence. This probably does not come as a big surprise to many. Unfortunately, as modern people, we are often burnt out and tired. Far too many feel stressed in their everyday lives, and many also reach the point where they have to go on sick leave.

This is largely due to a poor lifestyle. Busy workdays filled with pressure and sedentary work. Poor diet, too little exercise, and sky-high expectations of being able to do it all at once. Our bodies are stressed, and it takes a heavy toll on both physical and mental health. This not only means that our health deteriorates, but also that we cannot be the parents, friends, and employees we want to be – simply because we are exhausted and lack the surplus energy.

What is fatigue? – when we do not restore body and mind

We get sick from being tired

Our brains are not designed for modern life

There are many reasons why an extremely high number of people today are affected by fatigue. Modern society is simply not designed to look after our brains – quite the contrary. Some of the things that really pressure the brain and contribute to fatigue occurring in the brain are:

• Stress and pressure in everyday life with many tasks and worries
• Long hours of computer work
• High levels of concentration for long periods
• Lack of recovery and time for rest
• Poor lifestyle with dehydration, poor diet, alcohol, smoking, and lack of physical activity

"The culture and environment in which modern people live are the background for fatigue. A smartphone is always in hand; it is inevitable that brains accumulate stress because they receive too much information. Furthermore, irregular lifestyle patterns, chronic sleep deprivation, childcare, work, complicated relationships, and alcohol intake lead to many forms of stress. Therefore, stress is always accumulated in us" (Lee, 2020: p. 67).

There are many people in modern society who have an idea that they do not need much recovery, and that they can just keep going for many hours a day. They might not feel tired. There is a high probability that these exact people suffer from chronic fatigue. This is because their sympathetic nervous system is constantly working overtime, and they do not feel fatigue. "People who always work hard often collapse suddenly without warning because damage caused by hidden fatigue explodes" (Lee, 2020: p. 74). The truth is that all bodies need to recover to function optimally.

Computer work wears on the brain

It is not only the fact that we work too much and are busy that challenges the brain – it is also the way we work. Working on a computer for many hours at a time wears on the brain. Most people know the feeling of having tired eyes after working for many hours on a computer.

"When working at a computer, you maintain continuous tension because you are looking at a screen up close. This affects the balance of the autonomic nervous system and causes fatigue. The exhausted brain therefore sends a signal that the eyes are tired and that you should stop working on the computer" (Lee, 2020: p. 66).

The high level of concentration that much of the work in modern professional life demands of us is, in many ways, unhealthy. Concentrating is an unnatural state for the brain. The brain prefers to scatter its attention so that it perceives its surroundings and any potential dangers.

When the brain is forced to concentrate, it will be tired afterward. Too much concentration thus contributes to mental fatigue, while the ability to concentrate and store information is significantly impaired when affected by fatigue. Consequently, we find it harder and harder to meet the expectations of modern working life, and we walk around with exhausted brains.

A tired brain makes you sad

Most people probably know the feeling of being more prone to negative emotions and thoughts when they are tired. The more tired your brain is, the less capacity it will have, and you will experience challenges more quickly.

"Chronic fatigue also affects mental health. The human mind maintains its normal state by producing dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, and other neurotransmitters in a balanced way. If fatigue in the brain accumulates, the secretion of neurotransmitters will be disrupted, leading to lethargy and anxiety as well as mental illnesses such as depression" (Lee, 2020: p. 72).

Consequently, there are many with chronic fatigue who experience mood swings, low energy, irritability, reduced desire to be social, anxiety, and other negative emotions. In general, it can be said that motivation and concentration are impaired to such an extent that it affects the quality of life.

It can take a very long time for modern people to recover from chronic fatigue. It can require a long period of rest and recovery as well as a better lifestyle. In addition to rest, one of the things you can address is lowering your level of oxidative stress in the cells – this can be done with the help of antioxidants.

Hydrogen – the antioxidant of them all can alleviate fatigue

In short, antioxidants counteract oxidative stress. As mentioned, oxidative stress is what creates the imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, damages brain cells, and causes fatigue. When your brain tissue is oxidised, it will have a major impact on the health of your entire body.

The number of antioxidants in the body will determine the level of oxidative stress. If the level is very high, it can be very difficult to obtain sufficient antioxidants. At the same time, many antioxidants such as polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E are too large to penetrate the brain cells. Even though these are effective antioxidants, they will therefore not be able to alleviate oxidation in the brain (Lee, 2020: p. 79).

Molecular hydrogen can penetrate the brain

Molecular hydrogen is both the most powerful and the smallest antioxidant. This is precisely why molecular hydrogen can fight fatigue. This is both because hydrogen can penetrate the brain, but also because it is possible to obtain a much higher level of antioxidants than you could ever manage to consume through food.

"Hydrogen can alleviate or repair damage that leads to fatigue – by reversing the oxidized cells and reducing ROS. Therefore, many recent studies in hydrogen inhalation therapy have shown an effect on a wide range of diseases" (Lee, 2020: p. 79).

Several studies have shown that molecular hydrogen is particularly effective at fighting oxidative stress. They have shown that molecular hydrogen has an inhibitory effect on sympathetic neuroactivity, while simultaneously stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, thereby helping the body to relax (Lee, 2020: p. 84).

These studies indicate that molecular hydrogen creates both positive psychological and physical changes:

• The psychological changes include an increase in motivation and concentration, as well as a decrease in stress and fatigue
• Physical changes include an increase in parasympathetic activity, as well as a decrease in sympathetic nerve activity

Whether you drink hydrogen-rich water or inhale molecular hydrogen, you will receive plenty of powerful antioxidants that can boost your mood, help you relax, alleviate discomfort, and optimize your well-being. Read more about brain fog.