Health Glossary
Fatigue is complex. We break down the scientific terms found in your analysis report so you can understand your biology.
Adenosine
SleepA chemical that builds up in the brain throughout the day, creating 'sleep pressure' that makes you feel tired.
lightbulbThink of it like...Think of it like a fuel gauge running in reverse. When you wake up, the tank is empty. As the day goes on, it fills up with 'sleepiness.' Caffeine works by temporarily putting a sticker over the gauge so you can't see that it's full.
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
CellularThe primary energy currency of the cell. Mitochondria turn food and oxygen into ATP to power every function in the body.
lightbulbThink of it like...ATP is the battery percentage of your cells. You eat food (the charger), and your mitochondria turn it into power. If your charger is broken (mitochondrial dysfunction), your battery dies at 2 PM even if it was plugged in all night.
Circadian Rhythm
SleepThe body's internal 24-hour master clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, and body temperature.
lightbulbThink of it like...Imagine a conductor of an orchestra. The conductor tells the violins (melatonin) when to play and the trumpets (cortisol) when to be loud. Staring at bright screens at night is like blinding the conductor—the orchestra starts playing out of sync.
Cortisol
HormonesA steroid hormone often called the 'stress hormone', though it is essential for waking up. It should be high in the morning and low at night.
lightbulbThink of it like...Cortisol is your body's built-in alarm system. A healthy spike in the morning says 'Get up and go!' If it spikes at night (due to stress), it's like a fire alarm going off while you're trying to nap.
Dysbiosis
GutAn imbalance in the gut microbiome where harmful bacteria outnumber beneficial ones, often leading to inflammation.
lightbulbThink of it like...Your gut is like a garden. In a healthy garden, you have flowers and vegetables (good bacteria). Dysbiosis is when the weeds (bad bacteria) take over, choking out the plants and ruining the soil.
Electrolytes
NutritionMinerals (Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium) that carry an electric charge. They are essential for nerve signaling and hydration.
lightbulbThink of it like...Water is the car; electrolytes are the driver. You can drink gallons of water, but without electrolytes to direct where that water goes, it just passes right through you without hydrating your cells.
Ferritin
NutritionA blood protein that stores iron. It acts as a reserve tank for when your blood iron levels dip.
lightbulbThink of it like...If iron in your blood is the cash in your wallet, Ferritin is your savings account. You might have cash for today (normal iron), but if your savings account is empty (low ferritin), you will go bankrupt (fatigued) very soon.
GABA
BrainThe primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. It reduces neuronal excitability to promote relaxation.
lightbulbThink of it like...GABA is the brake pedal of the brain. If you have low GABA, you are driving down the highway at 100mph with no brakes—feeling anxious, racing thoughts, and unable to slow down for sleep.
HPA Axis
HormonesThe communication network (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal) that controls your body's reaction to stress.
lightbulbThink of it like...Think of it as a corporate chain of command. The CEO (Hypothalamus) sees a threat and emails the Manager (Pituitary), who texts the Workers (Adrenals) to start working overtime. Burnout happens when the workers stop responding.
Inflammation
ImmuneThe immune system's response to injury or threat. Chronic inflammation consumes massive energy resources.
lightbulbThink of it like...Acute inflammation is like firefighters putting out a house fire—necessary and helpful. Chronic inflammation is like firefighters spraying water on your house every day for 10 years, eventually causing water damage and rotting the foundation.
Melatonin
HormonesA hormone produced by the pineal gland in response to darkness that signals it is time to sleep.
lightbulbThink of it like...Melatonin is the 'starting gun' for the race to sleep, not the race itself. It tells your body to get to the starting line. Taking huge doses is like firing a cannon instead of a pistol—it creates confusion rather than a smooth start.
Mitochondria
CellularOrganelles found in cells that function as the 'power plants', generating ATP from nutrients.
lightbulbThink of it like...Your body is a city, and mitochondria are the power plants. If the power plants are old and sooty, the city lights flicker (brain fog) and the factories shut down (muscle weakness).
Neurotransmitter
BrainChemical messengers used by the nervous system to transmit messages between neurons. Key examples include Serotonin (mood/sleep) and Dopamine (motivation/reward).
lightbulbThink of it like...Think of neurons as cell phones and neurotransmitters as the text messages sent between them. If you don't have enough data (low neurotransmitters), the message never sends, leaving you feeling disconnected or unmotivated.
Neuroplasticity
BrainThe brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.
lightbulbThink of it like...Your brain is like a hiking trail. The more you walk a specific path (a habit), the wider that path becomes. Neuroplasticity is your ability to grab a machete and carve a new path if the old one isn't serving you.
Sleep Inertia
SleepThe groggy, disoriented feeling upon waking, caused by waking up during a deep sleep cycle or having lingering adenosine.
lightbulbThink of it like...It's like trying to boot up an old computer. You press the power button (wake up), but it takes 20 minutes for the icons to load and the mouse to start moving.
Sympathetic Nervous System
Nervous SystemThe part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the 'Fight or Flight' response.
lightbulbThink of it like...This is 'Survival Mode.' It prepares you to run from a bear. The problem is, modern life tricks your body into thinking an email from your boss is a bear, keeping you in survival mode all day.
Ultradian Rhythm
SleepBiological cycles that occur multiple times a day, such as the 90-minute rest-activity cycle.
lightbulbThink of it like...While the Circadian Rhythm is the daily tide, Ultradian Rhythms are the waves. Every 90 minutes, your brain needs a 'wave' of rest. Ignoring this is why you hit a mental wall after working for 2 hours straight.