Wednesday, March 20, 2024

What Causes Fatigue And Weakness

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What Else Causes Fatigue

Causes of weight gain and fatigue with weakness in adults – Dr. Anantharaman Ramakrishnan

Some lifestyle habits can make you feel tired. Here are some things that may be draining your energy:

  • Staying up too late. A good night’s sleep is important to feeling refreshed and energetic. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.
  • Having too much caffeine. Drinking caffeinated drinks like soda, tea, or coffee late in the day can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. Limit the amount of caffeine you have during the day and avoid it in the evening.
  • Drinking too much alcohol.Alcohol changes the way you think and act. It may also interact with your medicines.
  • Eating junk food. Say “no thanks” to food with empty calories, like fried foods and sweets, which have few nutrients and are high in fat and sugars. Choose nutritious foods to get the energy you need to do the things you enjoy.
  • Getting too little or too much exercise. Regular exercise can boost your energy levels, but dont overdo it.

Food Allergies And Food Intolerance

Symptoms: Fatigue, sleepy, continually exhausted. Food allergies and intolerances can cause you to lose energy, thereby leading to fatigue, weakness and exhaustion. In some cases, fatigue and exhaustion may point to food allergy or intolerance. Celiac disease , may also cause exhaustion.

If food allergies are causing you extreme weakness and tiredness, you may experience symptoms like sleepiness, exhaustion, and fatigue. Consult your doctor about the elimination diet. Also, you may undergo food allergy test to help detect the wrong foods.

What Is The Treatment For Fatigue

Since fatigue is a symptom of an underlying condition, the treatment depends upon the condition that is causing the fatigue, regardless of whether it is physical, psychological or a combination of the two.

There may be a lag time between when the illness has been treated and the intensity of fatigue symptoms some symptoms may resolve as soon as the underlying condition is treated. For example, individuals who are anemic feel much better as soon as their red blood cell count increases, while those recovering from infectious mononucleosis may require weeks to have their energy levels return to normal.

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Risk Factor: Youre A Woman Under Age 50

For unknown reasons, women sufferers outnumber men two to one, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The form of IBS tends to differ by sex, as well. Women are more likely to experience constipation and bloating, while men are more likely to have diarrhea, Dr. Quigley says. Irritable bowel syndrome becomes less common after people reach their 50s. Whether thats due to the hormonal changes of menopause, or alterations in the gut bacteria that come with age, or something else connected to aging, no one knows, says Dr. Quigley. Learn which foods you should avoid if you have irritable bowel syndrome.

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Are There Different Types Of Sibo

Muscle Weakness

SIBO comes about through two different types of bacteria:

  • Methane-producing.
  • A combination of both hydrogen- and methane-producing bacteria.
  • SIBO associated with hydrogen overproduction:

    An overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine may cause hydrogen dominant SIBO. These bacteria ferment unabsorbed carbohydrates before they are broken down. This fermentation creates hydrogen gas as a byproduct. In hydrogen dominant SIBO, the main symptoms tend to be loose stools and/or diarrhea.

    SIBO associated with methane overproduction:

    This type of SIBO is due to a microorganism called archaea. Archaea actually isnt a bacteria but something called a prokaryote. In the gut, archaea can use the hydrogen gas produced by other bacteria and create methane gas as a byproduct. High methane levels are often associated with constipation, which may be a symptom of this type of SIBO.

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    Fibromyalgia Symptoms You Should Know

    Fibromyalgia, commonly referred to as fibro, is a painful condition that increases the bodys sensitivity to sensation, causing pain. Because this condition cannot be diagnosed by traditional tests, it can sometimes be difficult for patients to receive a definitive diagnosis. Doctors rely on the presence of symptoms to determine if the patient may have fibromyalgia.

    If you experience pain and tenderness on a regular basis, but cant explain it, it is possible you may have fibromyalgia. Your doctor can discuss your symptoms with you and investigate other causes or potential treatments for your pain. Here are some of the common symptoms that can indicate fibromyalgia.

