Description
Overworked and overly tired are symptoms most adults can identify with from time to time. Usually, though, feeling fatigued is temporary and the symptoms dissipate with rest and proper nutrition. Fatigue is a physical and/or mental state of being weak and tired. Fatigue may result from overwork, poor sleep, worry, boredom, or lack of exercise. Anxiety and depression may also cause fatigue.
Fatigue, can, however, last longer and have more profound effects. It sometimes is a nearly- constant state of feeling weary and tired that develops over time and diminishes your energy and mental capacity. At this level and for longer durations, fatigue can impact one’s emotional and psychological well-being.
Being sleepy is not synonymous with fatigue, but often, it is accompanied by a desire to sleep. This desire to sleep is often coupled with a lack of motivation to do anything else.
Rarely, fatigue is a symptom of a medical issue that requires medical treatment. Usually, though, fatigue can be traced to one or more of your habits or routines.
What Patients Report
Fatigue can be mild or severe. Patients frequently report that fatigue interferes with normal, daily activities and causes individuals to be unable to function at their desired level. Patients also say that they are unable to concentrate and focus. Many also report feeling the need to rest frequently but never feeling that they can “catch up” on their rest.
Fatigue may be caused by weight gain, an underactive or overactive thyroid gland, anemia, or lack of sleep. Fatigue can also be the result of serious illnesses, or a problem with the levels of certain minerals/electrolytes, such as sodium or potassium, in the body.
What Primary Doctors Say
Adults who feel fatigued should take an inventory of issues that could be responsible for fatigue. This is the first step toward regaining control over the symptoms. Generally, symptoms of fatigue can be attributed to three areas: lifestyle factors, medical conditions, and psychological issues.
Lifestyle Factors
Causes may be obvious, and attributable to one or more of the following: alcohol use and abuse, caffeine intake, excessive physical activity, inactivity, lack of quality sleep, certain medications, and poor nutrition/unhealthy eating habits.
Psychological conditions
Fatigue can be a common symptom for those suffering from mental health problems, including, anxiety, depression, grief, and stress.
Medical conditions
Unrelenting exhaustion may be a sign of a medical condition or underlying illness, such as acute liver failure, anemia, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, heart disease, issues with medications, and obesity.
How Does BHRT Affect Fatigue?
A lack of energy is seen as a “normal” part of aging. It is not natural to feel fatigued on a regular basis, though, and should not be accepted as inevitable. Bio-Identical hormones can restore energy and increase the capacity for exercise, eliminating the feeling of being permanently fatigued, which in turn also improves mental clarity. Bio-Identical hormones make patients feel and function better, increase feelings of well-being, decreasing tension, and balance mood. As BHRT improves our immune system and decreases illness, there is a huge impact on both physical and mental health.
