What You Should Do
Dont be a hero and try to tough out an illness. Call your doctor to report any concerning symptoms, especially those of COVID-19 or flu you may need a test and treatment.
Its a different era from when you didnt want to bother your doctor, Dr. Jha says. Dont deny yourself care. Your doctor would never want that. And the earlier you call, the sooner you can be treated if you need it.
#listentothedoctor Covid Fatigue By Dr Sheri Fanaroff
A very common symptom associated with COVID-19 is extreme fatigue. This has been present both in patients with both mild and severe infections. Fatigue may persist long after the 10 day isolation period and can be challenging in people who are trying to get back to normal routines and to work following their illness.
FATIGUE DURING INITIAL ILLNESSTiredness or fatigue is often the first symptom experienced by patients during the first viraemic stage of COVID-19 infection. It is often followed by body aches, fever, headache and a cough. In some patients, fatigue has been the only symptom. In a large peer reviewed meta-analysis published in PLOS on 23 June, fatigue was listed as the third most common symptom in adults infected with SARS-CoV-2 . Fatigue is listed among the common symptoms caused by COVID-19 on the WHO site as well as on the US CDC list of symptoms.
Fatigue during active infection can be experienced as mental fatigue:
- difficulty performing activities of daily living eg dressing, washing, cleaning, eating
TIPS FOR MANAGING FATIGUE DURING INITIAL ILLNESS :
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What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex and disabling disease. It has been classified as a neurological disorder by the World Health Organization, though it affects many parts of the body, including the brain and muscles, digestive, immune and cardiac systems.
The term myalgic encephalomyelitis means pain in the muscles, and inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Scientists are starting to understand some of the biological changes in the bodies of people with ME/CFS, although they have not yet found how to prevent, or cure it.
Research has found that ME/CFS is associated with problems involving:
- The bodys ability to produce energy at a cellular level
- Immune, neurological and hormonal systems
- Blood pressure and heart rate regulation
- Cognition how quickly information is processed
ME/CFS affects men, women and children of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. 75-80% of people with the disease are female. It is estimated that up to 600,000 Victorians may be living with ME/CFS, and as many as 90% are undiagnosed.
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About Author: Lisa Coon
Lisa Coon is a Writing Coordinator for OSF HealthCare, where she has worked since August 2016. A Peoria native, she is a graduate of Bradley University with a degree in journalism. Previously, she worked as a reporter and editor at several newspapers in Iowa and Illinois.She lives in Groveland with her husband and son. In her free time she likes to cook, bake and read. She freely admits that reality TV is a weakness, and she lives by the quote, The beach is good for the soul.
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Body Aches And Chills
Youre just going about your day and suddenly it hits you. There are a number of different illnesses that cause these aches and chills symptoms and others. You might want to know what might be getting you down and what to do for it. This article explains some of the more common causes, things you can do at home, and when to check in with your doctor.
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Joint Pain: Youre Not Alone
In a recent national survey, nearly one out of every three adults in the US reported having joint pain within the last 30 days. In this survey, deep pain was the most common complaint, followed by shoulder and hip pain
Joints connect your bones together, providing your body with support as you move. Joint pain can impact just about any part of your body, including the ankles, feet and hands. While joint pain can occur at any age, it becomes increasingly common as a person ages.
Damage to your joints caused by injury or disease cannot only interfere with movement, but can also be a common cause of pain. Some of the most common conditions leading to painful joints include rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, gout, strains, sprains and other injuries, such as in sports.
As with back pain, joint pain can vary greatly in terms of severity in the amount of time that it lasts. For example, joint pain that resolves within a few weeks is referred to as acute. However, many people suffer from chronic joint pain, or pain that lingers for weeks or months at a time.
Other common causes of joint pain include:
Arthritis
- Causesbone and joint disorders, genetics, injuries, metabolic disorders, repetitive use
- Symptomscracking sound when the joints bend, limited range of motion, pain and stiffness in the joints, especially after overuse, resting or engaging in activity for extended periods of time, swelling around the joints
Diabetes
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Fatigue And Somatic Symptoms
Fatigue, headache, stomach ache, and backache are common. Large international surveys show that about 8% of adolescents report daily headaches, 10% daily backache, and 16% daily sleepiness in the mornings. Fatigue is even more commonabout a third of both boys and girls have substantial fatigue four or more times a week.week.
