Getting tired is a normal thing, especially if you work a lot during the day. But the tiredness will go away after getting a good night’s sleep. You should feel refreshed the following day. However, after resting, and you still feel tired, then there is probably something wrong.
Fatigue is a symptom characterized by a constant feeling of exhaustion. And if you don’t do anything about it, it could develop into something else over time. And, yes, this could adversely affect your health, particularly if you are already in your senior seniors. In fact, a huge percentage of the aging population complains about fatigue.
Fatigue Can Be the Sign of an Illness
Like what we have said above, fatigue is a symptom. It is NOT a condition. Although it is always linked to tiredness, it is more than feeling tired or sleepy. It can be caused by a combination of factors, be it lifestyle, psychological, social, and general overall wellbeing. It could be a warning sign of an illness as well, which could be mental or physical. It is a way of your body telling you that something is off.
One of the common health concerns among seniors is rheumatoid arthritis, which is considered an autoimmune and inflammatory disease. If you have this, your own immune system will attack the healthy cells in your body, which will eventually cause inflammation and severe pain in your joints. Fatigue can also be a symptom of this particular health condition.
Cancer is another illness that can make you feel tired all the time. It could be due to the disease itself or even from the treatments. If you have infections, you may feel fatigued as well. The same is true when you are suffering from diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, thyroid disease, fibromyalgia, anemia, and sleep orders, just to mention a few.
With that being said, it is extremely important that you see a doctor if you have been experiencing fatigue lately. This way, proper diagnosis can be done, and the underlying condition can be addressed.
Fatigue Can Be Linked to Emotional Stresses
Fatigue is not only the result of physical factors but also emotional stresses. You could be anxious about the future. You could be feeling sad because you are all alone at home since your children have already moved out. Or, you could be worried about your deteriorating health. All of these can cause emotional stress on you, which can gradually turn to chronic fatigue.
If you are experiencing anxiety or depression, fatigue can creep in. It could also be due to grief because of the loss of a close family member. The truth is, financial problems, family conflicts, and other personal issues can also cause fatigue.
Furthermore, if you are suffering from insomnia and you can’t sleep at night, this can cause fatigue, too. But there are many ways in which you can combat this.
Other Causes of Fatigue
Aside from the things that we have mentioned, the following are the possible causes of fatigue:
Yes, some medications, especially antidepressants or antihistamines can add to fatigue. Those that are meant for nausea and pain can trigger the feeling of tiredness as well.
If you have just gone through surgery, more so if it’s a major operation, you will definitely feel fatigued. This is because your body is not yet that strong. It is still recuperating. Your doctor should be able to give you something that can relieve this.
Staying Up Too Late
If you tend to stay up too late at night, the tendency is that you will only be able to get a few hours of sleep. You might not even be able to get some rest. This right here can cause you to feel constantly exhausted.
Coffee and tea are good to have but you should limit your intake during the day because excessive caffeine can also cause fatigue. Never attempt to drink even a single cup of this type of drink in the evening.
Strategies for Coping With Fatigue
Sure, elders get tired easily. Doing even the simplest chore there is can make them feel tired. But if you want to be able to effectively cope up with fatigue, you should know what’s causing it in the first place. Is it something physical, emotional, or mental? Once you have pinpointed the main cause, then do something about it.
Try to keep a ‘fatigue diary’ so that you can see the pattern of your tiredness. It is also important that you exercise regularly, and avoid long naps during the day. Now, if you feel swamped with work, do not hesitate to seek assistance.
Fatigue is a symptom that should never be neglected. Left untreated, it could cause more serious health problems. If you are feeling fatigued all the time, it would be best to see your doctor immediately.