Extreme Fatigue And Body Aches

Around 20% Of Patients Develop Shortness Of Breath Which Doctors Recognize As One Of The Most Concerning Symptoms

Difficulty breathing can be an early sign of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome , an often fatal illness that may require intubation.

A study of 138 hospitalized patients in Wuhan, China, found that 31% of all patients had difficulty breathing. Among ICU patients, that number was 64%.

I would of course always ask about shortness of breath before anything, because thats somebody who has to be immediately helped, Megan Coffee, an infectious-disease clinician in New York City, previously told Business Insider.

Shortness of breath typically presents eight to 10 days into the course of the illness, she said. But not every patient with shortness of breath needs to go to the hospital.

What I tell people is: If youre feeling short of breath and its hard to walk across the room, walk up a flight of stairs, speak in full sentences those are always signs that you have more severe shortness of breath, Coffee said.

My Muscles Feel Sore Weak And Tired Should I See A Doctor

Everyone feels muscle pain, weakness and fatigue from time to time. But at what point should you see your doctor about it?

Ambrosia Scott, DPT, LAT, CCI, says patients should see a doctor if theyre concerned about muscle weakness and pain.

Ambrosia Scott, DPT, LAT, CCI is the outpatient rehabilitation manager for Regional One Health. She can help patients answer that question and provide insight on what can cause these common concerns.

Better yet, Scott can help patients get better through physical therapy.

If you have muscle pain or weakness, once you have an accurate diagnosis, therapy can help you gain strength and flexibility, Scott said.

Regional One Healths Center for Rehabilitative Medicine at the East Campus offers a full range of therapy services.

Patients can also transition to a Post-Rehab Wellness Program to protect the gains they achieve. Heres what you need to know:

When should I seek help?

Scott recommends seeing a doctor if you have sudden-onset weakness, fatigue or pain and cant identify the reason. You really need to consult with a physician if youre doing fine one minute and then all of a sudden youre not, she said.

She described that as insidious onset. That means you start feeling unwell even though you didnt perform any physical activity that might have made you sore or tired.

Even if you can identify a cause, you still might need to see a doctor if you arent getting better.

Another red flag is if healthy changes dont bring relief.

What Happens When Someone Has Fibromyalgia

Teens with fibromyalgia may:

• have pain throughout their bodies. Usually, its dull or burning, but it can be more of a shooting or throbbing pain.
• get many headaches
• feel very tired or have little energy. Because of this, fibromyalgia might be confused with chronic fatigue syndrome. Sometimes people can have both conditions.

Most teens with fibromyalgia also have trouble sleeping. They may wake up often during the night and feel exhausted in the morning. They also can have problems like restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea, which can add to their sleep problems.

People with fibromyalgia might notice problems with memory or concentration. Some may be anxious or depressed. Some also have irritable bowel syndrome, a kind of digestive problem.

After a while, people might notice that certain things make their pain and other symptoms worse. For some, it might be stress. For others, it could be cold, damp weather. Everyone’s different.

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Conditions That Can Cause Body Aches And Sore Throat

1. Common Cold

With over 100 types of viruses that create the “common cold” it’s no wonder this illness is one of the major reasons that people head towards the doctor’s office at the first sign of a cough or sneeze. Out of all of the different types of virus, it is the rhinovirus that is the most common and most contagious.

When you feel as if you are coming down with a cold, you may find yourself with some of the following symptoms:

• Stuffed up or runny nose
• Sneezing
• Mild fatigue

2. Flu

What you may think is starting out as a cold could really be the flu, or influenza. This upper respiratory illness can escalate into conditions that are much more serious, such as pneumonia. Older adults, young kids, and people with compromised immune systems that include heart problems, asthma, or diabetes should be extra careful about contracting the flu. The symptoms appear similar to a cold but can include many of the following:

• Dry irritating cough
• Body aches and sore throat
• Muscle soreness
• Stuffed up and runny nose
• Headache
• Chronic fatigue that could last up to 2 weeks
• Diarrhea and/or vomiting in children

3. Pharyngitis

• Headache
• Muscle aches and joint pain
• Swollen glands
• Rash on the skin

4. Hypothyroidism

An underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, occurs when the thyroid gland is not producing levels of specific hormones. Depending on how severe the case, the symptoms usually start off slowly and increase throughout the years. Signs of hypothyroidism can include:

5. Scarlet Fever

Causes Of Back Pain And Fatigue

There can be various underlying reasons for back pain. Usually, lower back pain can be caused when soft tissues become injured. A damaged disc, nerve compression, improper spinal joint movement, stretched muscles, torn or damaged muscles, all become a reason for lower back pain, which then becomes the cause for increasing fatigue.

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Inflammatory Bowel Disease As A Cause Of Joint Pain And Fatigue

IBD can include Crohns disease as well as ulcerative colitis . They are both chronic conditions that affect the digestive system.

