Has The Patient Experienced ‘funny Turns’
If they also describe specific attacks of extreme anxiety, palpitations, abdominal pain or collapses, consider phaeochromocytoma.
If they have also developed heat intolerance, palpitations, tremulousness, weight loss, diarrhoea or oligomenorrhoea consider thyrotoxicosis.
If they describe an association with fasting, extreme hunger, or the collapses are relieved by eating, or the patient has gained weight attempting to prevent attacks, consider insulinoma.
If the patient describes a feeling of dry warmth rather than sweating, flushing of the face or diarrhoea, consider carcinoid syndrome.
How To Treat Cfs
In order to get to the root of the problem, an experienced medical provider that understands the complexities of this issue must address the underlying problemand sometimes there are multiple factors. The best medical providers to visit for CFS are integrative medical specialists. These providers dont prescribe a one-size-fits-all treatment, but rather a myriadif necessaryof treatments. CFS is a complicated condition that needs a provider who appreciates that concept.
Has The Patient Experienced Faints
If the patient also describes specific attacks of extreme anxiety, palpitations, abdominal pain or collapses, consider phaeochromocytoma.
If they have also developed heat intolerance, palpitations, tremulousness, weight loss, diarrhoea or oligomenorrhoea consider thyrotoxicosis.
If they describe an association with fasting, extreme hunger, or the collapses are relieved by eating, or the patient has gained weight attempting to prevent attacks, consider insulinoma.
If the patient describes a feeling of dry warmth rather than sweating, flushing of the face or diarrhoea, consider carcinoid syndrome.
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B12 Deficiency Or Insufficiency
Getting enough vitamin B12 is crucial for brain health, your immune system, and your metabolism. As we age, though, our ability to absorb B12 declines. Fatigue is one of the first signs of B12 deficiency,Lisa Cimperman, RD, told Prevention in a previous interview about B12 deficiency symptoms. Certain diabetes and heartburn medications and digestive disorders like IBS and Crohn’s hinder your body’s ability to absorb B12. And if you follow a plant-based diet, you also have an increased risk, since B12 occurs naturally only in meat, eggs, shellfish, and dairy.
The symptoms: In addition to fatigue, you may be low on B12 if you’re experiencing bouts of tingling in hands and feet, memory lapses, dizziness, anxiety, and vision problems.
The tests: If your doctor expects you’re low on B12, you’ll undergo a simple blood test.
The treatments:Depending on your blood test results, your doctor may suggest working more dietary sources of B12 into your eating plan or taking a vitamin B12 supplement.
I Cant Think Straight Im Foggy
Blame it on: High cortisol and its effect on the hippocampus.
Ever noticed how hard it is to keep your mind operating on all four cylinders when youre having a heavy-duty day? You sit at the computer but cant focus, go to the shops but forget what you need to buy, misplace your keys or wallet or both. This mental meltdown is a direct result of adrenal fatigue.
Stress induced brain drain is caused by the hippocampus, a little seahorse shaped organ in the brain involved in our short term memory. With too much cortisol in the brain, dendrites start to shrink and dont work as properly.
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Symptoms Of Adrenal Fatigue
Traditional allopathic Western medicine doesnt recognize adrenal fatigue, even though the changes it can cause are now starting to be confirmed by science. Referring to it as exhaustion syndrome research from Umeå University in Sweden has found that people suffering adrenal fatigue have lower activity in their frontal lobes and also altered regulation of cortisol.
The study also found that people more prone to this condition are often over-achievers and perfectionists. This is not news to functional and integrative practitioners who see women suffering from this problem every day. They arrive feeling absolutely at the end of the line and suffering from these kinds of chronic complaints:
What Are The Symptoms
Symptoms include some, or all, of the following:
- constant, overwhelming mental and physical tiredness
- sleep disturbance, un-refreshing sleep
- post-exertion malaise
- muscle pain and/or weakness or joint pain
- headaches, poor concentration or poor memory recurring sore throats or flu-like symptoms
- feeling sick,
- symptoms of IBS , such as wind/bloating, stomach pain, diarrhoea and constipation
- intolerance, or sensitivity, to alcohol, caffeine, some foods or medications
CFS/ME is poorly understood, with no specific diagnostic test. Diagnosis is made by excluding other causes of the symptoms.
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Sleep Disorders And Fatigue
Symptoms: Chronic fatigue, feeling exhausted upon awakening, snoring
Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that disrupt or prevent restful, restorative sleep. That can take a toll on your health and quality of life, so its important to look out for signs and symptoms.
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Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders. If you or your partner notices loud snoring and you wake up tired and stay that way, you could have sleep apnea. More than one-third of adults in the U.S. snore at least a few nights a week. But if the snoring stops your breathing for seconds at a time, it could be sleep apnea. Learn more about the best sleep positions and see if sleeping on your stomach is bad or not.
