Fatigue Causes

Nearly all of us have struggled with the problem of getting too tired or being overworked at some time or the other. Due to the fact that most of us lead hectic lives, we could get extremely tired very often too. Fortunately, after some rest and relaxation, most of us get back to our feet and are ready to face the normal challenges of our daily lives. However, in case you tend to feel tired even after you just wake up from proper sleep, or after resting for an adequate amount of time, then it is quite possible that you are suffering from fatigue. Contrary to what many people believe, fatigue is not the same thing as feeling very tired or sleepy.

Fatigue is more like the lack of desire to do anything, often accompanied by the desired to sleep. More often than not, fatigue is not a health problem or a condition; rather, it is a symptom of an underlying medical condition that may require treatment. Though studies show that some of the most common fatigue causes in men and women are their habits and routines, it is best to ensure that the problem never goes unchecked. It is important to consult a doctor and identify what the possible chronic and extreme fatigue causes could be.

There are quite a few theories around the constant fatigue causes; yet, there is no single cause which can explain all the cases of chronic fatigue. This could be due to the fact that there are no blood tests or brain scans that you can go through, to determine the exact causes of continuous fatigue. Nevertheless, given below are some of the common constant fatigue causes, as stated by medical health care providers:

Emotional conditions
Abnormalities in the brain
Psychiatric problems
Viruses or other agents that can lead to infections
Heredity or genetic factors
Immune system that is hyper-reactive

The fatigue causes and symptoms could be related in case of many people. For example, you may feel very tired or perhaps even physically drained, after a taxing event and could feel the same way, after going through some emotional problems.

Fatigue Symptoms

There are various types of fatigue and each can affect you and your body in many different ways. The factors that could determine the severity of the problem as well as its symptoms include age, lifestyle, levels of physical fitness and overall health. In fact gender too can play a role in the severity of this affliction, as the fatigue symptoms in men may vary from the symptoms in women. For example, muscle fatigue symptoms, which include loss of strength and weakness, could so severe that some may find it difficult to perform their daily activities; this is a lot more common in men. However, someone else may only experience weakness in a particular part of the body, like the legs or hands, which is generally the case with women. Muscle twitching and trembling are also some of the common muscle fatigue symptoms seen in both men and women. Older people suffering from muscle fatigue could find it difficult to grip objects.

Eye fatigue, also known as eye strain has become very common in people who work in front of a computer for a long period of time. In addition to that, in case you watch too much television or read (in dim light), you are at a higher risk of developing this problem. Some of the common eye fatigue symptoms that could affect your eyes are itchiness, blurred vision, pain, burning, redness, excess watering, double vision, droopy eyelids, soreness, spasms, twitching, increased light sensitivity and dryness. You may also start experiencing frequent headaches, or even migraines.

In case you feel tired after resting or sleeping all night, or even after walking barely for a few minutes, then you may be suffering from extreme fatigue, which is affecting your day to day life. Some of the common extreme fatigue symptoms are pain in the muscles and joints, lack of energy, weakness, sleeping problems, the inability to focus, discomfort, dizziness, headaches and rapid heart rate.

Fatigue is very common in pregnant women and is in fact regarded as one of the symptoms of pregnancy. Some of the common fatigue symptoms during pregnancy faced by women include unusual tiredness, the desire to sleep for longer hours, lack of energy and weakness.

Fatigue Treatment

Although fatigue is not a serious problem on its own, it is best to seek medical help in case you have been experiencing its symptoms, as you could be suffering from an underlying medical condition. Moreover, if the fatigue interferes with your daily lifestyle then it may be important to consult a doctor as quickly as possible. In most cases, a few simple lifestyle changes bring about a major different and help control fatigue effectively.

Muscle fatigue treatment may depend on the severity of the symptoms as well as its causes. In most cases, doctors advise patients to engage in certain exercises and follow a diet that is high in energy boosting foods. Many patients are advised to eat a banana every day; however, in case you suffer from any other medical conditions this may not be recommended. Some of the other recommendations could include hot baths, rest, ice therapy and elevation.

Chronic fatigue treatment too involves a combination of activities and therapies, which could include:

Exercising moderately
Cognitive behavior therapy
Treating depression, pain, sleeping disorders, allergies, nervous system problems and other conditions
Use of corticosteroids, interferon, antiviral drugs, cholinesterase inhibitors and immune globulins

Adrenal fatigue can be described as a series of nonspecific signs, like digestion problems, nervousness, body ache and sleep disturbance. There are certain supplements that can help deal with this problem, some of which include Vitamins C, E and B Complex. Adrenal fatigue treatment with natural herbs could comprise Rhodiola, Siberian Ginseng, and Cordyceps. A diet and lifestyle changes also play a very important part of adrenal fatigue treatment.

Many people suffering from this problem ask their doctors “can fatigue affect mentality”. It is important to realize that fatigue not just affects you physically, but also have an adverse impact on your mental health. Some of the areas that could be affected by fatigue are the ability to make decisions, lack of concentration, stress, anxiety and nervousness. In severe cases, fatigue has been known to snatch away the zeal of life from people. Hence, it is important to seek medical attention and advice as soon as fatigue is evident.

Submitted on January 16, 2014