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“I am exhausted.” There is a good chance that you have already said that today or caught someone else inserted it into a conversation.
There are many reasons why you might feel more drained than usual. You could face Seasonal emotional disorderfighting for Manage daily stressors Or just have enough sleep.
But it can be difficult to determine whether the drowsiness or the fatigue you feel is the result of daily exhaustion or an underlying state of health.
If you are considering Seeking Professional Advice, it’s important to understand if your symptoms align more with sleeping or tiredness, According to Dr. Jennifer Mundt, a Clinical Sleep Psychologist at the University of Utah Sleep Wake Center and Associate Professor in the University Medicine family and preventive.
Drowsiness refers to a lack of vigilance, which means that you could fall asleep quickly if you have the possibility of taking a nap during the day, Mundt said.
Fatigue, on the other hand, is a lack of energy caused by an inadequate sleep or other health factors, which makes it difficult to perform tasks or spend the day without feeling drained, she added.
People with excessive drowsiness can have a sleep disorder, while those dealing with fatigue could face a sleep disorder or an underlying medical problem.
The best indicator that it is time to ask for medical help from persistent fatigue is to recognize a significant change in energy levels. This is particularly true if fatigue has an impact assistant professor in the family and preventive medicine department at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
When patients report chronic fatigue, doctors generally ask a series of questions to obtain a clearer image of the underlying cause and determine the best line of driving, said Thompson.
Doctors will want to know when fatigue has started and if major life events, such as a new job, Loss of a loved one or other stress factors may have triggered it.
Doctors will also assess your diet and fitness habits to ensure you consume enough proteiniron and other essential nutrients. Any major change in your exercise routine, in particular an increase in changes in intensity or synchronization, could also play a role.
However, Thompson noted that a movement every day is necessary to avoid fatigue.
You should also be asked about mood changes, sleep habits or mental health problems. And your supplier will want to review a list of drugs that you are currently taking or that you have recently used, as some prescriptions can contribute to fatigue.
By narrowing the potential causes, doctors can prepare a specific test algorithm rather than carrying out a wide range of tests, but according to Thompson, doctors are looking for several cities.
A common cause of fatigue is anemiaA condition characterized by a small number of red blood cells, which can result from bleeding, inadequate iron consumption or the incapacity of the body to properly absorb iron. A routine blood test can help determine if anemia is a contributory factor.
Although heart disease is not the most common cause of chronic fatigue, Thompson highlights the importance of screening for the disease, especially since it is the Cause of death For women in the United States.
Women who are in their mensurating years can also undergo fatigue because their hormones fluctuate throughout their monthly cycle, but fatigue can become more pronounced during perimenopauseAnd Thompson recommends visiting a specialist to respond to hormonal concerns at this stage of your life.
Another cause of prolonged fatigue is a persistent virus or infection that can exhaust your body’s energy longer than expected.
If these common conditions and any other that your doctor can be concerned is excluded, they may want to explore Chronic fatigue syndrome or rare blood disorders.
For the general symptoms of fatigue, Thompson underlines the importance of prioritizing sleep, even when life is too busy. In addition, she encourages people with chronic fatigue to request the support of doctors, relatives or a responsibility partner to get help during this difficult or stressful period.
If you have excluded medical conditions with your primary care doctor or suspect a sleep disorder, Mundt recommends visiting a sleep clinic for more in -depth assessment.
Sleep clinics use sleep studies to identify sleep disturbances such as respiratory breaks, involuntary movements of members or other unconscious behaviors affecting your quality of sleep.
The three most common causes of drowsiness or fatigue are insufficient sleep, insomnia And sleep apneaSaid Mundt.
Other less common but which could also contribute to drowsiness are narcolepsy or sleepwalkers during the night.
Even if you do not have a diagnosed sleep disorder, there are many lifestyle factors that could contribute to bad sleep and create a diurnal exhaustion cycle.
While adults are generally invited to obtain Seven to nine o’clock Sleep every night, Mundt notes that the individual needs to vary, so it is important to listen to your body. If you are in this range and you always feel tired, try to increase the duration of your sleep to see if you feel more rested.
If the increase in the amount of sleep does not work, the adjustment of other lifestyle factors can improve the quality of your sleep.
In fact, Mundt’s point of sleep is to always seek consistency, especially with regard to the moment when you fall asleep and wake up.
“A problem in which many people fall is that they get seven to eight (sleep) on average during the week, but on weekdays, they only receive six hours, then on weekends, they »Go and get 10 hours per night. »»
Irregular sleep habits can disturb the natural rhythm of your body, which makes it more difficult to fall asleep after the weekend because your body is more rested than usual.
Mundt also suggests improving your sleep environment if possible. Avoid factors such as sleeping with television or allowing pets to enter and get out of your room, because these disturbances are known to disturb the quality of sleep.
Another key factor is Sun exposure. Natural sunlight is much more shiny than any artificial light source, and having enough sun, especially in the morning, helps regulate the sleep sleeping table of your body, according to Mundt. In the evening, however, use only lighting and weak lamps to report to your body to relax.