Obstructive sleep apnea causes low blood oxygen levels. That’s because blockages prevent air from getting to the lungs. The low oxygen levels also affect how well your heart and brain work. Sometimes, the only clue that you might have sleep apnea is chronic fatigue.
Your doctor may prescribe a medical device called CPAP that helps keep your airways open while you sleep. In severe cases of sleep apnea, surgery may help. The surgeon will remove tissues that are blocking the airways. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
But sleep apnea is just one of many sleep disorders that cause fatigue. Other common types include:
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How Does Tiredness Impact Weight Gain
Weight gain and fatigue are both managed by the brain but when youre tired, the part of the brain responsible for feeling hungry becomes active. Also, when you are tired, you are more easily guided towards richer, and therefore more caloric, foods.
Fatigue is usually accompanied by a lack of physical activity, so your body has reserves that it does not spend. This creates storage in the fat cells of the hypodermis the adipocytes as an energy reserve. The bodys regulatory system no longer functions properly, and caloric intake becomes more important .
Rich foods are comfort foods that reassure. They are the foods you most often turn to when you are looking for comfort. Associated by the body with this feeling of fullness and comfort, they are what we call wellness foods for the body. In the case of fatigue, the body expresses its need for comfort by looking for these caloric foods, giving a feeling of envy.
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How To Recognize Adrenal Fatigue Weight Gain And Feel Your Best
How Severe Is Your Lack Of Energy?TAKE THE QUIZ
Weight gain can be incredibly frustratingespecially when you cant figure out why its happening! What youre experiencing could be adrenal fatigue weight gain.
When youre experiencing high levels of stress your body releases hormones that, if left unchecked for long periods of time, can cause adrenal fatigue and weight gain. Though a common problem, many people arent aware of the signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue and how it can impact their weight.
Search Methods For Identification Of Reviews
Searching by identified key word or subject heading would be unreliable due to the diverse range of interventions and illnesses under review. We handsearched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews by title for all reviews that might assess the effect of an intervention on fatigue and/or unintentional weight loss in adults with advanced progressive illness. We further reviewed titles of interest by abstract. Where the relevance of a review remained unclear we obtained the full paper and reached a consensus regarding the relevance of the participant group and the outcome measures to the overview.
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Diet And Lifestyle Changes
One of the most overlooked areas where you can make direct changes to improve your quality of life, and your quality of sleep, is in your diet. What you eat, and when you eat it, has a profound effect on the quality of sleep you get. Studies have shown that diets high in carbohydrates can lead to lowered quality of sleep. This is in addition to the effects that high-carb diets can have on increasing weight gain in people who do not maintain a high level of exercise. Eating large amounts of food at one time, especially large portions of food containing high glycemic index sugars like sucrose , can spike your blood sugar and cause dips in energy levels hours after you have eaten.
Timing is also important when it comes to what you eat. Consuming food within 30-60 minutes of going to sleep can have a detrimental effect on how long it will take you to fall asleep, as well as contribute to poor sleep patterns.
Getting an appropriate amount of physical activity is a lifestyle change that can have profound effects on your quality of sleep. Working out may seem like an impossible task if you are already fighting against the twin troubles of excess body weight and lowered energy levels, Thankfully, you dont have to be able to run a marathon to feel improvements in energy levels. Even moderate amounts of walking can begin to have an effect on your overall health within a very short time.
Why Does Sleep Apnea Cause Weight Gain
A lot of people tend to underestimate the importance of getting enough healthy sleep. Not only does adequate sleep keep you feeling well-rested, but it also allows your body the time to recover and repair itself. Most people may need approximately eight to nine hours of sleep each night, which can seem like a lot of time especially in todays busy world.
If youve been diagnosed with sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, you may be prone to more than just excess fatigue, you could also be gaining weight. 1 Here are a few reasons why your sleep apnea may be causing your weight gain.
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Don’t Jump To Blame The Pill
Contrary to popular belief, combination birth control pills aren’t proven to cause lasting weight gain. It is thought that some women taking the combination pill may experience some weight gain related to fluid retention, but this is usually short-term. If you’re still concerned about possible weight gain, talk to your doctor.
Is The Patient Describing Polyuria
If the patient also complains of tiredness, constipation, indigestion, and polyuria consider hypercalcaemia.
If they describe extreme thirst, polyuria, skin infections, and sudden weight loss consider diabetes mellitus.
If they describe extreme thirst even at night, polyuria, and large volumes of nocturia consider diabetes insipidus.
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Has The Patient Experienced Hirsutism
If the patient has also developed oligomenorrhoea and acne, consider polycystic ovarian syndrome or late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
If they have gained central weight, and developed thinned, bruised or red skin, consider Cushings syndrome.
If they have also developed increased muscle bulk, increased libido or clitoromegaly consider Cushings syndrome or a virilising tumour.
