Comparison Of Fatigue As A Predictor Of Work Disability Between Ra And As
The most consistent predictive factor for both populations was the baseline level of the predicted work outcome. Otherwise, although overall fatigue was a commonly identified independently significant predictor of work disability in both RA and AS patients, its effect appears more prominent among RA patients in relation to other putative predictors while, in AS patients, the effect of anxiety/depression was relatively stronger. In contrast, other variables such as disease activity and pain did not appear to be important in these study samples.
When considering the associations between fatigue and the different work disability components, both similarities and differences existed across RA and AS patients. For both diseases, fatigue was associated with presenteeism and activity impairment . However, fatigue was identified as a significant predictor of all four work disability components under investigation in our RA population, while fatigue was not identified as an independent predictor of absenteeism or work productivity loss among AS patients. In both studies, no interactions between fatigue and visit were significant, suggesting a consistent effect of fatigue over the following 12-month period.
What Blocks Pain Signals
Many scientists think pain control methods help reduce pain by blocking pain signals. Pain signals are sent through a complex system of nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
There are many things that can block these signals and thus prevent the pain message from reaching your brain.
Pain signals are blocked by chemicals made by the brain called endorphins. There are several things that can cause the brain to produce endorphins. These include ânaturalâ controls, such as your own thoughts and emotions, or âoutsideâ controls such as medicines.
Natural controls
A father driving with his children is hurt in a car accident. The father is so worried about his children that he doesnât feel the pain from his own broken arm. The concern for his children somehow blocked the pain signal and kept the pain from affecting him.
Outside controls
Certain medicines such as morphine imitate the bodyâs endorphins and block the pain signal. Other pain control methods, such as heat and cold treatments, physical therapy, exercise, relaxation and massage can stimulate the body to release its own endorphins or to block the pain signal in other ways.
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Conserve Your Energy And Protect Your Joints
You can also learn ways to save your energy and protect your joints during daily tasks. These tips may also help you cope with fatigue, or reduce its impact on your life:
- Pace yourself. Carefully plan and organise your activities so you make the most of your energy. Here are some simple tips to help you pace your activities:
- Try to plan your day so that you can alternate periods of activity with periods of rest.
- When you know you have a large task to do, such as preparing a meal or cleaning a room, plan ahead and break the job into smaller tasks. Then work on completing the tasks one at a time, and follow each with a rest break.
- Try to prioritise jobs. Do the hardest jobs when you are feeling your best.
- Take advantage of good days to do the things you may have been putting off. Remember not to overdo it on these days as it could result in pain and fatigue the following days.
- Simplify tasks. For example, buy pre-cut vegetables and meat to make cooking simpler. Find out about equipment that can make tasks easier .
- If you are having a bad day, be ready to change your plans and not force yourself to work through pain.
- Ask for help when you need it.
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How Rheumatoid Arthritis Triggers Chronic Fatigue
More than just being tired, chronic fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion that cant be fixed with sleep. Its often associated with brain fog and a lack of motivation or inability to complete tasks. Chronic fatigue is common in people who have certain autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis .
Chronic fatigue is a common struggle for those with RA. Read Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fatigue
Below are 6 possible reasons why a person with RA experiences chronic fatigue. These underlying factors may work alone or together to contribute to an individuals overall fatigue.
How Can I Feel Less Tired
Some changes to your lifestyle can make you feel less tired. Here are some suggestions:
- Keep a fatigue diary to help you find patterns throughout the day when you feel more or less tired.
- Exercise regularly. Almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of physical activity. If you have concerns about starting an exercise program, ask your doctor if there are any activities you should avoid. Moderate exercise may improve your appetite, energy, and outlook. Some people find that exercises combining balance and breathing improve their energy.
- Try to avoid long naps late in the day. Long naps can leave you feeling groggy and may make it harder to fall asleep at night. Read A Good Nights Sleep for tips on getting better rest at night.
- Stop smoking.Smoking is linked to many diseases and disorders, such as cancer, heart disease, and breathing problems, which can drain your energy.
- Ask for help if you feel swamped. Some people have so much to do that just thinking about their schedules can make them feel tired. Working with others may help a job go faster and be more fun.
