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BURNOUT
Many of us have met or heard of those who have quit their job, or even quit their marriage or relationships due to ‘burnout’. Burnout is that state of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion that is both overwhelming and crippling. Many doctors now use the term ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ after excluding things such as heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, diabetes and poor sleep patterns. Let’s discuss a number of common categories of fatigue problems.
RECENT ILLNESS
Fatigue can often last weeks following even a simple viral respiratory infection.
The immune system may also become activated causing continuing problems even
after the initial infection has been resolved. Antibiotics do not help the immune
system and do not treat viral infections, only certain bacterial infections.
LITTLE EXERCISE, LITTLE SLEEP, OVERWORKED
Many people are chronically sleep deprived, falling far short of the required
seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Caffeine may provide an initial energy
pickup but may also rob you of a restful nights sleep. It can also be quite addictive
as those withdrawal headaches will show you.
Poor fitness levels combined with long work hours set the stage for fatigue.
Exercise does not have to be time consuming but ideally should be regular and
strenuous enough to cause a sweat.
IRON DEFICIENCY
Iron is important because when it is too high or too low fatigue may be the result.
A low iron level means that the red cells are unable to carry the necessary oxygen
for the brain and body organs to function at an optimum level. This is known as
iron deficiency anemia and a simple blood test can rule this one out. Don’t simply
take iron tablets as they may cover up an underlying problem or even lead to iron overload.
Other mineral deficiencies worth checking for (but often missed) include magnesium and zinc.
HORMONE IMBALANCE
Many women have taken hormone replacement for those troublesome hot flushes
and insomnia only to find that the treatment causes worse side effects then when
they started. This is because ‘menopause’ is not the same as ‘estrogen deficiency’,
but more a result of hormone imbalance involving a central control via the
pituitary and hypothalamus in the brain. Other important areas to check are thyroid
and adrenal glands. For example fatigue with cold intolerance, dry skin, constipation
and hair falling out may be caused by an underactive thyroid gland, whereas fatigue
and lightheadedness may be an adrenal gland problem.
SLEEP APNOEA
Also known as ‘snoring sickness’, this is due to the upper airway collapsing during sleep,
shutting off breathing and causing a person to wake up dozens of times a night.
Sleep apnoea can result in heart failure if left untreated due to repeated pressure
created on the pulmonary circulation.
EMOTIONAL LOSS
Grieving following the death of a loved one can take months or even years to get over.
Even the loss of a job or loss of independence in older age can cause fatigue.
DEPRESSION
This is a common and treatable cause of fatigue associated with neurotransmitter
chemical imbalance (such as seratonin) in the brain. There are a number of supplements
available to then balance these neurotransmitters. Severe depression may require medication.
DIABETES
If you have been tired and thirsty and needing to empty your bladder often you may
have diabetes. Simple blood tests such as a fasting glucose can rule this out. There
are many people with undiagnosed diabetes which can lead to nasty consequences
if ignored.
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
This is a diagnosis given to people who have no other causes of fatigue, and which has
persisted or recurred over six months and is interfering with normal everyday activities.
Symptoms may include; impaired concentration or short term memory, sore throat and glands,
muscle pain, joint pain, headaches, unrefreshing sleep, irritable bowel, alcohol
intolerance, and fatigue following exertion (for example sport) lasting more than 24 hours.
As there are many causes of fatigue it is well worth getting some expert advice for
peace of mind. You may be surprised at how good you can feel after getting energy
back again.
Note that information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not meant to be a prescription. Always check with your doctor first before taking new medication.
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