What is fatigue?
Fatigue is simply the feeling of being overworked or overtired. It’s not the same as feeling drowsy. Everyone experiences temporary sleepiness from time to time, whether from lack of sleep or a long day at the office. When you feel drained and weary on a regular basis, though, and a good night’s sleep won’t solve it, you have fatigue.
While physical and mental fatigue aren’t the same thing, they often go hand in hand. If you suffer from severe fatigue, you may end up not only feeling tired, but also emotionally spent, mentally exhausted, irritable, and unable to concentrate.
Other common fatigue symptoms include:
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Apathy
- Slow response time
What are some common causes of fatigue?
Fatigue is rarely a condition on its own. Rather, fatigue is often a symptom of a different or more serious underlying condition. Examples of such underlying conditions include:
- Autoimmune conditions
- Hormone imbalance
- Thyroid disorders
- Anemia
- Chronic illness
- Stress
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Allergies (food, environmental, and seasonal)
- Certain medications
Fatigue can also be a result of lifestyle choices such as:
- Poor diet
- Too much physical activity
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Poor sleep habits
- Drug or alcohol use
How is fatigue treated?
In order to know how to treat your fatigue, Dr. Babino has to first figure out why you’re fatigued. When you meet with her, Dr. Babino asks you a number of questions and runs exams to reach a diagnosis.
Some of the questions she asks relate to:
- Your detailed health history
- Your lifestyle (work stress, substance use, diet, etc.)
- Any medications you’re taking
Exams she uses to determine the source of your fatigue includes:
- Traditional blood tests
- A physical exam
- Functional medicine labs
Once Dr. Babino has determined the underlying cause of your fatigue, she puts together a personalized treatment plan for you. If your fatigue is a result of allergies, for example, she may prescribe you allergy medication.
If you’re tired of being tired, it’s time to make a change. To talk to Dr. Babino about your fatigue, schedule an appointment with her at WellnessMD. Use the online booking tool or call the office today.
