Worse than mere drowsiness, fatigue is the feeling of dire weariness and lack of energy, which might even make it hard to even get off the bed. The compassionate team at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine provides extensive and personalized evaluation and treatment for fatigue in Lawrenceville, Bordentown, Raritan, East Brunswick, and Houston, Texas. If you experience continuous fatigue, do not hesitate to call Performance Pain and Sports Medicine or request an appointment online with the office near you.
What Is Fatigue?
Fatigue varies from sleepiness. While you might feel tired after a period of extreme physical activity, or poor rest, sleepiness is generally short-term. Fatigue is the feeling of exhaustion that will not go away even after sleeping or resting. Unlike sleepiness, fatigue is often a persistent problem that might prevent you from performing day-to-day activities, such as taking showers, preparing meals, and going to work.
Depending on the type and cause of your fatigue, one might experience various symptoms including headaches, muscle pains, aches, vision problems, daytime drowsiness, lack of motivation, slowed response time, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, and irritability. Fatigue may become a public health concern if it results in safety concerns, such as difficulty focusing while driving.
What Causes Fatigue?
A wide range of factors can result in fatigue, including mental and physical health conditions, as well as lifestyle choices such as exercise and diet habits. The specialists at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine evaluate and treat various causes of fatigue. These include being underweight or overweight, chronic pain, including fibromyalgia, too much or too little limited activity, medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, particular forms of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, hormonal imbalance because of pregnancy or thyroid disorders, and certain medications including anxiety medicines and antidepressants.
Other causes of fatigue are sleeping disorders, i.e., jet lag and insomnia, lung and heart conditions like coronary heart disease and asthma, mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, and stress, consuming caffeine or alcohol as well as nutritional problems such as mineral and vitamin deficiencies. Fatigue might also be its own chronic condition, referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome.
How to Diagnose and Treat Fatigue?
The practitioners at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine perform extensive physical exams and cross-check your medical history and current symptoms. They might take various diagnostic tests to establish the actual cause of the fatigue, i.e., mental health questionnaires, urine and blood tests, and imaging tests such as X-ray and ultrasound.
f your provider suspects a sleep disorder, he/she may recommend you see a specialist for a sleep study. Following a comprehensive diagnosis of your fatigue, the specialists develop a personalized treatment plan that suits your unique needs. The available treatment options for fatigue might include one or more of the following:
- Hormonal treatments.
- Adjustments to sleep habits.
- Getting regular physical activity.
- Adjustments to your drinking and eating habits.
- Alternative therapies such as mindfulness, meditation, and yoga.
If the cause of your fatigue is a hidden medical problem, for instance, hypertension and fibromyalgia, the treatment often begins by addressing the condition.
In conclusion, fatigue can greatly affect the life quality of an individual. For comprehensive care in managing your fatigue, call the nearest Performance Pain and Sports Medicine office or request an appointment online today.