Health and Wellness

By Rashmee Shah

Wake up to Less Fatigue

Most of us have experienced mornings when we just can’t get out of bed. We’re tired, our muscles hurt, or the night’s rest was just not enough. Many Americans know, perhaps too well, what it means to be ‘fatigued.’ More often than not, the feeling passes with a day of rest or a quick vacation. However, for some people the fatigue becomes chronic and interferes with daily life. Fatigue is a common complaint in the doctor’s office and, at times, can cause a difficult diagnostic problem for the physician.

Fatigue is defined as a sensation of exhaustion during or after usual activities, or a feeling of too little energy to begin these activities. The majority of fatigue cases are caused by a preceding illness, such as the common cold or flu, or by overexertion with a disruption in the routine sleep-wake cycle. If you find yourself in a spell lasting a few days, you can try a few simple techniques. Routine is the buzzword for treating common, non-incapacitating fatigue. Get onto a habitual sleeping cycle, have scheduled workouts a couple of times a week, eat healthy, regular meals and take daily vitamins. Iron is especially important for women, so make sure your multivitamin has at least 10mg, or 30mg if you’re pregnant. Avoiding drugs and alcohol can also be helpful. This treatment of fatigue requires commitment to a lifestyle change, but should pay off in the end.

To determine whether medical intervention is necessary, one must consider the extent of the condition. Has the fatigue persisted for greater than two weeks with no identifiable source? Does exhaustion interfere with daily life, such as job performance, social and family relationships or mood? Has drowsiness caused an unsafe situation, such as unexpectedly falling asleep while driving? In cases brought to the attention of a doctor, a medical or psychiatric cause can be found in up to 2/3 of patients. Although the remaining 1/3 may not have a distinct diagnosis, the fatigue is still real and can be treated.

A multitude of medical and psychiatric conditions can lead to fatigue and many of them have effective treatments. For many women, heavy menstruation or iron deficiency can lead to anemia and resulting fatigue. In South Asians, thyroid problems are more common than in other ethnic groups and often causes fatigue. Your doctor can do simple blood tests to determine if you have either of these problems and treatment can be as simple as taking one daily pill. Some sleep disorders can lead to sleep apnea, or a temporary breathing disruption. Sleep apnea can, in turn, lead to awakening and inadequate sleep. Sleep apnea is more common in overweight patients, but can occur in anyone. After running sleeping tests, a doctor can prescribe an appropriate treatment. Many other medical causes of fatigue exist, ranging from heart problems to muscle disorders. Your doctor can do an examination and determine a treatment for your specific medical needs.

Depression is often concurrent with fatigued patients. Some signs that may alert you to a psychiatric illness include feelings of guilt, difficulty concentrating or remembering, excessive weight loss or weight gain, over- or under-sleeping, restlessness and irritability. Depression is a treatable condition, and if recognized and approached as such, treatment can lead to a dramatic improvement in quality of life.

Fatigue is a common problem with many related medical problems. Whether your case is temporary or chronic, treatment options exist. Take advantage of these options and the mornings when you can’t get out of bed will be fewer and farther between.