    What Should I Know About Fatigue

    What is the Definition of Fatigue?

    Fatigue is generally defined as a feeling of lack of energy and motivation that can be physical, mental or both. Fatigue is not the same as drowsiness, but the desire to sleep may accompany fatigue. Apathy is a feeling of indifference that may accompany fatigue or exist independently. In addition, individuals often describe fatigue using a variety of terms including weary, tired, exhausted, malaise, listless, lack of energy and feeling run down.

    How Common is Fatigue?

    Fatigue is common. About 20% of Americans claim to have fatigue intense enough to interfere with living a normal life. A physical cause has been estimated to be responsible 20% to 60% of the time, while emotional or mental causes comprise the other 40% to 80% of cases of fatigue. Unfortunately, fatigue can occur in normal individuals that experience intense physical or mental activity .

    However, in contrast to fatigue that occurs with some diseases and syndromes, normal fatigue in healthy individuals is quickly relieved in a few hours to about a day when the physical or mental activity is reduced. Also, people occasionally experience fatigue after eating , which can be a normal response to food, especially after large meals and this may last about 30 minutes to several hours.

    1. Have severe chronic fatigue for at least six months or longer with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis and

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    You Drink Alcohol In Excess

    You might think happy hour is the ultimate way to unwind from your day, but the temporary effects of alcohol are just thattemporary. When you drink, alcohol increases dopamine, a feel-good chemical, and binds to and alters the neurotransmitter receptor GABA, which increases the effect of GABA and can have a calming effect in the moment. But it also interrupts other mood-regulating neurotransmitters, like serotonin. When these alcohol-induced effects wear off, you may experience a range of anxiety symptoms.

    In the long term, excessive drinking makes neurons less excitable and permanently changes the mRNA and protein levels in GABA receptors. This makes the receptors less sensitive, so the brain needs more GABA. Without it, symptoms of anxiety can result. This doesnt necessarily mean you have to completely remove alcohol from your life, but take at least three nights off per week from drinking and always drink in moderation.

    How Is Fatigue Managed

    Causes of weakness, vibrations and back pain in morning – Dr. Sharat Honnatti

    Making sure you have good quality sleep can help you manage fatigue. Ensure you go to bed at the same time each night and stick to healthy sleep habits.

    Eating a healthy diet and doing regular physical activity will also help improve your sleep and lessen fatigue. Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables avoid junk food and try to avoid alcohol and caffeine since these can affect your sleep.

    If you have fatigue, talk to your doctor about whether it is safe to drive or carry out your normal work duties.

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    Gas And Bloating Within 90 Minutes Of Eating

    Although excessive intestinal gas and bloating are common symptoms in IBS, the timing of the onset of these symptoms can provide you with some valuable information.

    It generally takes about 90 minutes for any undigested carbohydrates to arrive at your large intestine, where they are set upon by gut bacteria, resulting in a fermentation process that produces gas.

    Therefore, if your gassiness shows up prior to that 90-minute mark, it could indicate that you have more bacteria in your small intestine than you should. This is a condition known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth . SIBO is diagnosed through the use of hydrogen breath testing and can be treated with select antibiotics.

    If your gas and bloating happen within an hour and a half of eating, it doesnt mean that your doctor was wrong about your IBS. It is just that it might be worth your while to be tested for SIBO.

    Remember that these conditions are relatively rare and it is possible that your diarrhea after eating is simply a symptom of your IBS. But, if reading about these conditions makes you wonder, discuss your thoughts with your doctor.

    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.

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    Evaluation Of The Patient With Muscle Weakness

    AARON SAGUIL, CPT , MC, USA, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington

    Am Fam Physician. 2005 Apr 1 71:1327-1336.

    The online-only version of this article offers more detailed information on additional selected causes of muscle weakness.

    Muscle weakness is a common complaint among patients presenting to the family physicians office. Although the cause of weakness occasionally may be apparent, often it is unclear, puzzling the physician and frustrating the patient. A comprehensive evaluation of these patients includes a thorough examination and coordination of appropriate laboratory, radiologic, electrodiagnostic, and pathologic studies.