Ulcerative Colitis leads to inflammation in the large intestine. Crohns results in sores and ulcerations in the gastrointestinal tract.

Some of the common symptoms of IBD include joint pain and fatigue. With the onset of chronic inflammation, the digestive tract can get infected or damaged with ulcerations, abscesses and fistulas. This leads to rectal bleeding and diarrhea.

IBD can also have life-threatening perforations of the intestines. In fact, hemorrhages may require emergency blood transfusions and surgery.

Inflammatory bowel disease may look different in different patients. It can be quite difficult to diagnose because people will confuse IBS with diarrhea or constipation. However, it cannot be called an autoimmune disease.

Joint Pain And Fatigue What Could Be The Possibilities

Fatigue is usually characterized by extreme tiredness that even rest and relaxation cannot cure. A number of factors are responsible for fatigue, including conditions that cause joint pain.

It is important to note that different people have different pain thresholds. However, constant pain brought on by sore or damaged joints cause fatigue in most people. The diseases responsible for fatigue as a result of joint pain include fibromyalgia, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Joints can swell or become inflamed while performing certain activities. It can also lead to a chronic condition. The physical and emotional energy required to relieve the joint pain and continue with everyday activities tends to contribute to the fatigue. Painful joints will also prevent a patient from getting a good nights rest. Without good sleep, fatigue will be a natural consequence.

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Fact: A Companion Can Help During Long Road Trips

For long road trips, itâs best to bring a companion — if possible, someone who can share in the driving. Pull over and switch seats about every 100 miles or every two hours. Whoever is not behind the wheel should stay awake and talk to the driver. The passenger can also keep a watchful eye for signs that the driver might be nodding off.

The Coronavirus Has Been Linked To Neurological Problems Like Dizziness Confusion And Delirium

Crystal Cox/Business Insider

Chinese researchers found that the virus can invade a persons nervous system, though the exact method is unknown. Its possible that the virus damages neurons in the nose, which allows it to cross over from the respiratory tract to the brain.

Scientists have also found evidence that the virus latches onto ACE2 receptors in the interior lining of blood vessels. From there, it might penetrate the barrier between the blood and the brain.

A study of 214 patients in Wuhan found that 36% of patients had neurological symptoms. These symptoms were more common among patients with severe infections.

Around 25% of patients experienced dizziness, headache, confusion or delirium, seizure, and impaired balance or coordination. Among those symptoms, dizziness was the most common, affecting nearly 17% of patients.

Another 9% of patients had symptoms associated with the peripheral nervous system, like nerve pain or impaired taste, smell, and vision.

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Symptoms Diagnosis & Treatment

The majority of people infected with yellow fever virus will either not have symptoms, or have mild symptoms and completely recover.

For people who develop symptoms, the time from infection until illness is typically 3 to 6 days.

Because there is a risk of severe disease, all people who develop symptoms of yellow fever after traveling to or living in an area at risk for the virus should see their healthcare provider. Once you have been infected, you are likely to be protected from future infections.

How Is A Pots Diagnosis Made

Problems with the autonomic nervous system can be difficult to diagnose. The standard test for POTS is the tilt table test. During the test, you are secured to a table that tilts from being horizontal to almost a 90-degree angle. The test measures your hearts response to switching from laying down to standing up. Some people with POTS faint during this test, even if they rarely faint standing up.

Although the test seems straightforward, many things can interfere with it. Its important that a POTS specialist oversees it. Its best to work with a doctor who has diagnosed and treated patients with POTS. This could be a cardiologist, a neuromuscular specialist or another doctor.

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Genetic Conditions Affecting Muscles

Muscular dystrophies: these are inherited diseases which affect muscles. They are rare disorders but the best known and most common is Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This occurs in children and leads to gradual loss of muscle power from toddler-hood.

Some rare muscular dystrophies: these can present in adulthood and include Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome and the facioscapulohumeral dystrophies. They also cause gradual loss of power and function in muscles. Those who have these conditions may become wheelchair-bound.

Sarcoidosis: this is a rare disease in which clumps of cells form in skin, lungs and soft tissues, including muscles. The condition usually goes away after a few years.

Amyloidosis involves deposits of an ‘unhelpful’ abnormal protein called amyloid throughout the body, including muscles and kidneys.

Other rare causes: direct damage to muscles can occur in rare inherited metabolic conditions. Examples include:

• Glycogen storage diseases .
• Even rarer, mitochondrial diseases which occur when the energy systems inside muscle cells don’t work properly.

Myotonic dystrophy: this is a rare genetic muscle disorder in which muscles become extremely tired. Myotonic dystrophies are passed down through families and they tend to occur earlier and become worse as they move through the generations.

When Is Fatigue Considered Extreme

There is no good criteria for assessing the level of fatigue it depends on the person. However, most people know when their tiredness is more than a lack of sleep. Some of my patients remember the exact day they got hit with fatigue so overwhelming that they knew something was wrong.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

POTS is a common condition affecting an estimated one to three million Americans. Researchers dont fully understand the causes of POTS, but it is more common in women than men and is more likely to develop in adolescents and young adults.

