In the last blog about fatigue, we discussed causes of fatigue that were a direct result of something within your lifestyle. In today’s blog about fatigue, we are going to discuss the most common medically related causes of fatigue. Before you start to consider that you have one of these conditions, read our Fatigue: Who are the Culprits? Part 1 blog and try some of those changes within your lifestyle first. If those changes in your lifestyle don’t help, thcen you might want to speak with your doctor and possibly consider one of the following conditions: anemia, celiac disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome.
Anemia
Anemia is the result of your body not having enough red blood cells to carry a sufficient amount of oxygen to your vital organs and muscles. According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms include: fatigue, weakness, pale skin, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, chest pain, cold hands and feet, and headaches.
Causes
There are multiple causes of anemia, but the most common are a vitamin or iron deficiency, blood loss, slow red blood cell creation, kidney failure, or your body actually destroys your red blood cells.
Treament
Treatments include vitamin and mineral supplements, blood transfusions, or immune system suppression medication.
Celiac Disease
Otherwise known as the gluten-free disease. There are a lot of people, roughly 1 in 100 people, who have Celiac disease and they don’t know that they have it. You can have a simple blood test, and possibly a tissue test, done to figure out if you have the disease. The most common symptoms according to the Celiac Disease Foundation are abdominal pain and bloating, fatigue, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and weight loss.
Causes
Celiac disease is technically termed as an autoimmune disease, meaning that your body mistakes certain foreign substances entering your body as a threat and attacks them. In this case, your body is specifically attacking gluten
Treatment
The treatment or this is super simple, go gluten free. Very quickly after you make the change, you will notice a big difference in your energy levels.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that effects millions of people around the world. The most common symptoms of diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association are frequent urination, frequent feeling thirsty and hungry, fatigue, blurry vision, weight loss and a numbing feeling in your hands and feet.
Causes
The causes of diabetes depend on if it is type 1 or type 2. For type 1, the causes include genetics, autoimmune destruction of certain cells, and environmental factors. The causes for type 2 include genetics, lack of physical activity, obesity, and insulin resistance.
Treatment
Consistently doing blood tests to monitor your sugar levels, taking the correct medications prescribed by your doctor, and staying in contact with your doctors are the best methods to treat diabetes.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleeping problem that leaves you feeling tired, no matter how much sleep you got. According to Prevention.com, what happens with sleep spnea is that your upper airway actually closes or collapses for a few seconds, which alerts your brain to wake you up to begin breathing again. This can happen multiple times a night, leaving you feeling tired and exhausted.
Causes
Sleep apnea is caused by the relaxation of the muscles in the back of your throat, which cause your airways to shrink.
Treatment
For minor cases, losing weight, quitting smoking, or taking allergy medication might be the trick. For more serious cases, the doctor will prescribe an airway pressure device to keep sufficient airflow to your lungs.
Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome can be described as uncomfortable sensations in your legs that keep you from sleeping or getting comfortable. Symptoms usually are described as an overwhelming desire to move your legs, an uncomfortable ache in your legs, or spontaneously moving your legs.
Causes
According to NHS, doctors are not entirely sure what causes restless legs syndrome, but they have educated guesses. They believe the main causes of restless legs syndrome are genetics, iron deficiency, kidney failure, or pregnancy.
Treatment
The treatments are relatively simple, including staying on a set sleep schedule, exercising daily, taking vitamin and mineral supplements, and quitting smoking.
You can Conquer Fatigue
Fatigue is something that you can overcome sometimes you can’t do it alone. If you need help or advice about how you can conquer the fatigue in your life, feel free to call one of our award-winning doctors to make an appointment at 801-724-9840. See you soon!