    It is essential to consider depression as a possible diagnosis several screening tools for depression have been validated for use in outpatient settings.

    Label References

    Primary muscle weakness must be distinguished from the more common conditions of fatigue and asthenia.

    If the diagnosis is still inconclusive after the history, physical examination, and laboratory, radiologic, and electromyographic evaluation, a muscle biopsy is required for patients who have a suspected myopathy.

    A = consistent, good-quality patient-oriented evidence B = inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence C = consensus, disease-oriented evidence, usual practice, opinion, or case series. See page 1245 for more information.

    Strength of Recommendations

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    B12 Deficiency Or Insufficiency

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    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.

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    What Are The Symptoms Of Weak Muscles

    Muscle weakness: Symptoms. Symptoms that accompany muscle weakness vary depending on the underlying cause. Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, paresthesia, weight loss and change in level of consciousness. Other accompanying symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, slurred speech, paralysis and changes in vision.

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    Ruling Out Other Medical Conditions

    Health care providers try to start with what a medical condition isn’t before trying to figure out what it is. We call it ruling out the problems.

    For example, weakness in only one area of the body instead of the whole thing is usually related to the brain or to the muscles that are affected , so we could rule out other causes.

    If you were experiencing shortness of breath with weakness, emergency medical responders and health care providers would rule out shock or stroke and focus on asthma, COPD, heart failure ,or anaphylactic reaction as possible culprits.

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    Where To Get Help

    • Your doctor
    • Wilson J, Morgan S, Magin P, et al. 2014, Fatigue a rational approach to investigation, Australian Family Physician, vol. 43, no. 7, pp. 457-461, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. More information here.
    • Fatigue, 2013, MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. More information here.
    • Fatigue in the workplace, WorkSafe Victoria. More information here.

    Is Pots More Common In Certain People

    What Causes Chronic Fatigue? Why Do I Experience Weakness?

    There are no established risk factors for POTS. However, it is known to run in families, so it could have a genetic component. Researchers have also established a link between POTS and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome . So if you have one of these conditions, you might also have the other.

    A big group of those diagnosed with POTS is young women and teens. However, this doesnt mean they are more likely to develop this condition.

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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.

    Continued

    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:

    Continued

    What Can You Do For Exhaustion

    Here are six tips to help you feel better when you feel overwhelmed by stress and exhausted by life.

  • Avoid the Belief in a Just World Trap.
  • Remind Yourself Youre Doing the Best You Can.
  • Avoid the I Just Need To Work Harder Trap.
  • When youre tired of life, recognize rumination.
  • Regulate Your Rhythms.
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    What Happens After Surgery

    Nothing, really.

    Good surgeons are able to leave healthy parathyroid glands intact. It is helpful to get enough calcium after surgery so that they do not have to work too hard.

    Once the first few weeks have passed, the remaining glands pick up the slack for those that were lost and the calcium balance is normal again.

    What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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    Chronic fatigue syndrome , also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS, is a condition in which fatigue lasts six months or longer and is not related to other diseases or conditions. People with CFS experience symptoms that make it hard to do daily tasks like dressing or bathing. Along with severe fatigue that doesnt get better with rest, CFS symptoms can include problems with sleep, memory and concentrating, pain, dizziness, sore throat, and tender lymph nodes. Learn more about CFS.

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    What Is Pots And Why Does It Cause Fatigue

    POTS is a group of symptoms resulting from dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. This branch of the nervous system regulates functions we dont consciously control like sweating and blood circulation.

    In people with POTS, more blood collects in the lower body when standing upright. The heart beats faster to pump it up to the brain, but with little success. The causes of POTS are unknown, but the problem is thought to lie in the communication breakdown between the brain and the cardiovascular system.

    POTS-related fatigue is physical in nature and the mechanism behind it is not fully understood. It may have several causes, including your body working harder to move the blood.

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