Causes of rapid fatigue in older men. Fatigue, asthenia and chronic fatigue. What it is? Movement is life

Increased fatigue, lethargy, and drowsiness can be symptoms of many diseases: from a common cold to tuberculosis and diabetes. Also, constant fatigue can occur in women during pregnancy or menopausal syndrome.

Symptoms of fatigue

The following signs may indicate increased fatigue:

  • loss of appetite;
  • nervousness and increased irritability;
  • sleep disorders;
  • decreased performance;
  • deterioration of thought processes.

Causes of fatigue

Possible causes of constant fatigue and lethargy:

  • Diet. Increased fatigue is often observed in people on a strict diet. Lack of carbohydrates and vitamins leads to lack of energy and weakness.
  • Lack of sleep. The cause of increased fatigue can be chronic insomnia or an improper daily routine when a person sleeps little. In order not to feel tired, an adult needs to sleep at least 7-8 hours a day.
  • Physical and mental stress. Of course, physical activity is very beneficial for the body. But it should be moderate. With excessive physical activity, the muscles become sluggish and fatigue appears. The same applies to mental overload. Often, many hours of intense mental work leads to increased fatigue.
  • Taking certain medications. Quite often, the cause of increased fatigue and drowsiness can be the use of antihistamines, in particular allergy pills (for example, Suprastin, Erius, Loratidine, etc.) tablets.

What does fatigue mean?

Some diseases, including quite serious ones, can also cause fatigue. Let's look at some of them:

  1. Anemia– one of the most likely causes of increased fatigue. It often occurs in women during menstruation. To cure anemia, you need to eat a lot of meat and vegetables.
  2. Colds— lethargy, drowsiness, sweating and weakness are often the first signs of acute respiratory diseases. Weakness may be accompanied by cough, runny nose, fever, and headache. When you have a cold, lethargy and excessive sweating can last for quite a long time; you should not worry about this. You need to drink plenty of fluids, and if the symptoms of a cold are severe, you can take cough drops and antiviral medications.
  3. Vegetovascular dystonia– a syndrome that includes various dysfunctions of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the functioning of blood vessels and internal organs. Drowsiness, weakness and fatigue in this case may be accompanied by symptoms such as pressure surges, loss of appetite, increased sweating, decrease or increase in body temperature. Exhaustion of the body, headaches, pressing pain in the chest, abdominal pain, etc. may also be observed.
    The main cause of VSD is nervous exhaustion caused by prolonged stress or emotional and physical overload. A person diagnosed with this disorder needs proper rest and proper nutrition. Doctors recommend including in your diet:
    • Products containing potassium - carrots, dried apricots, parsley, buckwheat and oatmeal.
    • Fiber-rich foods - nuts, legumes, apples, dried fruits.
    • Plenty of water – you need to drink 1.5-2 liters of water per day.
    • Vitamin preparations, especially B vitamins, as well as vitamin A and vitamin C.

    At the same time, it is necessary to avoid fried and smoked foods, canned food, soda, and cigarettes and alcohol are out of the question.
    After examining the patient, he is prescribed treatment. In most cases, they do without pills, limiting themselves to psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy has a good effect. For children and adolescents, family therapy is considered the best method. If vegetative-vascular dystonia significantly affects the patient’s quality of life, the doctor may prescribe pills and medications. These can be tranquilizers, nootropics, antipsychotics and antidepressants. Calming tablets and preparations based on motherwort and valerian are also prescribed.

