Fatigue is a certain state of awareness characterized by a lack of strength (physical fatigue) or a decreased level of focus and concentration, possibly including sleepiness (mental fatigue). Other common terms for the condition include lethargy, exhaustion, languidness, languor, lassitude, and listlessness. Fatigue is found in all situations of our lives—just being awake slowly fatigues the body and mind—but a wide number of activities and conditions can increase the fatigue effect to an uncomfortable or disabling level. Fatigue is a symptom, not a medical sign, because it is noted by the patient rather than observed by outside sources. As such, there is no direct “cure” for fatigue; rather, patients are advised to seek further testing to determine the true source of the exhaustion.
There are two primary types of fatigue, as noted above:
Physical fatigue, sometimes known as muscle weakness or lack of strength, is a term describing an inability to move one's muscles in a way that would normally be expected for one's level of fitness. In other words, it's the type of feeling that comes about when we try to move our bodies but they seem unresponsive, and we find ourselves unable to act as quickly or forcefully as we know we can. This type of fatigue is generally discovered through a test of strength, and the root cause is rooted out from there. Within this category, there are four axes of physical fatigue: true, perceived, central, and peripheral. True fatigue is a substantial loss of muscular ability, while perceived fatigue is the feeling of having to work harder to do the same task. Central fatigue categorizes an overall feeling of bodily weakness, while peripheral fatigue describes tiredness of certain muscles rather than the entire body.
Mental fatigue comes in two forms: somnolence and decreased attention. Somnolence is decreased wakefulness, or a feeling of sleepiness. Decreased attention is what it sounds like: an inability to stay focused on one thing for a long period of time. Both forms of mental fatigue can come about as a result of a variety of medical issues, from simple stress and daily activity to large-scale diseases such as cancer, depression, or influenza, among many others. Mentally fatigued patients have a much more difficult time performing ordinary tasks; it is extremely dangerous for those with mental fatigue to operate vehicles or carry out jobs that require intense concentration.
Generally speaking, fatigue can most often be caused by working, mental stress, overstimulation and understimulation, jet lag, active recreation (such as playing sports), depression, boredom, disease, poisoning or mineral deficiency, and lack of sleep. Massive blood loss often causes high levels of fatigue. As mentioned before, fatigue is a symptom: this means that the fatigue itself cannot be cured directly, but rather the source of the tiredness must be rooted out and dealt with. Oftentimes patients who described fatigue as something afflicting them will be less exhausted within a few weeks, but those who suffer consistent fatigue for six months or more are described as having chronic fatigue.
Diagnosing fatigue requires a variety of tests. Because fatigue is a symptom of a large number of disorders, doctors must ask for an extensive medical history. Elements of such an examination may include: sleep patterns, sleep quality, emotional state, stress levels, diet, exercise level, and other symptoms. Oftentimes patients complaining of fatigue will receive a blood test, urinalysis, thyroid examination, and if female, a pregnancy test. These measures are used to determine the primary source of the fatigue, and further procedures may be recommended as suggested by the physician.
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Root
Relieves Back Pain
The British Journal of Sports Medicine has
releases findings that an ointment made
from the comfrey root has medicinal properties that
aid in the relief of back pain.
The study included more than 120 participants
who had chronic back pain yet were all able to feel marked improvement
in regards to the amount of pain they felt.
According
to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington,
women who experience chronic migraine headaches are at a significantly
lower risk of breast cancer.
Because of the hormone related triggers, there is a direct
correlation between migraines and breast cancer, said Dr. Christopher
Li.
Women that
have a history of migraines are at a 30-percent less risk of cancer.
In a
study conducted at the Sousze Sleep Center in Hamburg, Germany, it was
found that the root cause of more than 40-percent of all sleep related
disorders or problems had an environmental cause.
"This
was a progressive, three year study in which we asked a hundred patients
to keep accurate logs and record their sleep experiences, including
what would disturb them," said Dr. Sousze.
