Extreme Fatigue Muscle Weakness Joint Pain

Fact: A Short Nap Is The Best Solution

According to the National Sleep Foundation, pulling over for a short nap is the most effective way to restore alertness on the road. Park in a safe, well-lit area. Set your watch or phone to wake you up in 15. Then let yourself really wake up before you get back on the road. Longer naps can increase grogginess and disorientation. If you plan to nap longer than half an hour, it may be best to stop for the night.

Research And New Developments

Were funding several studies to improve understanding of Sjögrens syndrome and develop new and more effective treatments for the condition.

In people with this condition, immune cells form structures called tertiary lymphoid organs . Were currently funding a study to understand why TLOs are present, and whether removing them could improve the condition.

We are also supporting research to uncover what causes lymphoma to develop in a small number of people living with the condition. This research may allow doctors to predict who will develop lymphoma, which means people can be treated early.

Were also funding the SALRISE study, to establish whether electrostimulation of the salivary glands using a small electronic device can be used to treat a dry mouth.

This research will improve understanding and could allow new treatments to be developed.

Fatigue Cause No : Not Enough Sleep

It may seem obvious but you could be getting too little sleep. That can negatively affect your concentration and health. Adults should get seven to eight hours every night.

Fix: Make sleep a priority and keep a regular schedule. Ban laptops, cell phones, and televisions from your bedroom. Still having trouble? Seek help from a doctor. You may have a sleep disorder.

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Fatigue Cause No 1: Food Allergies

Some doctors believe hidden food allergies can make you sleepy. If your fatigue intensifies after meals, you could have a mild intolerance to something you’re eating — not enough to cause itching or hives, just enough to make you tired.

Fix: Try eliminating foods one at a time to see if your fatigue improves. You can also ask your doctor about a food allergy test.

Fatigue Cause No : Anemia

Anemia is one of the leading causes of fatigue in women. Menstrual blood loss can cause an iron deficiency, putting women at risk. Red blood cells are needed because they carry oxygen to your tissues and organs.

Fix: For anemia caused by an iron deficiency, taking iron supplements and eating iron-rich foods, such as lean meat, liver, shellfish, beans, and enriched cereal, can help.

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How Can Parents Help

Lupus is a chronic disease, but treatments can help with symptoms and lower the risk of flare-ups. New and better tools to diagnose and treat lupus have improved the lives of those living with the disease.

To help your child manage:

• Go to all doctor visits and follow the care team’s instructions.
• Learn what symptoms mean a flare-up may be coming. Calling the doctor right away and starting medicines may stop the flare-up or make it less severe.
• Talk to school staff to help them understand what your child needs.

It also helps to learn all you can about lupus with your child. The care team is a great resource. You also can find information and support online at:

Exercise Can Worsen The Symptoms Of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Stndrome

While exercise can be helpful for more common forms of fatigue, the relationship of exercise to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is much more complex. Exercise can, in fact, temporarily worsen the symptoms of CFS — a phenomenon sometimes referred to as “post-exertional malaise” or “payback.” This can strike ME/CFS patients about 12 to 48 hours after exercise and make their symptoms worse for days or even weeks.

Even so, ME/CFS patients are not discouraged from exercising. A carefully structured and balanced program of exercise can, over time, help build stamina. Not exercising can cause deconditioning, which can make symptoms worse.

Recommended Reading: Can Lupus Cause Extreme Fatigue

Treatment For Muscle And Joint Pain

In case you dont have any other symptoms that would indicate having one of the conditions described below consider using some homemade treatments to ease the pain.

Here is what you can do to relieve muscle discomfort:

Fatigue Cause No : Caffeine Overload

Caffeine can improve alertness and concentration in moderate doses. But too much can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and jitteriness. And research indicates too much actually causes fatigue in some people.

Fix: Gradually cut back on coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, and any medications that contain caffeine. Stopping suddenly can cause caffeine withdrawal and more fatigue.