  4. Chronic fatigue syndrome manifests itself in a feeling of constant causeless fatigue, which is not relieved even by a full and long rest. The patient's performance becomes very low. The presence of the syndrome can be indicated by such signs as joint pain, muscle weakness, night sweats, drowsiness, low-grade fever, emotional and physical exhaustion. more common among residents of large cities. Signs of the syndrome begin to appear after long periods of fatigue and lack of sleep. Women are more likely to develop chronic fatigue than men. The following methods are used in the treatment of this syndrome:
    • acupuncture;
    • vitamin therapy - the patient is prescribed B vitamins and vitamin C, as well as magnesium;
    • massage and physical therapy;
    • psychotherapy;
    • if necessary, the doctor prescribes tablets. These can be tranquilizers, nootropics, enterosorbents.
  5. Depression and stress. Fatigue and emotional exhaustion are often accompanied by depression and stressful situations. In such cases, the help of a psychotherapist is necessary.
  6. Diabetes. If you are concerned about symptoms such as frequent fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, sweating, weight gain, dizziness, pallor, blurred vision, itchy skin, tingling in the heart, decreased potency in men, increased body temperature, then you need to sound the alarm. The presence of these signs may indicate diabetes. It is worth noting that at the initial stage of the disease a person may not be bothered by any pain, so he may not see a doctor for a long time, explaining his lethargy due to increased stress at work. If you find at least some of the described signs, contact your endocrinologist.
  7. Hyperthyroidism– a disease that occurs as a result of overactivity of the thyroid gland. It begins to increase in size and releases an increased amount of thyroid hormones into the body, which poison the body. Hyperthyroidism is several times more common in women than in men. This is due to hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy, menstruation, and menopausal syndrome, which does not happen in men.
    In addition to symptoms such as weakness, drowsiness, lethargy, and fatigue, the following signs may indicate hyperthyroidism:
    • weight loss and exhaustion;
    • menstrual irregularities in women and decreased potency in men;
    • nervousness, irritability, anxiety, high excitability;
    • cardiopalmus;
    • increased sweating;
    • hair loss;
    • Fever, headaches, tremors of the limbs, diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea may also occur.

    If hyperthyroidism is suspected, it is necessary to do an ultrasound of the thyroid gland, as well as tests for the hormones T3, T4 and TSH. There are 3 methods of treating the disease: medication (pills), surgery, iodine therapy (destruction of the thyroid gland with radioactive iodine). The treatment method is selected individually by an endocrinologist. With the medicinal method of treatment, the patient is prescribed tablets that destroy thyroid hormones (such tablets include, for example, “Tyrozol”), and in parallel with them tablets to replace destroyed own hormones (for example, “Eutirox”).

  8. Diseases of the cardiovascular system. Lethargy and fatigue can be signs of diseases such as myocardial infarction, hypertension, tachycardia, coronary heart disease, rheumatism. Often these diseases are accompanied by pain in the heart, increased sweating, rapid or slow pulse, difficulty breathing, decreased blood pressure, shortness of breath, and irritability. To diagnose cardiovascular diseases, the patient takes a blood test, undergoes an ultrasound examination of the heart, as well as a computed tomography scan and an electrocardiogram.
  9. Pulmonary tuberculosis. Some of the first symptoms of tuberculosis are weakness, drowsiness, and lethargy. They are accompanied by loss of appetite, exhaustion of the body, and a slight increase in body temperature in the morning. After some time, tingling in the shoulder blades, chest pain, cough, hemoptysis, and night sweats may appear. If you suspect tuberculosis, you should consult a doctor. So that the disease does not take you by surprise, do not forget to do fluorography once every 2 years.
  10. Menopausal syndrome. Excessive sweating, constant fatigue, and increased fatigue can be observed in women during menopause. One of the most indicative signs of menopausal syndrome are the so-called “hot flashes”. The reason for increased sweating during menopausal syndrome is a change in a woman’s hormonal background, in particular a decrease in the level of estrogen hormones, which have a direct effect on the thermoregulation center located in the hypothalamus. During the period of hormonal changes in the body, it is important for a woman to lead a correct lifestyle, for which she needs to eat a balanced diet (especially You should load up on fresh vegetables and fruits), take vitamins, play sports, spend a lot of time outdoors and find time for proper rest. During menopause, the body depletes vitamin C, B vitamins, calcium and magnesium, so it is necessary for the doctor to select the most suitable multivitamin complex for the woman, which should also include vitamins A and E, which have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, hair and nails Tablets and drops based on medicinal plants have proven themselves to be effective in relieving the symptoms of menopausal syndrome: black cohosh, chasteberry, pollen. Sometimes a course of sedatives: valerian, motherwort, Corvalol can improve your well-being.