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Consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Having a chronic and unpredictable physical condition is exhausting, and it can take a toll on your emotional health. CBT, which is a form of talk therapy, teaches you to change the way you think about fatigue and changing your thinking can alter the way you feel and act.
Findings from a review published in May 2020 in the journal RMD Open suggest that RA-related fatigue may often be from causes outside the condition itself and that the best ways to reduce fatigue might be cognitive, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as behavioral, such as getting exercise.
Are The Causes Of Ra
On balance, and based on the available evidence, it appears likely that the predictors of fatigue are not unique to RA populations. Rather, some of the most consistent candidates have been identified as predictors in other rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as in a broader range of long-term medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis and cancer . Together, this points towards an as yet untested hypothesis that fatigue, its prognostic factors, and therefore its optimal treatment strategy, may be common across many long-term illnesses, irrespective of whether they have an inflammatory aetiology. Future studies may benefit from investigating this hypothesis with a view to developing generic fatigue interventions across a range of chronic conditions.
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Get Moving And Stay Strong
Dr. Rosian says stretching and staying active are both important. Even though you might have fatigue, its so important to move your joints. You want to keep your flexibility and your strength.
She likens keeping your joints active to a gate hinge. If it rusts, and you keep using it, its still going to be useful. But if you dont use it, its going to lock up. The same sort of thing happens to our joints.
Strengthening is as important as stretching, she adds. You want your muscles to stay strong because they move your joints. When you use your muscles, youre less fatigued. Some studies say a 15-minute walk is as refreshing as a 15-minute or half-hour nap. Sometimes activity is actually good for you to reduce pain and stiffness.
Lifting light weights, swimming and walking are great options. Tai Chi is also good for balance and strengthening and stretching, says Dr. Rosian. Some people also find yoga helpful, although others might not due to the strain it puts on the wrist.
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Timing Of Maximal Improvement In Fatigue When In Sustained Remission In Era
An ERA cohort which included 1864 patients studied how fatigue varied over time. A quarter had low fatigue, nearly 20% moderate and approximately 60% high fatigue at baseline. The baseline fatigue and pain scores were similar, around 5 out of 10. DAS28 seemed to be moderately related to fatigue at baseline where the DAS28 score was highest in the highest fatigue level, next highest in the middle level and smallest in the lowest fatigue group.
The baseline SF-36 mental component summary scores also were different differed significantly between the fatigue groups. The mean baseline fatigue score measured by a VAS was highest at baseline than follow-up visits. Fatigue decreased by the 3-months visit where the largest between visit change occurred .
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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.
Fighting The Fatigue Of Ra
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis dont stop at joint pain and swelling. Most people with RA also experience mental and physical exhaustion, a symptom known as fatigue. Studies show that up to 80% of people with RA have at least some sense of feeling run down, and more than 50% have high levels of fatigue.
Terence Starz, MD, a rheumatologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, says the feeling can be described as overwhelming or different from just being tired because it is extreme and seems to come from nowhere. In fact, fatigue may have a greater impact on daily life than pain.
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How Does Fatigue Change Your Life
Fatigue is different than normal feelings of tiredness. People describe it as being overwhelming and uncontrollable. They feel worn out and drained of energy, and sometimes even lose all interest in anything.
It can increase the need for sleep and make it hard to concentrate or do anything. Constantly feeling exhausted and not being able to maintain an active lifestyle can affect your mood too: Many people who have rheumatoid arthritis also feel depressed, irritable or anxious. These feelings can be hard for others to fully understand.
The severity of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may vary a lot over time. This can make it difficult to plan ahead. You don’t know how you will feel the next day or whether the symptoms will get better or worse. This means that people with rheumatoid arthritis feel like they have lost control of their lives. If they are too exhausted, they may not have enough energy even for simple everyday activities or for playing with their children or grandchildren. Appointments may need to be rescheduled, and some people give up their favorite activities if they prove to be too demanding.
And at work it may be difficult to accept that you can’t do as much as you used to. You might need more breaks, or certain tasks might need to be reassigned.
Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Make You Tired
Yes, rheumatoid arthritis can make you tired. Its a systemic inflammatory condition, says Dr. Rosian. The cytokines, or the cell signals, released by your immune system cause inflammation.
As anyone dealing with fatigue knows, your quality of life can be affected. If people are having a bad time with their rheumatoid arthritis, their window of opportunity to do things during the day is pretty small, notes Dr. Rosian. They might not feel very energetic or have much energy.
