Fatigue – What is it, Symptoms and Treatments!
Fatigue – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments of this condition. Also, Fatigue is a term used to describe a general feeling of tiredness or lack of energy . It’s not the same as feeling sleepy . When you are tired, you have neither motivation nor energy . Being sleepy can be a symptom of Fatigue , but it’s not the same. Fatigue is a common symptom of many medical conditions, which range in severity from mild to severe.
It is also a natural result of some lifestyle choices such as lack of exercise or poor diet . If your Fatigue does not resolve with proper rest and nutrition, or you suspect it is caused by an underlying physical or mental health condition , see your doctor. They can help diagnose the cause of your fatigue and work with you to treat it.
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Causes: There are many potential causes of Fatigue . They can be divided into three general categories:
Lifestyle Factors: If you are experiencing Fatigue , your activities and other lifestyle choices could be the root cause. For example, Fatigue can result from:
- Physical effort;
- Lack of physical activity;
- Lack of sleep;
- Being overweight or obese;
- Periods of emotional stress ;
- Boredom;
- Sadness;
- Taking certain medications, such as antidepressants or sedatives;
- Consuming alcohol on a regular basis;
- Using street drugs such as cocaine;
- Consuming too much caffeine;
- Not eating a nutritious diet .
Physical Health Conditions: Many medical conditions can also cause Fatigue . Examples include:
- Anemia
- Arthritis
- fibromyalgia
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Infections, such as a cold and flu
- Addison’s disease, a disorder that can affect your hormone levels
- Hypothyroidism or insufficient thyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid
- Sleep disorders , such as insomnia
- Eating disorders such as anorexia
- autoimmune disorders
- Congestive heart failure
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- liver disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Emphysema
Mental Health Issues: Mental health conditions can also lead to Fatigue . For example, fatigue is a common symptom of anxiety, depression and seasonal affective disorder.
Symptoms: You should make an appointment with your doctor if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Difficulty thinking, even explaining the reason for your Fatigue ;
- Body temperature higher than normal;
- Experienced unexplained weight loss;
- Feeling very sensitive to colder temperatures;
- You regularly have trouble sleeping.
If you have made efforts to address the most common lifestyle causes such as lack of rest, poor eating habits and stress to no avail, and your fatigue has continued for two weeks or more, make an appointment with your doctor. In some cases, your fatigue could be caused by a serious medical condition. Go to the hospital immediately if you experience fatigue along with any of the following symptoms:
- Rectal bleeding ;
- Vomiting blood;
- Severe headache;
- Pain in the chest area;
- Feelings of weakness;
- cardiac arrhythmia;
- Shortness of breathe;
- Severe pain in your abdominal, back, or pelvic area;
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm;
- Thoughts of harming another person.
Treatments: The treatment plan your doctor recommends will depend on the cause of your fatigue . To develop a diagnosis, they will likely ask you a series of questions about:
- The nature of your Fatigue , including when it started and whether it gets better or worse at certain times;
- Other symptoms you have experienced;
- Other medical conditions you have;
- Your lifestyle and sources of stress ;
- Medications you are taking.
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If your doctor suspects you have an underlying medical condition that is causing your fatigue , they may order one or more tests. For example, they may order blood or urine tests.