Sweating, fatigue and constant fatigue during pregnancy

During pregnancy, as with menopausal syndrome, hormonal changes occur in a woman’s body and the level of estrogen decreases, which can lead to increased sweating, especially in the last stages of pregnancy. This is absolutely normal, but you should definitely inform your gynecologist about increased sweating during pregnancy, as it may also be a manifestation of some disease.

What to do if sweating during pregnancy interferes with your life? If excessive sweating is caused precisely by hormonal changes, then you can fight it in the following ways:

  • For a night's sleep, choose underwear made from natural fabrics (preferably cotton).
  • Be sure to ventilate the room before going to bed.
  • Avoid coffee and spicy foods.
  • Spend as much time as possible outdoors.
  • Use natural deodorants without alcohol or chemical additives.
  • Take not too hot showers several times a day.

Hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy also cause well-known symptoms such as drowsiness, fatigue, and weakness. You can cope with constant fatigue during pregnancy using the following methods:

  • Eat well, avoid coffee and spicy foods
  • Take vitamins - there are special multivitamin complexes for pregnant women.
  • Maintain a moderately active lifestyle, for which purpose attend special classes for pregnant women, for example, yoga or aqua aerobics. The best way to combat drowsiness is healthy, full sleep. If you feel like taking a nap in the middle of the day, don't deny yourself the chance. Don't go to bed late.

Treatment of increased fatigue

Before you begin to treat fatigue, you need to understand its causes. If it is caused by some disease, then it is the disease that needs to be treated. We will present treatment methods that can help if fatigue and tiredness are caused by external factors, i.e. lack of sleep, poor diet or work overload. So, what to do if constant fatigue and weakness prevent you from living?

  • Eat a balanced diet. It is very important to pay due attention to your diet. The body must receive all the substances it needs. Load up on fruits, vegetables and fish. Be sure to eat breakfast and remember that breakfast should be the most satisfying of all meals. In addition, avoid fast food, carbonated drinks, fried and smoked foods.
  • Full sleep– the best cure for increased fatigue. Sleep at least 7-8 hours, and do not go to bed late. If you have trouble falling asleep, take a bath with soothing essential oils or take a walk for half an hour before bed.
  • Vitamins They are also reliable helpers in the fight against fatigue, especially if it is caused by autumn or spring vitamin deficiency. In this case, a multivitamin complex will greatly help you.
  • Oxygen. Walking in the fresh air is an excellent remedy for fatigue. The more you walk, the better you will feel.
  • Complete rest also very important in the fight against fatigue. There must be room for relaxation in your daily routine - during this time you should only do what you like and what makes you feel positive emotions.
  • Give up bad habits. It goes without saying that it is necessary to reduce the consumption of alcohol and tobacco to a minimum.
  • Sports and physical activity– an effective method in the fight against fatigue. Yoga, Pilates, running and swimming have proven themselves especially good. Well, in general, you can engage in any kind of sport - the main thing is that the activities bring you pleasure.
  • Traditional recipes also help get rid of fatigue. Here are some of them:
    1. Before going to bed, it is useful to prepare yourself the following remedy: mix 100 ml of kefir with 100 g of boiled water and add 10 g of honey to the mixture. This remedy will calm the nervous system and help you relax.
    2. Ginger tea is an excellent remedy for fatigue. You need to drink it in the morning. Ginger is a storehouse of nutrients and vitamins.
    3. St. John's wort tincture. 1 tbsp. St. John's wort pour a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Take the resulting infusion 3 times a day. Take 70 ml three times a day for three weeks.
  • Medical treatment. Remember to undergo regular medical examinations. It will help to promptly identify diseases that could cause fatigue and begin treatment on time. If fatigue bothers you and you cannot understand its causes, consult a general practitioner.

