Your Health Matters
By Claudia Parks, R.N.

Fatique. A common problem and one for which we can't always pinpoint the cause or reason.

Fatigue is the feeling of extreme tiredness or exhaustion, often involving muscle weakness that can result in difficulty performing tasks. It has been compared to the tired and achy feeling one has when experiencing a bout with the flu.

The symptoms of fatigue vary from person to person. They may last a long time or only a short time. They may strike at any time or may be predictable.

Fatigue affects everyone differently. For instance, it may make you feel: very tired with no energy; all you want to do is sleep; increased pain; fatigue often comes along with pain; sometimes fatigue may make you feel helpless; a loss of concentration; decisions become more difficult; it's as if your mind is tired; irritable; it may be difficult to be pleasant or happy.

Physical Causes:

Disease

Fatigue may occur with many types of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, especially those that affect the whole body (muscles, skin, blood, organs, as well as joints). These include rheumatoid arthritis, which can cause joint pain and swelling; lupus, which can cause a skin rash, joint pain, and problems with other organs; and fibromyalgia, which can cause extreme muscle aches and pain.

Pain

If you have joint pain, you may use body positions that are less painful to your joints. However, these positions can put extra stress on your joints and muscles. This can lead to fatigue. The physical and emotional energy you use trying to deal with pain can make you feel fatigued. Pain also may lead to fatigue by causing you to lose sleep.

Anemia

This is a condition of lack of red blood cells and or hemoglobin- to carry enough oxygen to the body's cells, and this can make you short of breath and feel very tired. It cannot always be corrected just by taking iron pills. A number of diseases and illnesses can cause anemia.

Being less active

You may not feel like doing much if you're in pain, feeling depressed, or if every task is a major effort. When you feel this way, for example, you may do less work around your house or yard. If you don't get enough physical activity, your muscles will get weaker and feel tired most of the time.

Other health problems

Health problems of the heart, lungs, and thyroid also may make you feel very tired.

Depression

The stress of an illness may make you feel sad or blue. You don't feel like doing anything, going anywhere, or being with friends and family. These feelings can make you feel tired. Being tired all the time, in turn, can contribute to depression. It's a cycle that, at times, can be difficult to escape.

Overextending yourself

Learn to listen to the signals of pain and fatigue. Take a rest!

Environmental causes

Features of the environment (your surroundings) may add to your fatigue. Loud noises and warmer temperatures may be tiring. Uncomfortable furniture, lots of stairs, and long waits may be very tiring.

Medications

Many of the medications that people take today actually can cause fatigue-they make you drag around! Review all your medicines with your doctor, including OTC medicines.

If you are suffering with fatigue-think about what may be causing it. See your doctor for a checkup and some blood tests especially for anemia and hypothyroidism. Make sure your nutrition is proper, increase your activity level, improve your sleep habits and drink plenty of water/liquids. Look objectively at yourself, you can often figure out what is actually the root of your problem. Make a list-discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Claudia Parks, RN, lived in south Fulton County for more than forty years. She is a former doctor's office and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator from Fulton County Schools. She writes Your Health Matters as a public service; the information here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Claudia and her husband now make their home in the beautiful north Georgia Mountains, near Blairsville.