CHRONIC FATIGUE: When to rest, when to worry
by ronit
LATELY, you have been so exhausted you can barely get through your morning routine. By mid-afternoon, your body feels like a lead weight and you're ready for a nap.
You can't concentrate. You can't remember what you had for dinner yesterday or who you promised to meet for lunch today. You can't seem to please your boss or connect with your mate, your friends, or your children.
Why are you so tired all the time?
THE TIRED LIFE
Chronic fatigue troubles one in four people and in many cases it is difficult to pinpoint the cause of exhaustion. Being tired all the time may be a sign of an underlying medical problem or something as simple as not getting enough sleep. Below are some of the most likely suspects in a bad case of the blabs, and how to get over them.
1.Stress and anxiety: Is your schedule taxing? If you're burning the candle at both ends, you're going to feel it.
Anxiety can also cause fatigue. If worries are keeping you from relaxing, you're likely not getting the rest you need.
To fight the fatigue pace yourself. Reduce stress in your life where you can. Take breaks when you need them. Don't try to do everything. Learn to say "no". Take time each day to simply relax.
2.Depression or grief: Fatigue that's accompanied by sadness, loss of appetite, loss of pleasure in activities, difficulty concentrating, and interrupted sleep may be a sign of depression. Clinical depression is the cause in up to half of the cases of fatigue that doctors see. Profound exhaustion can also be a symptom of grief, whether over the death of a loved one, a divorce, or the loss of a job.
To fight the fatigue Join a support group. In many cases, time may be enough to ease grief: in cases of depression, talk therapy and antidepressants can be useful.
3.Lack of sleep: One of the chief causes of fatigue is lack of sleep. Most people don't get 7 to 9 hours of sleep they need each night and even people who sleep well. In a condition called sleep apnea, the airways in the throat briefly but repeatedly collapses during sleep; a sufferer is pertinent to snore and gasp for breath, and may unknowingly wake hundreds of times a night. Other reasons for sleep related fatigue could be that, with age, it becomes harder to get uninterrupted sleep. You sleep less soundly. You awaken earlier. In addition, health problems may interfere with sound sleep.
To fight the fatigue Sleep right. Avoid eating, reading, or watching TV in bed. Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet. And set your establish a regular sleep schedule. Naps are OK, but keep them short and early in the day.
Mild cases of sleep apnea can be helped by losing weight or sleeping on one side; severe cases may require wearing a dental device to bed or even undergoing surgery.
4.Inactivity: You're too tired to exercise, so you don't. But then when you do exert yourself, you tire easily because you're out of shape. Boredom can also make you feed sluggish. If you're spending hours in front of the TV, you're not putting any demands on your body and it may continually run on "low".
To fight the fatigue Try to build 20 to 30 minutes of moderate physical activity into your day. Go for a walk. Tend to your garden. It may be hard at first, but within weeks you should notice a difference in your stamina.
5.Eating habits: If you're not eating properly or drinking enough fluids, your body isn't getting the fuel it needs for energy. Trying to remedy this with caffeine can backfire, especially if you consume it late in the day and it interferes with sleep. Some people can feel caffeine's effects for up to 10 hours. Alcohol has the same effect.
To fight the fatigue Eat properly. A low fat, high fibre breakfast prepares your body for the day's demands. Then refuel every 3 or 4 hours. Limit high-fat and high-sugar foods. They'll tend to make you feel sluggish later. Stick to 1 to 2 cups of coffee a day, and not more than 2 alcoholic drinks daily, preferably less.
6.Medication: Certain heart medications (especially beta blockers), anti-anxiety drugs, and antihistamines cause a feeling of fatigue. In addition , some cold medications and pain relievers contain caffeine and other stimulants that can interfere with sleep.
To fight the fatigue Use medications properly. Take your medications as prescribed, and talk to your doctor if you suspect that your medications are contributing to your fatigue.
7.Restless legs syndrome (RLS): This condition is characterized by an inability to keep your legs still and creeping or tingling sensations in your legs or arms. Symptoms can make it difficult to sleep.
To fight the fatigue There is no cure for restless legs syndrome, but speak to your doctor, who may prescribe certain medications, including iron tablets, to reduce its effects.
8.Diabetes: Extreme fatigue can be a warning sign of diabetes, a condition in which your body uses insulin incorrectly.
To fight the fatigue Get yourself checked. Symptoms of diabetes (in addition to fatigue) can include excessive thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, and recurring infections. Once you get it under control, the fatigue will disappear.
9.Thyroid problems: A malfunctioning thyroid can cause fatigue. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to make or release enough thyroid hormones. The result is a mix of symptoms, such as sluggishness, chronically cold hands and feet, constipation, bloating, overweight, dry skin, and hoarse voice. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid produces excessive amounts of hormone. Too much hormone can cause fatigue , muscle weakness, weight loss, increased heart rate, nervousness, and irritability.
To fight the fatigue If you have many of the symptoms associated with either hypo- or hyperthyroidism, ask your doctor if you can take the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) assay. Both conditions are treatable and readily respond to medication.
10.Anaemia: Sometimes your very cells are tired, because they lack oxygen. That's what happens in anaemia, a condition in which the blood doesn't have enough haemoglobin, the oxygen - carrying molecule.
To fight the fatigue Don't pop iron pills without consulting your doctor, some people are genetically prone to store iron, and for them supplements can be dangerous. A blood test will show whether you need to boost your iron intake by changing your diet or taking supplements.
11.Recent illness: Even when the fever has dropped, the sluggishness of the flu or another infection can linger for a month or more, because the immune cells that fight sickness can also make you tired.
To fight the fatigue If you can't get up to speed after you've been ill, there's a simple cure: Take it easy.
12.Chronic fatigue syndrome: This collection of symptoms, sometimes dismissed as "yuppi flu", is real, although experts think it afflicts only about 10 out of 100,000 adults. The condition brings debilitating fatigue, often so intense, that a sufferer may have difficulty concentrating. Flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches may accompany the exhaustion.
To fight the fatigue There is no specific test for chronic fatigue syndrome but antidepressants and pain medications can help, as can moderate exercise.
13.Cancer & other health problems: Persistent fatigue may be a symptom of an infectious illness, such as hepatitis. A chronic health problem (such as heart disease) or an acute health problem (such as walking pneumonia) can drag you down too. The illness may sap your energy, or symptoms may keep you awake at night.
Fatigue, on occasion, can also be a symptom of cancer. A thorough checkup, including routine cancer screening, can help rule out malignancy as a cause of your fatigue.
To fight the fatigue You've got tackle the source of the fatigue - eg. Heart disease - before you treat it. Still, sit with your doctor and discuss how best you can increase energy even as you take treatment for ailment.
About the Author
Author is a medical student, keeps interest in health facts. He analyzes on different health facts, news, tips. Learn more about health at http://www.blogchex.com/health4inspiration/