Prevention of fatigue

To avoid increased fatigue and related problems, follow these recommendations:

  • Eat right. Never ignore breakfast; it is the first meal that will energize you for the whole day. The best breakfast option is porridge, omelet or cottage cheese with fruit. Breakfast should be hearty. But you shouldn’t overload your stomach at night.
  • Physical activity. Be sure to toughen up and do exercises in the morning. Your body will become more resilient and you will be less tired. Even during pregnancy Physical activity should not be neglected.
  • Vitamin therapy. In autumn and spring you need to take vitamin complexes. Fatigue is often caused by a lack of vitamins. It is necessary for women to take vitamins during pregnancy and menopause.
  • Healthy lifestyle. To avoid fatigue and stress, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle: get enough sleep, exercise, exercise and eat well. Well, first of all, give up bad habits if you have them.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a constant feeling of fatigue and overwork, loss of strength that does not go away even after a long rest. This disease is especially typical for residents of developed countries and populated cities. The main cause of the syndrome is considered to be long-term psycho-emotional stress on the human nervous system. Here are the six most common reasons that cause chronic fatigue.

1. Eating disorder

Lack or excess of food, poor-quality products, lack of vitamins, macro- and microelements in food disrupt the body’s metabolism, leading to a lack of energy and a persistent feeling of fatigue. Too much “comfort” food. Carbohydrates are what makes us energetic, happy, full, kind and cheerful. True, not for long.

Nutritionist Dr. Glenville says people actually get tired of the foods that should give them energy because they take a lot of energy to digest. Cookies, sugar, rice, pasta, white bread - all this quickly raises blood sugar levels. But then this level drops just as quickly, and then we want to sleep, we get irritated and feel tired. And we feel tired because we haven’t received enough nutrients. We got sugar, but there are still not enough nutrients!

Foods that release energy slowly and are rich in nutrients really give you strength - fruits and vegetables are among such foods.

Advice:

Try to eat lunch mindfully, feeling the taste of the food, how it goes into your mouth, how it is chewed. Concentrate on the process of eating. Stop running thoughts, chatting and thinking about different situations... This will be very useful.

2. Dehydration of the body.

Please note, this is a very important point. And a very large percentage of people suffer from this! They talk about this a lot, but there is little result...

A person should drink at least 2 liters of water. Water! No tea, coffee or other drinks, namely clean water! How often do you just grab a glass of water and drink?

Advice:

Whether you work physically or mentally, your body needs water to keep it functioning well and not overheat. If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated. Train yourself to drink!

From an energetic point of view, water is also a conductor of energy, and it also helps cleanse the body of negative energies. And remember, water holds information perfectly! There is no need to hold a glass of water in your hands and discuss negative topics with someone or think about illnesses and other failures. With this you will fill the energy of the water with negative energies and then drink it... Water with this information will enter your cells and fill them with this information and energy.

3. Wrong lifestyle.

Chronic fatigue syndrome can be caused by constant lack of sleep, poor daily routine, prolonged mental or physical stress, lack of sunlight, fresh air or movement.

Advice:
Whatever type of activity you do, there must be conscious physical activity.
Swimming, gym, long walks with exercise (not shopping with bags!). Let you have a similar load at least 1-2 times a week, just don’t overload yourself! Otherwise you will get the opposite result!

Another situation that leads to an unhealthy lifestyle, stress and overwork is the desire to do everything perfectly! To be the best everywhere and in everything at once. Perhaps this comes from childhood, as one of the ways to attract the love of parents and others.

4. Sleep disturbance.

One of the reasons why a person can sleep a lot, but not get enough sleep during the night. If your bed is located in a geopathogenic zone, then not only will you not wake up rested, but you also risk getting diseases that correspond to this geopathogenic zone (inhalation or exhalation of the Earth).

Advice:

1. determine the location of the geopathogenic zone
2. check if the bed is in such a place
3. if found, then either move the geopathogenic zone or move the bed.

