Copyright 2005 Marc Deschamps
Chronic fatigue symptoms are different from drowsiness. In
general, drowsiness is feeling the need to sleep, while fatigue
is a lack of energy and motivation. Drowsiness and apathy (a
feeling of indifference or not caring about what happens) can be
symptoms of fatigue. Fatigue is a feeling of weariness,
tiredness, or lack of energy.
Fatigue can be a normal and important response to physical
exertion, emotional stress, boredom, or lack of sleep. However,
it can also be a nonspecific sign of a more serious
psychological or physical disorder. When fatigue is not relieved
by enough sleep, good nutrition, or a low-stress environment, it
should be evaluated by your doctor. Because fatigue is a common
complaint, sometimes a potentially serious cause may be
overlooked.
The pattern of chronic fatigue symptoms may help your doctor
determine its underlying cause. For example, if you wake up in
the morning rested but rapidly develop fatigue with activity,
you may have an ongoing physical condition like an underactive
thyroid. On the other hand, if you wake up with a low level of
energy and have fatigue that lasts throughout the day, you may
be depressed.
Common Causes of chronic fatigue symptoms
There are many possible physical and psychological causes of
chronic fatigue symptoms. Some of the more common are:
-Anemia (including iron deficiency anemia) -Sleep disorders like
ongoing insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, or narcolepsy
-Ongoing pain -An allergy that leads to hay fever or asthma -An
underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) -Use of alcohol or illegal
drugs like cocaine, especially with regular use -Depression or
grief
Chronic fatigue symptoms can also accompany the following
illnesses:
-Infection, especially one that takes a long time to recover
from or treat, like bacterial endocarditis (infection of the
heart muscle or valves), parasitic infections, AIDS,
tuberculosis, and mononucleosis -Congestive heart failure
-Diabetes -Chronic liver or kidney disease -Addison’s disease
-Anorexia or other eating disorders -Arthritis, including
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which affects children and teens
-Autoimmune diseases such as lupus -Malnutrition -Cancer
Certain medications may also cause drowsiness or fatigue,
including antihistamines for allergies, blood pressure
medicines, sleeping pills, steroids, and diuretics.
Home Care for Chronic fatigue symptoms
Here are some tips for reducing Chronic fatigue symptoms :
-Get adequate, regular, and consistent amounts of sleep each
night. -Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink plenty of
water throughout the day. -Exercise regularly. -Learn better
ways to relax. Try yoga or meditation. -Maintain a reasonable
work and personal schedule. -Change your stressful
circumstances, if possible. For example, switch jobs, take a
vacation, and deal directly with problems in a relationship.
-Take a multivitamin. Talk to your doctor about what is best for
you. -Avoid alcohol, nicotine, and drug use. -Consider a natural
remedy.
If you want to build muscle mass, you first have to work at
getting smarter!
When you learn better, you can start to do better. When you
start to do better, you get better results.
But there comes a point where if you start to read up and try
too many different things, you’ll get away from the basics of
muscle building and fat loss.
That’s why it’s dangerous for young kids to pick up a muscle mag
written by the pros. The workout routines contained in those
magazines ARE NOT written for people just beginning or even
people considered advanced.
The workout routines written in most muscle mags you see on the
book stands were written by pro bodybuilders that have above
average genetics (so they can handle more weight training) and
also they use performance enhancing substances that should only
be used under a doctor’s supervision.
So there’s a fine line between becoming educated and becoming
over educated. You want a working, common sense knowledge.
Learn what causes muscle to grow and fat to burn off the body.
You don’t care about advanced workout theory or new designer
supplements.
You want basic, applicable knowledge of what must be done to
lose fat and gain muscle. The easier something is to understand,
the more likely it will be applied and used.
And since most people fail to see results in their routines
because they’ve been misinformed and misled about what it takes,
you need to focus more on common sense.
Most people build muscle the same way (same process must be
used). Most people burn fat the same way (same processes must be
used)
So learn from others, either through books, websites, articles,
or personal conversation, what has worked for them.
Be careful who you listen to though, everyone has an opinion on
what they feel works. Before listening, make sure that what
they’re doing:
1. Works - don’t take fat-burning tips from those overweight or
muscle building tips from those with no muscle.
2. Is safe - skip the drugs or latest and greatest supplement or
workout routine
3. Sounds right. If it sounds like common sense, great, but if
you’re scratching your head, walk away.
4. Make sure it comes from someone qualified to give advice.
Have they done fitness contests or are they certified trainers.
Listening to the wrong people can get you hurt.
So spend this 30 day period becoming informed and educated about
the basics of muscle building. Visit a bookstore and pick up
some books on basic weight training, or aerobics, or fat
burning, or nutrition and read through and learn some stuff you
can apply.
Skip right over anything that sounds “advanced, too good to be
true, too confusing, or anything else that’s not basic, common
sense.
Achieving a great physique and fitness levels really comes down
to just focusing on a few common sense areas (diet and
exercise!) So before looking for the advanced stuff, make sure
you’ve learned the basics.
If you resolve to learn just one new thing about cardio, weight
training, or nutrition each week for a year, that’s 52 new
things you’d learn.
Becoming fit is a process, one that involves education,
experience, time, and action.
Start to learn better so that you can start to do better. It’s
not what you know that counts. It’s not what you do that counts.
It’s what you know AND do that produces results!