A frequent complaint I encounter in my practice is fatigue. Generally it is a vague and non-specific symptom and more often a result of something very simple and reversible such as not hydrating enough or lack of sleep.
Everyone suffers from some form of fatigue at some point during the course of each day. And if you’re an active person or in a stressful job, your chances of feeling tired and exhausted are even higher. The question arises, when is it bad enough to tell your doctor about it?
In order to determine this, you have to ask yourself a few questions. Does fatigue disrupt your daily routine? Do you find yourself tired for most of the day? Do you get through the day operating below your baseline energy level? Do you lack motivation to carry out daily tasks? Are you stressed or anxious? If you’re answering yes to some of these, there may be something else going on besides just being tired in the routine sense.
One of the most common causes of fatigue and lethargy is obesity. Obesity and poor physical conditioning can lead to general fatigue. I realize that certain limitations and ailments of the joints and muscles are extremely debilitating and are the root cause of inactivity but, with proper pain management and low impact exercise, a sedentary lifestyle can be easily overcome. This coupled with a nutritious diet will help reduce fatigue caused by obesity.
Other underlying causes of fatigue may be consequences of a thyroid imbalance, congestive heart failure, respiratory problems, anemia, sleep apnea, depression, and drug dependency to name a few. The nature and severity of these problems can only be ascertained by a complete physical exam by your doctor along with pertinent laboratory blood tests. Even as basic as a symptom like fatigue seems, finding the root cause and treating it effectively involves your physician getting to know you and your lifestyle. If all else fails, lending a sympathetic ear in listening to your problem may help overcome any frustration and debilitation you have over this still mysterious illness.
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