5. Psychological disorders

Frequent depression, constant stress, dark thoughts and feelings of anxiety and fear are the main “pests” for the activity of the nervous system, leading to constant fatigue and overwork.

Advice:

Often people are depressed and don't even know it. There are simply no desires, just lethargy, just tired of everything... This suggests that somewhere there is an outflow of energy and there may be several reasons.

The reasons for the outflow of energy can be situations when a person has already said goodbye to life, when he finds himself in severe stressful situations, these are situations of surgical intervention, often situations of loss of loved ones, fears that a person invents for himself and then is afraid of them, and... alas, envy and the deliberate negative influence of other people. Try not to force yourself into stressful situations, seek help from specialists if necessary. Spend more time outdoors and increase physical activity.

6. Energy vampire.

Another reason for feeling tired and as if you are deflated may be your communication with an energy vampire. How does an energy vampire behave?
He takes you out of balance, and you can’t control your energy and throw it away to him. As a result, he feels good, and you are like a squeezed lemon.
It’s good when communication is rare, but what if it’s constant and you don’t have time to recover? What to do about it?

Advice: Try to communicate with such people as little as possible, but if this is not possible, then simply do not engage energetically with their message, ignore and do not take to heart everything that they impose on you.

Fatigue has become a very common complaint faced by doctors. It is observed both in completely healthy people and in patients with nosological forms with different pathogenesis. In healthy people, fatigue goes away after rest or rehabilitation measures. Today we will talk about the treatment with folk remedies and symptoms of syndromes and diseases accompanied by chronic increased fatigue and drowsiness, their diagnosis, causes and signs.

What is increased (chronic) fatigue

  • Increased fatigue is a condition characterized by decreased activity. It becomes impossible for a person to perform any type of activity. This condition significantly worsens the quality of life, because it has the ability to affect a person’s physical and intellectual abilities. A person more and more often notices irritability, sleep disturbances, and memory loss. With increased fatigue, it is very difficult to concentrate on any type of activity.
  • Fatigue- a state of the body that occurs as a result of strong tension of the mind and muscles. It manifests itself in a decrease in performance for a certain period of time.

Increased fatigue occurs due to:

  • lack of sleep;
  • lack of energy;
  • presence of heart disease;
  • anemia;
  • depression;
  • hypothyroidism;
  • dehydration of the body;
  • diabetes

We will talk about why chronic fatigue occurs and what is missing in the body below.

Elena Malysheva will tell you in more detail about what chronic fatigue is:

Varieties of this condition

If we talk about chronic fatigue, then its main types are the following.

Physiological

Physiological fatigue. It is characterized by lethargy and decreased performance. It is divided into sensory, mental, and physical fatigue.

  • At sensory fatigue(visual, auditory) there is a decrease in the excitability of sensory systems, a violation of sensory function.
  • Mental fatigue manifests itself in a decrease in emotional tone, mental performance, and attention. The patient has disturbances in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system.
  • Physical fatigue characterized by a decrease in physical performance, disruption of the functioning of systems such as nervous, cardiovascular, muscular, and respiratory.

Pathological

It is called asthenia, it is a peculiar psychopathological condition, which is characterized by emotional fluctuations, increased irritability, fatigue, and weakness. Asthenia has such varieties as organic and functional.

  • Development organic asthenia contributes to the presence of somatic pathology. It develops with the progression of hematological, endocrine, infectious diseases, as well as in the presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract).
  • Functional asthenia occurs as a result of depression, mental disorders, dysthymia, and neurotic disorders.

Asthenic disorders are usually divided into:

  • hypersthenic(increased excitability). They are characterized by intolerance to light and sounds;
  • hyposthenic(reduced excitability). They are characterized by a decrease in the threshold of excitability.

A specialist will talk about the causes and diagnosis of chronic fatigue in the video below:

How to identify the problem in yourself

In order to detect increased fatigue in time, you need to carefully monitor all changes in the condition of your body. Chronic fatigue syndrome has major and minor symptoms.