Movement Is Harder When You Have Overweight
Having overweight creates a sense of inertia because moving is so physically demanding. A vicious cycle ensues: The less you move, the more weight you gain — making you even less inclined to be active.
Excess fat, especially belly fat, acts as an inflammatory organ of sorts. It secretes chemicals that raise your risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. This inflammation can also contribute to a general malaise that includes a sense of overwhelming fatigue.
Losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of your total weight can help you feel better and improve markers of your health, such as high blood pressure and heart disease risk. It may also make you feel a bit lighter, so exercise becomes easier.
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What’s With The Weight Gain
If you started taking in more calories than usual or cutting back on exercise, you wouldn’t be surprised if the numbers on the scale crept higher. But what if you’re doing everything the same as you always do, and your weight still goes up? It’s time to delve a little deeper into what else might be going on.
I Have A Lump On My Thyroid Now What
Thyroid cancer diagnoses have increased from 17,000 in 2002 to 57,000 in 2012. Even so, its still relatively uncommon and has a high survival rate 97 percent after five years, says Jose C. Dutra, M.D., director of the thyroid surgical clinic at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine.
Dutra and other experts believe that the spike in diagnoses is due to the wider use of MRI and CT scans, which can detect tiny lumps that cant be touched. Ninety percent of all enlargements are not cancerous, he says.
Finally, about six months ago, one of her doctors heard about a new type of thyroid drug and sent Kruger to Mark Lupo, M.D., a thyroid specialist in Sarasota. He prescribed Tirosint, a liquid gel cap form of levothyroxine sodium, the thyroid hormone replacement pill commonly used to treat hypothyroidism.
Although drugs can work differently in each individual, Tirosints liquid form seemed to do the trick for Kruger: She dropped 20 pounds in six months. And when I get up in the morning, I dont feel like someone has beat me with a stick, she says. More importantly, her heart problems have improved.
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Treating An Underactive Thyroid
Treatment for an underactive thyroid involves taking daily hormone replacement tablets, called levothyroxine, to raise your thyroxine levels.
You’ll initially have regular blood tests until the correct dose of levothyroxine is reached. This can take a little while to get right.
Once you’re taking the correct dose, you’ll usually have a blood test once a year to monitor your hormone levels.
You’ll usually need treatment for the rest of your life. However, with proper treatment, you should be able to lead a normal, healthy life.
If an underactive thyroid is not treated, it can lead to complications, including heart disease, goitre, pregnancy problems and a life-threatening condition called myxoedema coma .
Fatigue And Weight Gain
- Medical Author: Carol DerSarkissian, MD
Reviewed on 6/15/2020
These symptoms arent a strong match to a particular medical condition. If these symptoms are new and getting worse, its best to see your doctor. Pay attention to what other symptoms you may be having. Providing additional symptoms may help pinpoint what may be going on. For any symptoms that concern you or dont go away, your doctor is your best resource to help you get to the bottom of whats causing them.
While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:
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You Eat Too Much Sugar
It’s true your body needs glucose for energy, but too much sugar can interfere with your energy levels. If you eat a sugary meal or snack , it spikes your blood sugar, leading to an inevitable crash and feelings of sluggishness later. Do this enough and your body will be constantly recovering from each sugary binge. And it’s not just cookies and donuts that can send your blood sugar over the edgebe sure to avoid the 14 ‘Health’ Foods Worse Than a Donut.
Depression And Daytime Sleepiness
Sleep apnea is far from the only problem you can encounter when it comes to weight gain and tiredness. Research has shown strong links between excess body fat and depression. Factors ranging from social pressure and low self-esteem to isolation can contribute to depression in people with high levels of body fat. Other physiological factors can affect mood as well, even though these are not as readily identified. Changes in blood sugar, metabolic levels, and even lowered levels of physical activity can all contribute to mental health problems.
Beyond the obvious negative effects depression can have on your quality of life, mental health challenges can further contribute to lack of sleep. Depression creates a host of sleep problems including difficulty falling asleep, lowered quality of sleep, disturbed sleep patterns, and more.
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Has The Patient Experienced Low Moods
If they also complain of tiredness and weight gain consider hypothyroidism.
If they are tired and nauseated, and describe polyuria or constipation consider hypercalcaemia.
If they have developed weight gain and thinned or red skin consider Cushings syndrome.
If they have also lost their libido, or developed erectile dysfunction consider hypogonadism, or hypopituitarism.
Rheumatoid Arthritis And Fatigue
Symptoms: Fatigue, morning stiffness, joint pain, inflamed joints
Rheumatoid arthritis , a type of inflammatory arthritis, is another cause of excessive fatigue. Because joint damage can result in disability, early and aggressive treatment is the best approach for rheumatoid arthritis.
Medications that may be used early in mild RA include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Other drugs used in more serious forms of RA include the anti-cytokine therapies , as well as shots and other forms of treatment.
Other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and Sjogren’s disease, may also cause fatigue.
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