FATIGUE

FATIGUE

Fatigue is a feeling of constant weakness that can be physical, mental or a combination of both. It can affect anyone, and most adults will experience this feeling at some point in their lives.

Fatigue is a symptom, not a condition.

For many people, fatigue is caused by a combination of the lifestyle, social, psychological, and general wellness issues rather than an underlying medical condition.

Although fatigue is sometimes described as a lack of strength and energy, it is different from feeling weak or drowsy.

Everyone feels tired at some point, but this is usually resolved with a nap or a few nights of good sleep. A drowsy person may also feel temporarily refreshed after physical or mental exercise.

If you get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly, but still have trouble performing your daily activities, concentrating, or being motivated at your normal level, you may be feeling fatigue that requires further analysis.

1. Symptoms of fatigue: fatigue can cause a wide range of other physical, mental, and emotional symptoms, including:

• Chronic fatigue or drowsiness. • Migraine. • Dizziness. • Aching muscles. • Muscle weakness. • Slowed reflexes and responses. • Impaired decision-making and judgment. • Mood swings, such as irritability. • Hand-eye coordination disorders. • A loss of appetite. • Reduced immune system function. • Blurry vision. • Short-term memory problems. • Poor concentration. • Hallucinations. • Reduced ability to pay attention to the situation at hand. • Unmotivated.

2. Causes of fatigue: Causes of fatigue mainly include:

a. Medical: persistent exhaustion may be a sign of an underlying condition, such as a thyroid disorder, heart disease, or diabetes.

In addition, several diseases, and disorders trigger fatigue. If you experience prolonged bouts of fatigue, consult your doctor.

b. Emotional concerns and stress: fatigue is a common symptom of mental health issues, such as depression and grief, and can be accompanied by other signs and symptoms, including irritability and lack of motivation.

c. Lifestyle related: everyday lifestyle factors that can cause fatigue include:

• Lack of sleep: generally, adults need about eight hours of sleep each night. Some people try to get by with fewer hours of sleep.

• Too much sleep: adults who sleep more than 11 hours per night can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.

• Sleep disorder: Disturbed sleep can occur for a number of reasons, for example noisy neighbors, young children waking up

at night, a snoring partner, or an uncomfortable sleeping environment like a stuffy bedroom.

• Alcohol and drugs: alcohol is a depressant that slows down the nervous system and disrupts normal sleep patterns. Other drugs, such as cigarettes and caffeine, stimulate the nervous system and can cause insomnia.

• Lack of regular exercise and sedentary behavior: physical activity is known to improve fitness, health, and well-being, reduce stress and increase energy levels. It also helps you sleep.

• Bad nutrition: low-kilojoule diets, low-carb diets, or energy-dense foods that are nutritionally poor do not provide the body with enough fuel or nutrients to function at its best.

Quick-fix foods, such as chocolate bars or caffeinated beverages, only provide a temporary energy boost that quickly wears off and worsens fatigue.

• Individual factors: illness, personal situations or too many obligations. For example, working two jobs or financial problems can cause fatigue.

d. Work related: Common workplace issues that can cause fatigue include.

• Shift work: the human body is designed to sleep at night. This pattern is defined by a small part of the brain known as the circadian clock.

A shift worker disrupts his circadian clock by working when his body is programmed to sleep.

• Poor Workplace Practices: they can increase a person's level of fatigue. The most commonly observed are long working hours, heavy physical labor, irregular work schedules such as rotating shifts, a stressful work environment such as excessive noise or extreme temperatures, boredom, working alone with little or no interaction with others or a fixed focus on a repetitive task.

• Workplace stress: it can be caused by a wide range of factors, including job dissatisfaction, heavy workload, conflicts with bosses or co-workers, bullying, constant change, or threats to job security.

• Professional exhaustion: it can be described as trying too hard in one area of life while neglecting everything else.

Workaholics, for example, put all their energy into their careers, which throws family life, social life, and personal interests out of balance.

• Shortage of work: financial pressures, feelings of failure or guilt, and emotional exhaustion from a prolonged job search can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue.

e. Psychological: studies suggest that psychological factors are present in at least 50% of cases of fatigue. These may include:

• Depression: this disease is characterized by severe and prolonged feelings of sadness, depression and hopelessness.

People who are depressed usually suffer from chronic fatigue.

• Anxiety and stress: a chronically anxious or stressed person keep their body in overdrive. The constant flow of adrenaline exhausts the body and fatigue sets in.

• Sorrow: the loss of a loved one brings on a wide range of emotions, including emotional shock, guilt, depression, despair, and loneliness.

Fatigue is a symptom, something you can feel and describe, not a condition or disease. To reduce your fatigue, you must first understand the underlying reasons for your fatigue.

If fatigue is negatively affecting your quality of life or causing you distress, consider seeing a healthcare professional. By asking questions, they'll help you understand why you're feeling tired and offer suggestions on how to find relief.

If necessary, your doctor may suggest certain medical tests if there is a reasonable likelihood that the cause of your fatigue is an undiagnosed medical condition, such as anemia or thyroid dysfunction.

Fortunately, for most people, fatigue will subside on its own over time or with a few simple, practical lifestyle changes.