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See Rashes On Eyelids

If your musculoskeletal pain comes bundled with eyelid rashes, you could be in the grips of dermatomyositis. This is an autoimmune disease that causes general aching because it inflames the blood vessels beneath your skin. It can make it hard to swallow, and to stand up from a seated position. Common symptoms include fatigue and rashes. These can be red or purple, and they tend to itch. And they don’t just appear on eyelids dermatomyositis rashes may appear on cheeks, elbows, knees, knuckles, the back, or the upper chest.

Your doctor might prescribe medications like corticosteroids to control the symptoms. There are exercises that can be learned to keep your strength and flexibility up as well, and therapies to control the swallowing problems that can result from this disease. Purified blood products can be offered as injections, and these can stop the damage to your muscles and skin for a time. But they need to be administered regularly and they are expensive.

Conditions Of Muscle Inflammation

Inflammatory diseases of muscle typically affect older adults and include conditions such as polymyalgia rheumatica , polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Some of these conditions respond well to steroids . Unfortunately, as explained above, steroids also cause muscle wasting and weakness.

Conditions of generalised tissue inflammation such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis can cause muscle weakness. In a small proportion of cases of rheumatoid arthritis, muscle weakness and tiredness may be the only sign of the disease for some considerable time.

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Why Does My Body Ache Causes & Treatment

Body aches are an uncomfortable but common symptom of a variety of medical ailments. If youre experiencing body aches, your muscles may feel weak, sore, tired, or hard to move.

For most, body aches are easily treatablea few days of rest and hydration can provide relief from any discomfort. For some, body aches, particularly those that last a long time, can indicate a serious underlying medical condition that may require treatment.

Lyme Disease Antibody Test Procedure

The Lyme disease antibody test requires no advance preparation. A lab technician will swab the inside of your elbow with an antiseptic before drawing your blood. Your blood will be drawn from a vein in your arm using a small needle.

The blood draw should not be painful, though you might feel a slight prick when the needle is inserted into your vein.

The blood sample will be collected in a vial. The puncture site will be bandaged, if needed, after the needle is removed. After the blood draw, you are free to go home.

There are very few risks associated with the Lyme disease antibody test. Excessive bleeding is possible, but there may be an increased risk if you take blood thinning medications or certain anti-inflammatory drugs like:

• heparin

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How Is Fibromyalgia Treated

There’s no cure for fibromyalgia. But treatment can help manage symptoms, ease pain, and improve a person’s overall health and quality of life. Treatments include lifestyle changes and medicines.

Doctors usually ask people to start with lifestyle changes before turning to medicines. Changes doctors may recommend include:

• Regular exercise. Exercise may increase pain at first, but it can help make things better when done gradually and regularly. Some people get help from a physical therapist. Stretching and relaxation exercises can also help.
• Stress-relief methods. These can include yoga, t’ai chi, and other disciplines, as well as light massage, breathing exercises, and acupuncture.
• More sleep. Getting enough sleep is one of the most effective ways to treat fibromyalgia. It can help to avoid caffeine, sugary beverages, and sugary snacks late in the day. It can also help to go to bed and get up at the same time each day and limit napping during the daytime.
• Healthy lifestyle choices. Eating healthy foods can help with fibromyalgia. Doing things you love can help too. Hobbies and other activities not only make people feel good about themselves, they also can distract them from the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

If lifestyle changes don’t help on their own, a doctor may prescribe medicines such as:

• antidepressants: some can ease pain and tiredness, and help with sleep
• anti-seizure medicines: some medicines used to treat epilepsy also can treat fibromyalgia symptoms

Unexplained Pain: Could Those Aches And Fatigue Be An Autoimmune Disease

Are you exhausted and depressed? Do your joints ache? These are telltale symptoms of more than 80 of the autoimmune diseases that exist. Find out the 6 most common, what happens when your body turns against itself and how to diagnose and treat symptoms…

When our immune systems work right, our body is able to fend off attacks from invading bacteria and viruses. But with an autoimmune disease, it fights against us. Instead of protecting, it attacks, sending armies of your bodys disease-fighters to battle your own healthy tissue, cells and organs.

Up to 22 million Americans have autoimmune disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health . Nearly 80% of them are women many in their childbearing years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . And the numbers are growing. Autoimmune diseases are much more prevalent now than they were 20 years ago, says Virginia Ladd, president of the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association. Each disease is relatively rare, but looking at them collectively, thats another story.

• Pain in the wrists and fingers of both hands
• Tender, warm joints in both knees and elbows
• Morning discomfort
• Fatigue/loss of energy
• Fever

How to diagnose it:

• Fatigue
• Chronic vaginal yeast infections

How to treat it:

• Achy and swollen joints
• Shortness of breath or chest pain
• Skin sores from sun exposure

How to treat it:

• Dairy products

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