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Rare Causes Of Muscle Weakness

Certain rare conditions can cause muscle weakness:

• Dermatomyositis: Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory myopathy, or muscle disorder, that also causes skin irritation and rash. Due to the inflammation that develops with dermatomyositis, muscle tissue can break down, causing pain and weakness.
• Rheumatoid arthritis : RA is an inflammatory, autoimmune form of arthritis that causes progressive joint inflammation and damage, leaving joints painful and stiff and causing muscle weakness around affected joints.
• Sarcoidosis: Sarcoidosis is a systemic, inflammatory condition of unknown cause with symptoms like arthritis, joint pain, and sarcoid myopathy, which is characterized by muscle weakness, pain, and fatigue.
• Secondary hyperparathyroidism: Secondary hyperparathyroidism, or excessive parathyroid hormones, is a common complication of kidney disease. Secondary hyperparathyroidism can cause joint pain and muscle weakness as increased parathyroid hormone levels contribute to muscle protein breakdown.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus : SLE is a systemic, autoimmune condition that causes a skin rash and joint inflammation. It also causes myalgia and myositis , leading to muscle weakness.

Causes Of Fatigue In Arthritis

Inflammation, pain, inactivity and lifestyle factors can cause extreme tiredness when living with arthritis.

Everyone gets worn out from time to time. But exhaustion that disrupts your daily life and doesnt get better after a good nights sleep has its own medical term: fatigue. Fatigue significantly affects the quality of life for people with many forms of arthritis-related diseases, includingrheumatoid arthritis,psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia andosteoarthritis. Your lack of energy may be caused by your inflammatory disease and other health conditions you have, as well asmedications side effectsand lifestyle habits.

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Can Physical Activity Help To Lessen Fatigue

Some people who have try to get fitter by doing gentle physical exercise, with the aim of fighting the exhaustion that way. A number of different activities are well-suited for this, including stretching and strengthening exercises, yoga, tai chi, brisk walking, cycling, water aerobics and swimming. These activities may also be done in specialized exercise therapy.

An analysis summarizing the research on different types of exercise shows that physical activity can help reduce . About 15 out of 100 people felt less exhausted after exercising. It’s still not clear what form of exercise would be most suitable, though.

Healthwhy Early Coronavirus Cases May Have Been Missed

Since that report, other symptoms related to COVID-19 have emerged.

Many patients who’ve either tested positive for the coronavirus, or have been told by their physicians to assume they have it, also develop a headache and sore throat. Others become sick to their stomach with nausea or diarrhea.

Some patients say they have no interest in eating. Many report they’re losing their senses of taste and smell, the British Rhinological Society said recently.

Just this week, a small study published in JAMA Ophthalmology added another potential COVID-19 warning sign: pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis. A third of the 38 patients in the report had the inflammatory eye condition.

But it’s also becoming more clear that some infected people spreading the virus don’t have any symptoms at all.

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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.

Essentials For Older People: Weakness

As people age, the amount of muscle tissue and muscle strength tend to decrease. These changes occur partly because older people may become less active but also because the production of the hormones that stimulate muscle development decreases. Thus, for older people, bed rest during an illness can have a devastating effect. Compared with younger people, older people start out with less muscle tissue and strength at the beginning of the illness and lose muscle tissue more quickly during the illness.

Drugs are another common cause of weakness in older people because older people take more drugs and are more susceptible to side effects of drugs .

When evaluating older people who report weakness, doctors also focus on conditions that do not cause weakness but interfere with balance, coordination, vision, or mobility or that make movement painful . Older people may mistakenly describe the effects of such conditions as weakness.

Regardless of what is causing weakness, physical therapy can usually help older people function better.

Also Check: What Can Cause Fatigue And Weakness

Symptoms Of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

The symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica usually develop over a short period of time and may include:

• muscle pain and stiffness, particularly in the neck, shoulders, hips, thighs and upper arms
• increased pain and stiffness after youve been resting or inactive
• fatigue
• difficulty sleeping
• difficulty raising arms above shoulder height
• weight loss
• slight fever.

