It’s possible you may have heard that word before, or perhaps you’ve heard of it’s more chronic counterpart: CFS. In any case, you may be wondering just what fatigue is– because it is more than just the feeling of tiredness. Fatigue can make it hard to even get out of bed in the morning, and it can prevent a person from fulfilling their daily tasks.
Both physical and mental fatigue exist, and while they might not necessarily manifest at the same time, and they are different in nature, it is not entirely uncommon for someone to experience both physical and mental fatigue at the same time. This is because repeated physical exhaustion can, overtime, wear down the brain and lead to mental fatigue.
This might not come as a surprise to some, or even most, but poor sleep, particularly when it occurs over a long period of time, can also lead to fatigue in a person. It is recommended that adults get anywhere from 7-8 hours of sleep per night, but according to some research, around one-third of people in the United States of America do not get enough sleep a night.
The long-term implications of an improper sleep schedule can be quite bad, as mental fatigue can lead to poor performance at work, in school or university, and even rears its head during household chores. Eating a healthy diet and getting regular physical activity can assist in reducing fatigue in many people, however these people should take care to listen to their body, as overexerting themselves is one of the easiest ways to become physically fatigued.
What Kinds of Fatigue Can I Experience?
Primarily, there are two main types of fatigue, which we will discuss in some more depth: physical and mental.
A person who finds it difficult to climb the stairs, or even walk the dog, might be experiencing physical fatigue. Symptoms of physical fatigue include muscle weakness, and an official medical diagnosis would require a strength test to be performed by a healthcare professional. Physical Fatigue makes it physically hard for people to accomplish regular daily tasks, and can be quite debilitating in both professional and social circles.
Mental fatigue, however, is more common among people in our modern age. When a person is mentally fatigued, they might find it harder to concentrate on things or stay focused, and this might happen to people for a variety of reasons, including a lack of sleep, a prolonged period of physical or mental overexertion, stress, and even driving.
However, fatigue– especially when it is chronic– is often associated with another health condition or problem. However, it can also be its own chronic condition, which is colloquially known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), or myalgic encephalomyelitis.
CFS– What Does It Mean?
CFS is a complex, long-term illness that impacts a wide range of systems throughout the body. Because it has such a far reach in terms of its ability to impact regular bodily functions, symptoms can manifest themselves in a variety of ways that might present differently for each person with the condition.
It is estimated that anywhere from 17 to 24 million people suffer from CFS in the world. Many people who have it rely on medical treatment to help alleviate the symptoms that they suffer from, and generally have to devise and learn a new approach to daily living that reduces the impact of the condition. There is no simple cure for CFS, and most conventional medical treatment plans for the condition focus on managing symptoms.
Symptoms Can Include:
- Dizziness
- Sleep Disorders
- Hair Loss
- Vision Problems
- Flu-Like Symptoms
- Anxiety
- PMS
- Lack of Sex Drive
- Rashes
- Muscle Aches
- And More
However, the vast majority of people who are complaining from the symptoms of fatigue do not have CFS, and are simply suffering from either sleepiness, which is caused by an improper sleep schedule and remedied by plenty of sleep, or short-term physical or mental fatigue, which can be brought on by what has been discussed above. However, many people do not want to suffer those symptoms of fatigue, the feeling of sluggishness, the lack of energy that makes it difficult for a person to so much as make their bed.
How Can I Treat Fatigue?
For this, there are many treatments that show promise in boosting energy levels and reducing the symptoms of fatigue where they appear. Chief among these is IV Therapy— although medical professionals have been using IV bags to aliment a patient with vitamins, minerals, or drugs in a more direct manner than oral ingestion, only recently have people been researching and fully utilizing the stimulating, regenerative properties that a potent cocktail of vitamins and minerals can be in clearing the cobwebs that mire a person suffering from mental fatigue, and can revitalize those who are exhausted from a long day’s work, or a long night out.
The following five supplements have all been utilized for their positive effects on the body, and are useful is raising energy levels and treating some of the symptoms of fatigue including lethargy and a lack of focus or concentration:
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is one of many well-known antioxidants, which are needed for the body to block the damage that is caused by free radicals. These are created during the breakdown of food or during exposure to tobacco smoke or radiation. This buildup in free radicals is largely responsible for the aging process, and a diet rich in antioxidants helps counteract the signs of aging. The body is not able to make vitamin C on its own, or store it, which is why it is extremely important to get enough of this vitamin through supplementation, diet, or IV Vitamin Therapy.
Complex B Vitamins: NIACIN (B3), THIAMINE (B1) , DEXPANTHENOL (B5), RIBOFLAVIN (B2), PYRIDOXINE (B6). These are only a few of the vitamins that are known as B vitamins. They are water soluble, and those listed above serve several vital functions within the body, including communication between nerves and cells, immune health and function, and liver function, as well as healthy hair, skin, and eyes. Because B complex vitamins are water-soluble, our bodies have no permanent storage of them, and they must be included either through supplements or a healthy diet.
Magnesium Chloride: Magnesium is a vital mineral, and is used in over 300 biologic processes within the human body. Perhaps most importantly, it helps regulate blood sugar levels and helps maintain nerve function, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones mineralized and strong. Magnesium also has positive implications for the control of blood pressure, and is known to be involved in the metabolism of energy and protein synthesis. It is used to manage conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases– most often, deposits of magnesium in the body are found in the bones, but the body works hard to maintain steady levels of it in the blood.
Calcium Gluconate: Calcium is needed to support muscle function for nerves to transmit messages between the brain and every body part. Calcium also supports the blood vessels that distribute blood throughout the body and some important hormones and enzymes are dependent on calcium levels.
Zinc Sulfate: Zinc is involved in protein synthesis and in cell division. Zinc is also a constituent of insulin, and it is involved with the sense of smell. It has been proven that Zinc inhibits viral replication in the cells.