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Increase Your Physical Activity
Adding some gentle exercises to your day can increase the amount of energy you have.
Staying active increases your fitness levels and strengthens your muscles. Weak muscles use more energy, so doing too little can be as damaging as doing too much.
Exercise also increases your circulation and improves the health of vital organs, such as your heart and lungs, which can also give you more energy.
Its important to give yourself time to recover after exercise by taking a break before you move onto your next activity.
When you start exercising
Introducing more physical activity to your day may be tiring at first. Dont overdo it, start your activity slowly, perhaps just add a 510 minute walk or some gentle stretching exercises to begin with.
If youre in pain you can take painkillers before you exercise.
Gradually build up the amount of activity you do. For example, when youre ready, walk for 5 more minutes or add some strengthening exercises to your routine.
Generally, the best way to build up your fitness levels is to do a little exercise as often as you can. Stick with it because as you get fitter youll start to feel better, stronger and more energetic.
You could try using a step counter such as a fitness tracker, a pedometer, or a mobile phone app. When youre ready and depending on how youre feeling, you could try to beat your previous records.
You should aim to exercise every day. But be aware some days will be easier than others.
What Causes Extreme Weakness And Tiredness
- This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students samples.
It is normal to feel weak and tired after executing some strenuous activities either at home or in the office. Weakness, tiredness or exhaustion can occur when you have flu, cold, or a viral infection. But it is considered abnormal if you perpetually experience extreme weakness and tiredness. It may require you to confer with your doctor.
Extreme weakness is a form of lasting fatigue it is a protracted form of exhaustion. Extreme weakness and tiredness is an unexplained and persistent tiredness. Extreme weakness is similar to the feeling you get when you come down with the flu or when you have insufficient sleep.
Extreme weakness and tiredness is similar to symptoms experienced when you have chronic fat, or systemic exertion intolerance disease . When you are very weak and exhausted extremely, you may be incapable of being productive at the home front. In this article, we examined the possible causes of extreme weakness and tiredness and possible ways you can overcome them.
So, what causes extreme exhaustion? Extreme weakness and tiredness may be caused by some possible factors such as:
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What Causes Chronic Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. It can be one of the first warning signs of RA before the diagnosis is confirmed. For many patients, the onset of chronic fatigue symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis can be vague and difficult to categorize and may be attributed to other causes.
The cause of chronic fatigue can sometimes be difficult to identify because there are many factors to consider. Some of the different factors that cause chronic fatigue include:
- Poor sleeping patterns
- Poor diet and lack of physical activity
In addition to the regular rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, fatigue becomes even more chronic and debilitating when other medical complications are involved. Fibromyalgia, obesity, heart disease, respiratory disease such as COPD, and depression, are a few examples that can complicate and worsen the effects of fatigue.
Try To Keep A Reserve Of Meals And Supplies That You Can Use On Days When You Need Extra Rest
, 38, is a mom of three, and she says juggling the demands of motherhood and her rheumatoid arthritis fatigue can be tough. Shes found that meal prepping and reserving special toys that keep her kids entertained for longer give her more time to rest on particularly tiring things.
When Im feeling up to it, I cook big-batch meals and put some in the freezer for days when I have less energy, she tells SELF. Mariah also keeps a cupboard full of quiet activities and crafts that her kids can work on if she needs extra rest time. We also use a system of toy rotation, where about one-third of our toys are out in the playroom and two-thirds are off-limits in a closet, she says. So on days when I am in pain or have less energy, I can bring out new toys that will keep the kids attention longer because they havent been played with for a while.
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Talking To Your Doctor About Fatigue
There are several things that can reduce the impact of fatigue. Firstly, it helps if you can work out what could be causing it.
There arent any specific tests for fatigue. However, you can help your doctors diagnosis by writing down how you feel, what could be causing it and how its affecting your life. They may also be able to provide you with a self-assessment questionnaire to fill out.
Depending on your symptoms your doctor may recommend you have blood tests to check your fatigue hasnt been caused by another condition. If it has been, treating this condition may improve your fatigue.
There arent any specific drug treatments for fatigue. However, your doctor, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or rheumatology team, should be able to help you recognise the signs and learn to manage them.