The main ones include:

  1. The onset of sudden weakness.
  2. Efficiency halved in six months.
  3. Absence of any illness that can cause constant fatigue.

Small ones include:

  1. Mild fever.
  2. Soreness of the lymph nodes.
  3. Sore throat.
  4. Muscle pain.
  5. Fatigue lasting 24 hours after work.
  6. Muscle weakness.
  7. Sleep disorder.
  8. Joint pain.
  9. Depression, irritability, inability to concentrate.
  10. Headache.

If some major symptoms in combination with minor ones begin to bother you, you should consult a doctor.

If, in addition to fatigue, bleeding, fainting, migraines, dizziness occur, a full examination is necessary, which consists of:

  • psychologist consultations;
  • Ultrasound of blood vessels of the head and neck;
  • urine analysis;
  • blood biochemistry;
  • consultations with a gastroenterologist, cardiologist.

What diseases and disorders can the symptom indicate?

Increased fatigue indicates the occurrence of disturbances in the functioning of the body, as well as the occurrence of certain diseases, for example:

  • Hepatitis C. It is increased fatigue combined with decreased mental performance that are considered the only signs of manifestation of this disease.
  • Hidden heart diseases, including:
    • and etc.
  • Apnea.
  • Asthenia.
  • Hypothyroidism. Insufficient thyroid function causes mood swings, lethargy, and apathy.
  • Lung diseases.
  • Urinary system infections.

We will tell you below how to get rid of chronic fatigue and drowsiness, how to get out of this state.

How to deal with it

To combat increased fatigue you need to follow simple rules:

  1. Proper organization of time. Important moments are going to bed and getting up. Physical activity should be properly combined with proper rest. It is believed that 8-9 hours of sleep is enough for an adult to recuperate. In addition to sleeping at night, it is advisable to get some sleep during the day.
  2. Vitaminize the body. Vegetables and fruits must be present in the diet.
  3. Take a walk in the fresh air. Oxygen is necessary for the body and its lack is one of the causes of increased fatigue.
  4. Maintaining physical activity. All it takes is 20 minutes. per day for physical exercise. They activate blood circulation and improve metabolism.
  5. Compliance with diet. Small meals with moderate portions are considered ideal. Overeating has a bad effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Abuse of fatty foods significantly reduces activity.
  6. Limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption. Caffeine promotes a rapid increase in activity, but for a short period of time, after which a loss of strength is noted. it is a depressant, it does not add strength, but on the contrary causes fatigue.
  7. Application of some physical therapy methods(massages, hydrotherapy, breathing exercises, color therapy).

To get rid of chronic fatigue, you should start and end your day correctly.

  • A glass of cool water, rubbing, and a contrast shower will help eliminate drowsiness in the morning.
  • Before going to bed, it is advisable to take a bath with essential oils, salt, herbal infusions, and seaweed.

It is very important to avoid daily stress. In some cases, doctors prescribe anti-fatigue medications, tonic boosters, and antidepressants. You can overcome increased fatigue only by following the correct daily routine, as well as saturating your body with vitamins and oxygen.

This video will tell you how to deal with chronic fatigue:

If even a simple task makes you tired, if basic questions from loved ones have become irritating to you, if it has become difficult to walk even a short distance, and your most cherished dream is to quickly get to the sofa, you are most likely faced with a serious problem. Fatigue is only its main symptom. It can signal a serious health problem.

Not laziness, but a diagnosis

Fatigue has nothing to do with normal healthy fatigue that occurs after a busy day of work or active recreation. It sharply increases after slight physical or mental stress, and, which is especially characteristic, almost does not decrease during rest.

In the past, people with such symptoms were unsuccessfully treated with diagnoses of neurasthenia, hypoglycemia, and chronic mononucleosis. And only a few decades ago this painful condition was identified as a separate disease, which was called “chronic fatigue syndrome.” It most often affects people between the ages of 25 and 45. Moreover, there are approximately equal numbers of men and women.

