Fatigue

Fatigue is an overwhelming sense of tiredness and lack of energy that makes your body feel weak. Everyone has felt it at some time or another. It's a normal part of life. What most people refer to as fatigue is brought on by excessive stress, poor nutrition, hard work, lack of sleep or exertion, and will go away with good nutrition, reduction of stress, rest and adequate sleep. When these do not help, though, your body is sending you a signal that something else may be wrong.

Causes

Depression and anxiety are common, treatable causes of fatigue. Symptoms of these disorders may include a depressed mood, feelings of apprehension, eating or sleeping disturbances, or not being able to enjoy life.

Fatigue is common up to one month after a viral illness. People often return to their busy lifestyles after the obvious symptoms go away and do not realize their body is still recuperating.

Fatigue can be an early symptom of many types of serious illness, although usually it's not. These illnesses include cancer, diabetes and other metabolic problems, anemia, hepatitis, heart disease, obesity, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, mononucleosis, sleep disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, alcoholism and urinary tract infections.

Fatigue can sometimes be caused by prescriptions or other medications you are taking. Over-the-counter medications that can rob you of energy include pain relievers, cough and cold medicines, antihistamines and allergy medicines, sleeping pills and motion sickness pills. Prescriptions that can cause fatigue include tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, sedatives, birth control pills and blood pressure reducers.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A pattern of extreme fatigue not relieved by rest that lasts for six or more months can be a sign of a disabling condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This condition affects more women than men. The onset of CFS often follows a viral illness, but the cause of CFS is unknown. If all other reasons for fatigue are eliminated, then chronic fatigue syndrome might be the cause.

Symptoms of CFS

In addition to fatigue, these are possible symptoms of CFS:

• Loss of short-term memory or concentration

• Sore throat

• Tender lymph nodes in the neck and armpits

• Unexplained muscle pain

• Pain in multiple joints without swelling or redness

• Headaches of a new type, pattern or severity

• Sleep problems

• Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after normal exercise or activity

CFS can be difficult to diagnose because it has the same symptoms as many other diseases. First, your doctor needs to rule out other possible conditions. Then you need to meet the criteria for a CFS diagnosis, which include having severe chronic fatigue for six months or longer with no known medical cause and having at least four of the eight symptoms above.

Depression often goes hand in hand with CFS. In fact, more than two-thirds of people who have CFS also have depression.

Treatment of CFS

There is no effective treatment for CFS, but treating your symptoms can help you feel better. Your doctor may prescribe medications for pain or depression if needed. A rehabilitation medicine specialist can evaluate you and teach you how to plan activities to take advantage of times when you usually feel better. Emotional support and counseling may also help you cope with CFS.

Self-Care Steps for Fatigue

• Organize your time. Get up a few minutes earlier, so you won't have to start your day feeling rushed and tired. Learn to delegate and say no when you have enough responsibilities and activities in your life.

• Be physically active. Try to get at least 30 minutes of activity most days of the week. Avoid exercising right before you go to bed, which can disrupt your regular sleeping habits and make you tired in the morning.

• Get the right amount of sleep. Most people need six to eight hours of sleep each night.

• Take a nap during the day. This may be especially helpful for teenagers who have hectic schedules and older adults who tend to sleep less soundly.

• Quit smoking. Smoking steals some of your body's oxygen supply, replacing oxygen absorbed by the red blood cells with carbon monoxide. Nicotine is a stimulant, and going through the withdrawal symptoms that follow smoking can cause temporary tiredness.

• Drink less caffeine and alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant and will make you feel tired, not boost your energy. Caffeine will give you a temporary boost of energy, but when the effect wears off, your energy level will drop drastically.

• Find your lunch style. Some people function best after eating a lighter lunch, whereas others need to eat their largest meal of the day at lunch. In either case, avoid high-fat foods. Because fats burn off slower than carbohydrates, they will slow you down.

• Take breaks. Interrupt your workday with occasional breaks. If you haven't gone on a vacation in a while, take a trip or unplug the phone and refresh yourself at home.

• Watch less television. If you depend on television to relax, you may find yourself relaxed into a state of sluggishness. Try something more stimulating, such as reading or taking a walk.

• Find ways to calm yourself. Listen to music or relaxation tapes. Say a word, phrase, or prayer that gives you a sense of peace. Imagine yourself on a beach, at the mountains, or in your favorite spot.

Self-Care Steps for CFS

• Eat a balanced diet, don't smoke and limit your caffeine intake.

• Get enough sleep.

• Pace yourself physically, emotionally and intellectually. Too much stress can aggravate your symptoms.

• Exercise regularly, but don't overdo it. At first, physical activity may increase your fatigue, but over time it can improve your symptoms.

• If you have continuing fatigue without obvious cause, see your doctor.