Know the causes of fatigue
Cause of fatigue
Here are 7 of the most common problems you should know about.
Anemia
Fatigue due to anemia Lack of red blood cells It is the blood, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and cells, that may cause a feeling of weakness and shortness of breath. Anemia can be caused by an iron or vitamin deficiency, blood loss, internal bleeding, or a chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or kidney failure. Laurence Korash, assistant professor of laboratory medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, explains: Women of childbearing age, during pregnancy and lactation, are particularly susceptible to iron deficiency anemia due to blood loss during menstruation and The body’s need for iron is more affected.
signs: Fatigue is one of its main symptoms. Other symptoms include severe weakness, sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, rapid heart rate, chest pain, and headache. Simple exercise such as climbing stairs or walking short distances can cause fatigue.
the experiment: A complete evaluation for anemia includes physical exams and blood tests, such as a complete blood cell count or measurement of red blood cells. One of the standard methods for calculating anemia is a urine test.
Thyroid disease
If thyroid hormones are not secreted well, even daily activities will tire you. gland thyroid, about the size of a man’s tie knot, is located at the front of the neck and secretes hormones that control the body’s metabolism. Excessive secretion of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) speeds up the body’s metabolism. Too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) slows down the body’s metabolism.
signs: Hyperthyroidism first causes fatigue and muscle weakness in the thighs, which makes sports such as cycling or climbing stairs difficult. Other symptoms include unexplained weight loss, feeling constantly hot, increased heart rate, shortened and reduced menstrual flow, and increased thirst. Hyperthyroidism usually manifests itself mostly in women in their 20s and 30s, but it can also occur in older women and men. Hypothyroidism causes fatigue and inability to concentrate and muscle pain, even with minor activity. Other symptoms include weight gain from water retention, feeling cold all the time (even in warmer climates), heavier and more frequent menstrual flow, and constipation. The prevalence of hypothyroidism is in women over 50 years old. In fact, more than 10% of women over 50 have mild hypothyroidism, McConnell says.
the experiment: Thyroid disease can be diagnosed with a blood test. Thyroid disorders are treatable, McConnell says, and thyroid testing should be done in anyone who complains of fatigue or muscle weakness.
diabetes
Every year it is determined that more than one million people diabetes Type 2 are afflicted. But many may not even know about it. Sugar, also called glucose, is the fuel that protects your body. This means that for people with type 2 diabetes, it is not possible to use and burn sugar in the body properly, and this causes the blood sugar to rise. People with diabetes often find out about this disease by feeling tired and not having enough energy for the body, which is one of the warning signs of diabetes.
signs: On the one hand fatigue and on the other hand symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, hunger, weight loss, irritability, yeast infections and blurred vision.
the experiment: There are two main tests for diabetes. The fasting blood sugar test, which is more common, measures blood sugar levels after fasting for 8 hours. Using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), blood is drawn twice, once before drinking glucose syrup, then 2 hours after drinking it.
depression
Feeling very sad, or depression, is a major illness that affects how we sleep, eat, how we feel about ourselves and others. Without treatment, the signs and symptoms of depression may last for weeks, months, or even years.
signs:Most of us do not experience depression in these ways. But usually, depression can cause decreased energy, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, memory and concentration problems, and feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and negativity.
the experiment: There is no blood test for depression, but your doctor may be able to identify it by asking you a series of questions. Consult your doctor or mental health professional if you experience five or more of the following symptoms for more than 2 weeks, or if they interfere with your life: fatigue or loss of energy, excessive sleep Low or high, sadness, anxiety, or feelings of emptiness, loss of appetite and weight loss, increased appetite and weight gain, loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed, restlessness or irritability, persistent physical symptoms that Treatment does not respond, such as headaches, chronic pain or constipation and other digestive disorders, problems concentrating, remembering, or making decisions, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or worthless thoughts about death or suicide.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
It’s an autoimmune disease that isn’t always easy to detect early on, but there are some subtle clues to spotting it. This disease occurs when the body’s immune system turns against itself and attacks healthy connective tissue, causing sometimes irreversible damage to bone and cartilage.
signs: Many of its symptoms (such as fatigue, lack of energy, loss of appetite and joint pain) are shared with some other diseases, including other forms of arthritis such as chronic pain and muscle stiffness known as fibromyalgia and lupus. According to John Klippel, president and CEO of the Atlanta Arthritis Foundation, fatigue from anemia and thyroid disorders are even more common in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Dermatologists look for at least four of the following criteria in diagnosing RA: morning dryness in and around joints, at least three joint areas with soft tissue swelling at the same time; Swollen joints in the wrist, knuckle, or middle finger joint; simultaneous involvement of common points on both sides of the body; lumpy tissue under the skin; and bone erosion in the wrist or hand joints. Diagnosis is made by X-ray.
the experiment: A thorough physical examination by a rheumatologist can provide valuable evidence of the disease, but there is also a test to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, and that is antibodies in the blood. About 80% of people who take the RA test are positive, but it should be noted that this test is not definitive.
Chronic fatigue
This is a disturbing situation and causes extreme fatigue that happens quickly. People suffering from CFS feel extremely tired after normal daily activities and tire easily with minor activities.
signs: Other symptoms include headache, muscle and joint pain, weakness, painful lymph nodes, and inability to concentrate. Chronic fatigue syndrome remains underdiagnosed because there is no known cause.
the experiment: There is no test. Your doctor should consider other similar symptoms, such as lupus and MS, before making a diagnosis.
Suffocation in sleep
If you feel tired when you wake up, you may have a sleep disorder; No matter how much rest you have, you still feel confused and tired. Sleep apnea is a disorder that is accompanied by short pauses in breathing during sleep.
In the most common type of obstructive sleep apnea, your upper airway becomes blocked or your breathing stops for a few seconds, which in turn signals the brain to wake you up to start breathing again. A person suffering from sleep apnea may stop breathing dozens or even hundreds of times during the night.
signs: Sleep apnea usually has symptoms such as snoring and is generally associated with fatigue the next day. Since sleep apnea can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke, it is important to identify it.
the experiment: It includes an overnight stay in a sleep clinic to record your sleep patterns and a painless test that monitors your sleep patterns, breathing changes, and brain activity.