Dr Kelly
ONE of the commonest symptoms people complain about is tiredness and we often blame it on stress or Lack of sleep.
Being tired is part of living but continuous tiredness day after day after day is most likely caused by something abnormal.
Let’s start with the three pillars of Health
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSleep: Not getting seven to nine hours of sleep (studying for a test) or having a sleep disorder (Insomnia).
Nutrition: Not feeding the body with the fuel it needs. Start off the day with breakfast (more protein and vegetables and water).
Physical activities:
Not doing enough physical activity, Do any physical activity you enjoy; it doesn’t have to be exercise.
If you’ve checked all those boxes and you still drag through your days, it might be time to check possible medical causes of fatigue.
1. Anemia: “Iron-deficiency” manifests as anaemia. Iron transports oxygen into the blood. People with low iron in their body are tired and dizzy when they stand up; they get brain fog and heart palpitations.”
2. Diabetes: In this case, there is no uptake of sugar because of the lack of Insulin leading to fatigue.
3. Heart Disease: Extreme tiredness is a common symptom of congestive heart failure, which happens when it doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. The fatigue usually gets worse when you exercise. You might also have swelling in your arms or legs and shortness of breath.
4. Depression: It robs the brain of the chemicals it needs to work at its best. One of those is serotonin, which helps regulate your internal body clock.
5. Thyroid Problems: This could be slow or underactive, a situation known as hypothyroidism. It’s a small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits in your neck. It makes a hormone that helps control how you use energy.
6. Infection: Hepatitis, Malaria parasites and others affect the liver and when the liver is inflamed, it’s important processes can come to a halt.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disorder characterised by intense fatigue that does not improve with rest and which may be made worse by physical or mental exertion. It is unknown what causes this condition.
Symptoms
Symptoms, which define chronic fatigue syndrome include impairment in short-term memory or concentration, muscle and joint pain, headaches, tender lymph nodes, and frequent sore throat.
Fatigue can be a sign that your body needs more of your attention or that some of your habits are not that healthy. So, let’s also keep in mind that it can be a symptom of other serious medical conditions.
To put it concisely, In most cases, excessive sleepiness can be fixed with some lifestyle changes. If you still feel worn out after trying to manage your fatigue on your own, talk to your doctor. You may be having a sleep disorder or another medical condition that needs attention.
