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We all had those days when dragging oneself from bed feels like winning a marathon; by the noon hour, fog seems to have engulfed the brain, and the least-provocative thought is being productive whatsoever. Therefore, fatigue is the perspective. The phenomenon is beyond just feeling "tired."
Now, just what is fatigue? And how does one put a stop to it as it starts taking over life day by day? Rest assured - we have a team of highly qualified and experienced Internal Medicine experts in Delhi who are here to help you with effective fatigue treatment.
Let us try to look into everything about fatigue: definition, causes, symptoms of fatigue, fatigue treatment, and fatigue cure, from more of a real-world, human-centred perspective.
Synopsis
Understanding Fatigue: More Than Just Being Tired
Fatigue occurs when one finds oneself overcome by either physical or mental exhaustion, or both, which cannot be remedied through rest. One description is to feel like the body is weighed down with lead; the other is watching the brain move through molasses.
Fatigue is generally divided into two different types.
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Physical fatigue: The state when there is a sharp decline in the body’s ability to execute simple physical tasks, resulting in decreased stamina and muscle frailty. It is noteworthy that fatigue is observed as a symptom of multiple health conditions. Thus, careful monitoring is vital for effective fatigue treatment and management.
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Mental fatigue: Mental fatigue shows itself as diminished mental agility, memory loss, and trouble focusing. Stress, lack of sleep, or underlying mental health issues like anxiety or depression can all cause it.
Fatigue does not affect everyone in the same way; thus, fatigue cure and cause are not universal.
Fatigue vs Sleepy — Is There Really a Difference Between the Two?
Yes, and the difference is huge! Sleepiness generally indicates that one didn’t get enough sleep. It is not permanent and is fixed with enough rest.
Fatigue, on the contrary, remains. In fact, in the case of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), it is often associated with an underlying medical issue or emotional strain.
Causes of Fatigue
Lifestyle-linked choices and underlying medical complications are described to be the main sources of fatigue. Let us take a deeper look at the most common causes of fatigue.
- Lifestyle-Associated:
Your day-to-day routine and choices play a significant role in your energy as well as exhaustion level throughout the day. These mainly include:
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Meal skipping or poor diet choices leading to undernourishment
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Excessive alcohol consumption
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Overconsumption of energy drinks and caffeine
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A sedentary lifestyle results in reduced body movement
- Sleep-Associated:
Sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea can result in recurrent sleep disruption and continuous fatigue.
- Medication and Treatment-Associated:
Multiple prescription drugs mention fatigue as a primary side-effect. Some of these are:
- Antipsychotic drugs
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Some pain relievers
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Chemotherapy treatments
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Antihistamines
- Health Conditions-Associated:
Disruption in endocrine system regulation impacts the body's ability to function normally as it leads to hormonal imbalance. For example, Hypothyroidism is observed to be the main reason for fatigue in females. Other causes include:
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Autoimmune Disorders
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Lung and Heart Complications
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Autoimmune Diseases
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Mental Health Issues (Depression, Anxiety, PTSD)
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Vitamin Deficiencies (Vit. D, Vit. B12)
Symptoms of Fatigue — How to differentiate it from sleepiness?
Often, fatigue is exhibited with an entire range of symptoms. The following are some of the most recorded symptoms of fatigue:
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No interest or motivation in your once most adored activities.
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Facing difficulty in staying focused.
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Frequent low energy or complete lack of it.
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Continual episodes of unexplained weakness.
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Feeling anxious, nervous, or irritated.
Fatigue Treatment — What to do?
If fatigue has become persistent and is disturbing your routine life, our team is here to provide you with adequate and advanced medical assistance. We are recognised as one of the best internal medicine hospitals in Delhi, offering overall care for both chronic and common disease patients.
Our team of Internal Medicine Experts will begin with your symptom review, knowing and analysing your medical history, along with your ongoing medication. You may be requested to take some diagnostic tests to help identify the cause.
Once the primary cause is determined, we will then recommend a customised fatigue treatment plan.
FAQ's
Fatigue is a condition when you feel physically or mentally exhausted and don’t feel refreshed even after sufficient rest.
Hormonal imbalance is the major reason for fatigue in females. Others can be stress, autoimmune diseases, and vitamin deficiencies.
Fatigue treatment depends on its primary cause. It mainly comprises lifestyle modifications and medical intervention.
There is no universal fatigue cure, but patients find relief through medical assistance and lifestyle changes. Doctor consultation can help construct a customised fatigue treatment plan.
When you constantly feel tired and nothing is helping, it is time to seek medical help. This will help you with adequate fatigue treatment.
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