Are you tired all the time and don’t know why?
People have constantly busy, high-pressure lives in which most feel a bit tired, most of the time. However, if chronic fatigue is present and persists over time, it can hinder a person’s ability to function, affecting their personal and professional lives.
Chronic fatigue is a common symptom of illnesses. In mild cases, it leads to people feeling tired all the time, while in severe cases it can be completely debilitating, preventing people from getting out of bed and participating in normal daily activities.
Although chronic fatigue is sometimes a condition in it of itself (as is the case in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), it is most commonly a symptom of several different ailments and illnesses.
This means that people experiencing chronic fatigue often see many doctors without getting an accurate diagnosis. This can lead to other serious issues, like anxiety or depression.
What IS CHRONIC FATIGUE?
People with chronic fatigue usually have suffered for a long time. At first they believe that they are just tired. But when being tired doesn’t go away, they start looking for a reason.
Chronic fatigue is often accompanied by a number of other neurological symptoms such as lack of focus, poor memory recall, and reduced cognitive functioning.
Chronic fatigue can be caused by a number of conditions, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, low thyroid function, nutrient deficiencies, viral or chronic infections, depression, autoimmune diseases, and various allergies including mold exposure and chemical sensitivity.
It is characterized by long-term tiredness, which can’t be cured with bed rest. The symptoms range from mild to severe but have lasted for at least six months.
Common symptoms of Chronic Fatigue
Chronic Fatigue commonly manifests itself alongside other symptoms, such as:
- Low, or no energy
- Loss of memory or concentration
- Lack of motivation
- Chronic insomnia (and other sleep disorders)
- Muscle pain
- Frequent headaches
- Joint pain
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Taking a long time to recover from physical activity
If you are experiencing chronic fatigue or any related symptoms such as memory loss or whole body pain, it is important to talk to a doctor about it.
Conditions associated with Chronic Fatigue
Chronic fatigue can be a symptom of infection, hormonal imbalances, stress, allergies, or lowered immune function. It is also a common symptom in a number of other illnesses such as:
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Celiac disease
- Lyme disease
- Gluten intolerance
- Mononucleosis (aka “Mono”)
- Autoimmune diseases such as lupus or Hashimoto’s
- Mold exposure
- Chemical sensitivity
- Electromagnetic hypersensitivity
While men do suffer from chronic fatigue, it is more common in women.
Treating Chronic Fatigue
Because Chronic Fatigue is tricky to diagnose, getting to the root of the issue is the first step in a treatment plan.
If the underlying causes of chronic fatigue are not addressed, the condition can be improved, but not cured.
At Enviromed we focus on using a holistic approach to diagnose and treat the symptoms and underlying causes of chronic fatigue, whether it be environmental, or due to an illness, or allergy.
Treatment plans put forth by our team depend on each particular diagnosis, but can include a natural medications, dietary and lifestyle changes, stress management, and more.