Archive for May 11th, 2010
Fatigue
Each day, large numbers of people visit their doctor complaining of tiredness. Yet many come away from consultations feeling that they have had no satisfactory explanation for the way they feel. Fatigue is such a generalized symptom that it is easy for anyone except the sufferer to assess it, plus it also depends on comparisons with previous energy levels. Fatigue can be caused by a range of conditions, from lack of oxygen in the blood to depression. If there are no other accompanying physical symptoms, then the cause can be very hard to pin down.
The first step in a diagnosis is fro your doctor to take your medical history in order to find out if there are other symptoms that may explain your fatigue. If there are symptoms, a physical examination may be carried out to help identify possible causes. Your doctor may then take a sample of blood and send it for laboratory testing. Your doctor may not find a physical cause for your lack of energy and may consider whether depression could be to blame. If neither of these seem to be the culprit, then the underlying cause is likely to be stressing probably the main cause of fatigue in the western world today.
Most people live hectic lives, having to cope with demands and strains our bodies were not designed for. Once physical diseases and psychological health problems have been excluded, most people feel better if made to recognize that their fatigue may simply arise from the pace of modern life and if they are given some simple, sensible advice to follow. Regular excursive, particularly outdoors, can have a remarkable effect in boosting energy levels.