Frequency of headache in the previous six months in 11-17 year olds in Europe. Adapted from: World Health Organization. Health behaviour in school-aged children, 1997-1998. Calverton, MD: Macro International, 2002
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Never Ignore Chronic Body Aches & Fatigue
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Chronic body aches and fatigue can affect anyone- no matter what your age- and can be a quite stressful experience.
Some of the most common body aches include neck/back pain, muscle pain, headaches, and joint pain. In addition, there is neuropathic pain, which is a condition that results in a malfunction of the nervous system.
Chronic body aches and fatigue can be a serious medical condition that needs medical attention and should never be ignored.
Following are some of the most common causes of body aches and fatigue that you should be aware of.
The Most Common Causes Of Muscle Pain
Not all aches are related to stress or physical activity. As stated above, some medical conditions can cause muscle pain. For example:
Fibromyalgia
In case you have pain on both sides of your body that lasts longer than three months, it might be a sign of fibromyalgia. It is a long-term condition that can cause pain in muscles, general fatigue, sleep and cognitive disturbances. Other symptoms of this condition include headaches, dry eyes, anxiety, pain in the lower belly, and bladder problems.
Keep in mind that only professional healthcare providers can make a diagnosis. If you notice the symptoms of fibromyalgia, make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible and get the right treatment on time.
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Other Conditions Associated With Body Aches
Many conditions can be associated with body aches or pains. Some of these include:
- A reaction or side effect of medication
- Viral gastroenteritis
If your symptoms do not go away after five to seven days or appear to be getting worse, or if youre a part of a high-risk group, you should see a doctor to be diagnosed.
Blood Clots Can Also Lead To Kidney Or Heart Damage
Blood clots can reduce blood flow to the kidneys and heart, resulting in damage to both organs. Its also possible that the coronavirus attacks these organs directly, since both the heart and kidneys are rich in ACE2 receptors.
In general, coronavirus patients with preexisting health issues are at higher risk of heart damage or kidney failure.
A study of 416 hospitalized patients in Wuhan found that patients with a heart injury around 20% were typically older and had underlying issues like hypertension.
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Youre Having A Panic Attack
Chills can occur if you have a profound or intense emotional reaction to a situation, according to Taroyan. Emotions that might cause chills include fear or anxiety, she says.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, nearly 30% of all adults will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. A panic attack can cause a combination of physical as well as psychological symptoms, including chills, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, dizziness and chest pain. Because of the severity of the symptoms, a panic attack sometimes causes people to think theyre having a heart attack.
If youve never had a panic attack before, seek medical attention. If youve been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, psychotherapy and medication can help.
Problems With Thinking Memory And Concentration
If you have ME/CFS, its also common to have:
- problems remembering certain words, names or numbers
- difficulty concentrating or difficulty focusing on more than one thing at a time
- problems remembering things that happened recently
- being slow to speak or react to things
These problems are sometimes described brain fog.
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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.
Should I Call The Doctor
If you have any chronic medical conditions, are over the age of 65, or are not vaccinated, you are at higher risk of getting a severe COVID infection and should call your doctor. Call your doctor for a fever that does not go down with fever reducing medicine or any severe symptoms or symptoms that get worse over time.
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Muscle Aches Extreme Fatigue: Coronavirus Symptoms Go Beyond Fever And Cough
Fever, cough, shortness of breath.
Those are the three symptoms prominently listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website under coronavirus symptoms.
But as case counts continue to rise in the United States and across the world, its clear that COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, causes a much wider range of symptoms. The more detailed descriptions of the illness that are emerging show how doctors and researchers are still learning about the disease, which was first reported just three months ago, in real time.
COVID-19 can begin in similar ways among patients, regardless of a persons age or health status.
Very often, extreme fatigue hits first.
Hedy Bauman, 74, was so weak she could barely make it home from a short walk to the store. Reading a few pages of the newspaper was exhausting.
My bathroom is maybe 15 steps from my bed, Bauman, of Silver Spring, Maryland, told NBC News. I wasnt sure I could get from the bathroom to my bed. She developed chills, but no fever.
Baumans doctor said her symptoms were consistent with what physicians are learning about other coronavirus cases, though they are still waiting for the results from Baumans COVID-19 test.
Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
Brendan McLaughlin, 28, felt lightheaded and weak before the fever, chills and body aches began.
Id been healthy, McLaughlin said. I try to eat right. I take care of myself.
A Simple Test To See If You Have Orthostatic Hypotension
A simple way to check to see if your lightheadedness, fatigue, mental fogginess or headaches are from low blood pressure to the brain is to increase the blood pressure to the brain. You can do this simply by increasing the salt in your diet. Salt has a magical property called osmotic pressure that pulls fluid into the blood vessels.
More fluid in blood vessels makes it easier for your heart and blood vessels to provide the proper amount of pressure and blood flow to the brain. Proper blood flow to the brain will allow the brain to function better and should result in a decrease or disappearance of your symptoms if they are due to poor blood flow.
With all the talk by the health officials about the necessity of eating a low-salt diet, you might be concerned with increasing your salt intake. Dont worry, its not dangerous for a few weeks. Only persons with uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart failure or kidney disease should talk with their physician before adding salt to their diet.
Follow these instructions to see if your symptoms are from low blood flow to the brain:
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Why Does My Whole Body Ache
An aching body makes every activity more difficult, from getting through your daily grind to going to sleep at night. Sometimes our bodies ache from hard work or exercise, but at other times the causes of muscle aches can be more complex and associated with other symptoms. If you or someone you know has been suffering from body aches, this guide can help you understand some of the underlying problems that may be causing it. From arthritis to fibromyalgia to the common flu, there are many underlying causes of body aches, so read on to learn what they are, as well as a few tips for easing whole-body aches.
Muscle Damage Through Injury
There are many ways in which your muscles can be directly damaged. The most obvious is injury or trauma such as sporting injuries, pulls and sprains. In any muscle injury, bleeding from damaged muscle fibres occurs inside the muscle, followed by swelling and inflammation. This makes the muscle less strong and also painful to use. Localised pain is the primary symptom but weakness also results.
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When Should You Consult A Doctor
Anyone experiencing severe, ongoing, or escalating headaches should consult a physician for a diagnosis. A series of headaches with abnormal symptoms that have only been occurring recently might be a cause for concern. If you experience fever, nausea, persistent vomiting, and a stiff neck, then your system may have an underlying issue that needs urgent medical attention.
Mood changes, confusion, personality changes, behavioral changes, loss of consciousness, blackouts, seizures, and a foggy memory point to a neurological disorder that would require a medical experts opinion. Consult with your doctor immediately if you have had a prior history of headaches that have progressively gotten worse over time.
Blood Clotting Can Lead To Stroke Even Among Younger Coronavirus Patients
More strokes have been documented in severe coronavirus cases than mild ones, but younger patients with less serious cases can suffer from them as well.
Before the pandemic, doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City saw fewer than one patient under 50 with a large-vessel stroke over the course of two weeks, on average. But from March 23 and April 7, they saw five patients who fit that description. All tested positive for COVID-19.
Dr. Nate Favini, who treats coronavirus patients in San Francisco, said he suspects that some patients may experience micro-strokes without realizing it.
The virus can create a propensity to clotting, Favini previously told Business Insider. My suspicion is thats whats behind the strokes that were seeing in younger folks.
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What Else Should I Know
- Strong emotions can be a part of the illness, so its important to recognize and express your feelings. Feelings like sadness, anger, and frustration are completely normal and its important to acknowledge how you feel and recognize that its not your fault. Recognizing emotions can help you figure out whats behind your feelings and help you manage problems.
- It can help to keep a daily diary of feelings and energy highs and lows. This also can let you share information that might help your doctor. You can also track trends for example, if your energy is high at one time of day and low at another that will help you figure out when to exercise or do other activities.
- Give yourself more time to do things, especially activities that take concentration or physical exertion.
- Get support from family, teachers, and friends.
Most important, dont give up. Having chronic fatigue syndrome can be hard. But for most people, the symptoms are most severe in the beginning. Later, they may come and go. Teens with CFS generally get better faster and recover more completely than adults do. Most teens get partial or full recovery within 5 years after symptoms began.
Try to keep a positive approach to getting well and to not look for the reason why you have CFS. People who take action and stay positive can have a good outcome.
You also can find more information and support online at:
