Do you always feel tired? Do you have difficulty staying awake in the evenings? Most people have experienced acute fatigue when they have been sick. This short term fatigue is much different from the unrelenting fatigue experienced during chronic fatigue. It causes ongoing tiredness and a lack of energy.
Chronic fatigue feels similar to how you feel when you have been sick or have been suffering from insomnia. The persistent exhaustion experienced with this type of fatigue can be completely debilitating. Chronic fatigue can interfere with your day to day activities and make it difficult to perform your job duties at work. There are several reasons you may be experiencing this unrelenting exhaustion.
Common Causes of Chronic Fatigue
- Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis occurs when you inhale or eat something that you are allergic to. Common airborne allergens are pollen, animal dander, insects (cockroaches, dust mites, etc.), mold, mildew, and dust. In addition to this, weather changes can cause allergic rhinitis.
Allergic rhinitis causes inflammation in the nasal passages, resulting in nasal congestion. When the nasal passages become inflamed, it can be difficult to get a good night’s sleep, which can increase your fatigue levels. As allergic rhinitis continues, you can experience chronic headaches and chronic fatigue. One way to reduce your symptoms, including your fatigue is to avoid the allergen causing your symptoms.
- Anemia
Anemia is a common blood disorder that occurs when you do not have enough red blood cells in your body. Red blood cells transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. When you do not have enough red blood cells, you can experience a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, heart palpitations, nutritional deficiencies, and dizziness.
A variety of issues can reduce red blood cells counts and lead to anemia. Women suffering from uterine polyps, heavy menstrual cycles, and fibroid tumors are at an increased risk of developing anemia. In addition to this, gastrointestinal issues like ulcers and hemorrhoids can also cause anemia. Chronic diseases such as kidney disease or diabetes along with nutritional deficiencies – low iron levels, low vitamin B12, or low folic acid levels – have been associated with anemia.
Dealing with pain can be utterly exhausting! Even short-term acute pain can cause fatigue; however, when your pain does not end, it can interfere with your life and result in chronic fatigue and exhaustion. There are many different reasons you may be suffering from chronic pain, including an injury, fibromyalgia, arthritis, degenerative disease, nerve damage, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and cancer.
When you are under constant pain, you cannot properly rest, which can lead to fatigue. In addition to this, pain and inflammation can impact how the body functions. When the body does not function properly, it will not be able to absorb and use nutrients properly, which can also result in fatigue.
- Infections
When you have an infection, you are at risk of experiencing unrelenting exhaustion. A variety of infections can cause fatigue, including the flu, COVID-119, hepatitis, HIV, mononucleosis, pneumonia, and the common cold. When your body is under attack from an infection, your body shuts down many nonessential functions so that it can focus its energy on increasing your immunity.
Researchers believe that the body causes the sensation of fatigue to suppress your desire for physical activity to help you regain health. Unfortunately, the body can become confused, and the fatigue can continue long past the infection, resulting in chronic fatigue. Taking nutritional supplements, eating a healthy diet, and getting 150 minutes of exercise per week (even when you do not feel like it) can help you overcome your fatigue and begin enjoying life again.
- Inflammation
Inflammation has been associated with a number of health issues, including chronic fatigue, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Inflammation occurs when the body begins to attack healthy tissues, injury or illness occurs, or exposure to toxins, including environmental toxins, air pollution, and insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides on your produce. In addition to this, inflammation can occur following an injury.
Chronic low grade inflammation can prevent the body from functioning properly. It may not be able to digest foods properly and utilize the nutrients in foods. Inflammation can also cause an increase in the formation of free radicals, which can decrease your overall health. Finally, inflammation can prevent the body from producing the hormones that it needs leading to fatigue.
- Mental Illness
Depression and anxiety cause a plethora of unpleasant symptoms. Individuals suffering from mental illness often experience overwhelming fatigue, sadness, and feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness. You may have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep. Additionally, feeling “on alert” or having a sense of impending doom can be overwhelming.
If you suffer from anxiety or depression, it may be difficult to have any motivation to get up. You may quit exercising and begin eating junk food rather than healthy foods. Both of these can contribute to low energy levels and increased fatigue.
Sleep issues like insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, REM sleep behavior disorders, and narcolepsy can prevent you from getting a full night’s sleep. During sleep, your body restores itself, consolidates memories, and makes many necessary hormones. If you are not getting restorative sleep, it can take a toll on your quality of life and your overall health.
If you are experiencing sleep issues and chronic fatigue, contact your doctor. You may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea and need a medical device to help keep your airways open while you sleep. This device known as a CPAP along with weight loss can help improve your sleep. In addition to this, practicing good sleep hygiene like turning off electronics an hour or two before bedtime, getting up at the same time each day, and using room darkening blinds or curtains can help you get a full night’s sleep, which may improve your fatigue.
Holistic Treatment for Chronic Fatigue
Chronic fatigue can be difficult to diagnose since it can be caused due to so many factors. It can be due to a physical or mental health condition, or it can be caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices.
A holistic doctor that utilizes integrative healthcare techniques understands that all systems in the body work synergistically together. When one system does not work properly, it can cause a cascade effect and result in a variety of health issues, including chronic fatigue. Finding the root cause of your tiredness and correcting it can eliminate your ongoing exhaustion and improve energy levels.