The causes of this disease are not fully understood. But its development is most often associated with a previous infection, serious disorders of the immune status, or depression. Neurologists suggest that certain viruses (possibly the Epstein-Barr virus, enteroviruses and retroviruses) can trigger the development of chronic fatigue syndrome, but its further course depends on how weakened the immune system is.

An insidious disease, which is sometimes even mistaken for banal laziness, usually appears unexpectedly, against the background of flourishing health. Sometimes it is preceded by stress or illness, which is accompanied by fever.

Fatigue is the main symptom of the disease. Against this background, additional symptoms may appear - pain in certain parts of the body, forgetfulness, sleep disturbances, irritability, etc.

Chronic fatigue syndrome usually does not progress. Often, over time, the severity of the symptoms fades a little. But very rarely patients recover completely. “The main problem that this disease can lead to is a sharp weakening of the immune system and serious metabolic disorders,” says neurologist Victoria Kuznetsova. “This makes the human body completely unprotected against viral diseases, and can also provoke a “concomitant” disease such as diabetes.”

Chronic fatigue syndrome is treated with, at first glance, very simple means. First, the patient is prescribed symptomatic medications. That is, those that eradicate individual symptoms. To reduce pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed; in case of allergies, antihistamines are prescribed; antidepressants will help overcome depression and normalize sleep. Secondly, doctors persistently recommend general strengthening procedures - they advise taking medicinal herbs with a stimulating effect, vitamin therapy and mandatory moderate but constant physical activity - for example, walking. And also - regular ventilation of the premises so that the brain does not experience oxygen deficiency.

The disease looks for weak points

Doctors also draw attention to the fact that the trigger for chronic fatigue syndrome can be seemingly harmless factors. In particular, a diet with a limited number of foods can trigger the disease. A mono-diet is especially harmful. The body can rebel due to the fact that it does not receive all the vitamins and microelements with which it can function normally. So, if you want to lose a couple of extra pounds, it is better to limit yourself in the amount of food. But in no case should you fight overly rounded shapes by reducing the variety of the menu and reducing the number of meals.

The disease can even take you by surprise when you hit a bad patch. For example, when something doesn’t go well at work, misunderstandings arise with children, etc. You shouldn’t drive yourself into a corner and become “open” to all diseases, which, as you know, most often come from “nerves.” It is better to learn to resist stress - at least with the simplest methods.

In addition, the disease can choose as its victim an “excellent student” in life, who, in order to get a lot done, schedules his working day with virtually no rest. To avoid being trapped in your own career, highlight a few “big changes” in your busy schedule for which you don’t plan anything at all. Let your body tell you what is best to do at this time - chat with colleagues, drink coffee or take a walk in the park.

How to develop stress resistance

Psychologists are sure that movement and proper breathing are universal recipes for getting out of any stressful situation. You can take the stress off your nervous system by walking or swimming in the pool. A punching bag or shooting range will help get rid of aggression. Yoga and visiting the sauna are very useful for relaxation and restoration of balance. However, each person, depending on their habits and preferences, may have their own methods of getting rid of negative emotions. The main thing is not to accumulate them in yourself. And in especially difficult moments of life, you need to learn to relax so as not to bring yourself to the “boiling point.” For example, abstract from reality, count to 10, etc.

Feelings of persistent weakness, fatigue and drowsiness periodically appear in every person, regardless of age, gender, active life position and employment. According to experts, this condition is the result of low blood levels of serotonin, the “hormone of joy.”

Photo 1. Chronic fatigue can be a consequence of both lack of sleep and illness. Source: Flickr (miund).