Not everyone will experience all of these symptoms. Each person with polymyalgia rheumatica will have their own unique set of symptoms.

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.

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Q: Why Is Pots Often Misdiagnosed

A: Many of the symptoms described above seem very cardiac-driven. However, at the hospital or ER, the doctors will find that the POTS patients heart is fine. Its actually the adrenaline thats producing a lot of these symptoms to compensate for a neurologic problem.

Often, patients have so many symptoms and are consulting so many different specialists that theres no cohesive assessment or treatment. In addition, POTS symptoms are often misdiagnosed as adrenal fatigue a term used to describe a group of symptoms when nothing else can be used to explain it.

Awareness of POTS in todays medical culture is limited. Recently, however, theres been a growing awareness of POTS thats evolving across the board. As the general population is learning more about it, the medical community is being educated as well.

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

Recommended Reading: Lower Abdominal Pain And Fatigue

When To See A Doctor

In some cases, home treatment cant be enough to solve the problem of painful joints and muscles. If pain lasts for a week, it is important to see a healthcare provider. You might also want to make an appointment with your doctor in case of fever, vomiting, stiffness in your neck, difficulty swallowing, and inability to move that affects your daily life.

It is also possible to prevent sore muscles by staying hydrated, exercising regularly, and doing warmups before the workout.

In case you notice some symptoms of conditions described above, avoid self-medicating since it might only worsen your condition.

Hosted by the International Pain Foundation www.internationalpain.org

Getting Adequate Rest Can Fight Short

In most cases, chronic fatigue is not substantially improved by rest. Chronic fatigue often makes it more difficult to get adequate rest. Similarly, fatigue can interfere with sleep, resulting in unrefreshing sleep, difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakening, or sleep apnea.

Rest is unlikely to relieve fatigue caused by a medical condition.

Read Also: Extreme Fatigue And Parkinson’s Disease

Fact: Caffeine Provides A Mild Boost

Whether in the form of coffee, soft drinks, or gum, caffeine can briefly increase alertness. Keep in mind that the effect takes about 30 minutes to kick in, so you may want to pull over and rest until you perk up. This temporary fix has its limits — caffeine canât overcome severe fatigue and may have little impact on regular coffee drinkers.

Were Worried About Syringe Shortage Says Prof Glenda Gray

We are not going to withhold a vaccine. We would rather work with you to do it properly and we have had some people, who have had severe allergies who called us before they got the vaccine. We were able to manage that whole process much better. Don’t be scared to tell us if you have had any severe allergies from vaccines.

Speaking at the same webinar, Dr Simbarashe Takuva revealed out of the 145 215 vaccinations, about 3 030 adverse events had been reported.

Takavu said some of the common adverse effects reported in the Sisonke implementation study included a small swelling, redness, induration/hardness and a rash. He said they had not seen any adverse events that were of concern.

If you experience either rash, hives, difficulty breathing or a bad reaction, contact a medical provider. For pain or fever, you may take pain medication like paracetamol or ibuprofen. Apply a cool, wet cloth over the injected area.

Individuals who are experiencing side effects or adverse effects may report via three different streams which are:

• The safety desk call centre at 0800 014 956.

• The electronic adverse report form which is available on the electronic vaccination data system .

• Data is also captured manually from forms that are found at health facilities.

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Food Allergies Food Intolerance And Fatigue

Symptoms: Fatigue, sleepiness, continued exhaustion

Although food is supposed to give you energy, medical research suggests that hidden food intolerances — or allergies — can do the opposite. In fact, fatigue may be an early warning sign of food intolerance or food allergy. Celiac disease, which happens when you cant digest gluten, may also cause fatigue.

Ask your doctor about the elimination diet. This is a diet in which you cut out certain foods linked to a variety of symptoms, including sleepiness within 10 to 30 minutes of eating them, for a certain period of time to see if that makes a difference. You can also talk to your doctor about a food allergy test — or invest in a home test such as ALCAT — which may help you identify the offending foods.