Get Some Sleep!
Back in the mid-1990s I became very interested in how fatigue and sleep deprivation impacts human performance. There was a good amount of research tucked away in some obscure journals and on the shelves of almost unknown institutes. Yet what I found was very intriguing and startling. At the time media coverage of this topic…
Read MoreSleep Improves Elite Athletic Performance
Stanford athletes have been working with the Stanford Sleep Research Center to get adequate sleep. After several weeks of sleep extension, players were found to sprint faster, free throw more accurately, score more goals, have faster reaction times, and feel less fatigued.PositiveTip: Sleep impacts every aspect of our lives including athletic performance. How are you doing?
Read MoreHigh-Intensity Exercise Reduces Fatigue During Chemotheraphy
Fatigue is a well-known problem of those undergoing chemotherapy. A new Danish study of almost 300 adults in chemotherapy randomly divided between group exercise and conventional care, or conventional care alone for 6 weeks has demonstrated that the patients who participated in high-intensity exercise (4.5 hours per week) experienced significant improvements in physical and emotional…
Read MoreTired Physicians Less Accurate in Detecting Adenomas
The effectiveness of any medical procedure in preventing disease or making an accurate diagnosis depends largely on the skill, effectiveness, and performance of the physician. In a novel research project, investigators compared the results of colonoscopies performed in the morning versus the afternoon. Interestingly, the procedures performed in the morning were significantly more accurate than those…
Read MoreKnow Your Own Level of Performance
We all recognize that a person under the influence of alcohol subjectively feels they are functioning at their peak performance, when objectively they demonstrate significant declines in cognitive and motor performance. So, even when sober, how can you determine if you are fit to perform your expected tasks safely and well?This is not easily done…
Read MoreWhich is Better: Tired or Drunk?
Why do people attempt to drive cars, operate complex machinery, or fly airplanes when they are tired?Answers to this question are varied, but usually boil down to one common attitude: we think the risk is trivial or perfectly acceptable! Often this is the case because we have done it before, toughed it out, or "made…
Read MoreBoost Your Energy Level with Exercise
Many humans today report they feel exhausted and tired most of the time. People who have well-defined medical conditions such as heart disease or cancer consistently report improved feelings of energy and less fatigue when they exercise regularly.A recent six week randomized controlled trial of healthy young adults who reported persistent fatigue found improvements in…
Read MoreIncrease Your Performance by Getting Adequate Sleep
Adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night for optimal performance and health. Without adequate rest on a regular basis the risk increases for: Cardiovascular disease Obesity Diabetes Depression Inferior work performance Risk of injury Irritability Those who responded to the 2009 National Sleep Foundation poll indicated if they sleep less than 6 hours compared…
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