Fatigue, weakness, drowsiness - reasons

The condition, which begins with a constant feeling of fatigue and drowsiness, often leads to general weakness, indifference and a significant decrease in performance. These sensations may occur for the following reasons:

  • Lack of oxygen: the oxygen inhaled by a person directly affects mood - the more fresh air, the more cheerful the feeling. The oxygen that comes with breathing is distributed throughout the body along with the blood, so its insufficient amount negatively affects the functioning of internal organs. The brain is especially affected, as it reacts accordingly to low oxygen levels - causing fatigue, weakness and drowsiness.
  • Weather: Low mood and other similar problems often occur during or just before rain. The reason for this is a decrease in atmospheric air pressure, due to which a person's heartbeat slows down, blood pressure decreases, and the amount of oxygen circulating in the blood is reduced. Additionally, psychological factors influence a melancholic mood: lack of sunlight, monotonous falling of raindrops, grayness and dampness.
  • Lack of vitamins: mood problems are often a consequence of insufficient intake of a number of vitamins and microelements into the body - vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin P (in particular, its component rutin), vitamin D, iodine. The lack of these substances leads to disruption of metabolic processes, decreased immunity and insufficient nutrition of the brain, and as a result – to regular poor health.
  • Hormonal imbalances: hormonal disorders also lead to constant weakness and fatigue due to various factors - lack of vitamin and mineral components in food, insufficient rest and the presence of certain diseases. Sometimes they are associated with dysfunction of the thyroid gland (for example, due to an autoimmune reaction) or inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system.
  • Bad habits: drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking harm internal organs - alcohol leads to liver damage and destroys all reserves of vitamins and minerals in the body, tobacco impairs the functioning of the circulatory system and blood supply to the brain. Thus, a harmful lifestyle leads to chronic weakness, fatigue and drowsiness.
  • Poor nutrition: poor health and impaired performance are caused by frequent malnutrition, due to which a person begins to have problems with a lack of energy, as well as regular consumption of unhealthy foods (fatty, sweets, “fast food”), which forces the body to spend energy not on activity and performance , but to eliminate the consequences of eating the wrong foods. Also associated with the problem of weakness and fatigue are frequent fasting, followed by large meals, which overload the digestive system with improper distribution of energy.
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS): A long-term decrease in performance that cannot be overcome even with long rest is most likely a symptom of CFS. The condition usually develops due to a deficiency of various micro- and macroelements in the diet, some viral infections, and increased physical and emotional stress.
  • Other problems: the cause of performance, reduced due to weakness and drowsiness, can be some diseases and conditions (herpes affecting the central nervous system, apnea, insomnia, traumatic brain injury, freezing, drug overdose, liver and kidney damage, heart problems, severe poisoning ).

Additional symptoms

Fatigue, weakness and drowsiness can be caused by simple fatigue or factors that can be dealt with by taking vitamins and normalizing your lifestyle. However, this condition can be the result of serious health problems, so a person should pay attention to the following accompanying symptoms:

  • muscle weakness;
  • hearing or vision problems;
  • decreased thinking abilities;
  • insomnia;
  • increased sweating;
  • irritability;
  • depression and/or aggression;
  • excitability or inhibition;
  • appetite disorders;
  • problems with the ability to perform rhythmic movements or fine motor manipulations.

Diagnosis of possible pathologies

If you have additional symptoms due to weakness, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a series of examinations:

  • general and biochemical blood analysis;
  • blood test for viral hepatitis, syphilis and HIV;
  • biochemical urine test;
  • assessment of hormonal balance;
  • immunogram;
  • blood pressure stability monitoring(carried out throughout the day);
  • MRI of the brain;
  • encephalogram;
  • examination of the blood vessels of the neck and head;
  • assessment of the condition of the fundus;
  • fluorography of the chest.

It is important! You should first seek help from a general practitioner, who will prescribe the necessary examinations and either prescribe treatment or refer you to a specialized specialist. This could be a neurologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, cardiologist, immunologist, hematologist, oncologist or psychotherapist.

Homeopathy to help

For problems with frequent fatigue and increased sleepiness, homeopathy plays a special role in treatment. As a rule, official medicine, if no pathologies are identified, but general weakness is simply noted, recommends more rest. For homeopathy, such a condition is a signal from the body about help that should be provided.


Photo 2. For homeopathy, fatigue is a reason to deal with your health.