Fatigue is all too common, but when the exhaustion becomes debilitating and keeps you from performing small tasks, it can cause you to worry - and for a good reason. Several diseases and illnesses carry symptoms of fatigue. Learning what your symptoms indicate and if you are in need of medical attention is necessary for something as even seemingly common as fatigue.
Are you "normal tired" or "sick tired"?
When questioning if your fatigue is a cause of concern, you need to learn to recignize the difference between "normal tired" and "sick tired." "Normal tired" is something that everyone experiences, often frequently. For example, feeling tired after a 5-mile bike ride when you haven't exercised in a while would be "normal tired." Or, if you've been awake with a new baby for the past month and are too exhausted to do simple tasks, that is also normal. Fatigue, in these "normal tired" cases, may be the result of a less-than-healthy lifestyle, but is something that can be easily remedied with an adequate amount of sleep (7-9 hours per night for adults), regular and consistent physical exercise and a balanced diet.
"Sick tired," on the other hand, occurs when not even adopting a healthy lifestyle helps alleviate fatigue. No matter how healthy you are eating or how much sleep or exercise you are getting, you find yourself unable to get out of bed in the mornings. Your muscles are unable to function properly and you find yourself practically immobile, either for short or long periods of time. It is a debilitating feeling that those who are "normal tired" don't fully grasp.
Why you may be chronically tired
If you find yourself exhausted even after attempting to live a healthier lifestyle, your fatigue may be a health concern. Illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and depression have been known to exhibit symptoms of chronic fatigue. Often, people will be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia, but all too frequently these patients are misdiagnosed.
Lyme disease also causes these symptoms and may be causing your constant fatigue. It is common to think that Lyme disease is not a cause for concern if one doesn't receive a bull's-eye rash after being bitten by an infected tick. However, less than 50 percent of Lyme disease patients remember being bitten by a tick at all, and the same number of patients don't experience a rash as one of their symptoms. This is not just a disease that infects residents of the northeastern states and areas with high populations of deer ticks, but cases have been confirmed in all 50 states.
Lyme disease symptoms mimic those of other diseases, causing confusion among physicians about a patient's actual diagnosis. Swollen joints, brain fog, the flu and fatigue are common signs of Lyme disease that are often misdiagnosed. Some of these symptoms don't appear until after a few months of being bitten by a tick.
Over time, untreated Lyme disease becomes less susceptible to antibiotic treatment. Fortunately, there are other alternatives to Lyme disease treatment if you find that you have had Lyme disease for a long time already. Getting help from an expert in Lyme disease is crucial; contact the FAR Clinic for a free consultation if you have chronic Lyme disease or think that you may have its symptoms.
Remember that it's not too late to try one more time to start feeling better. You or someone you love who struggles with the pain and heartache of chronic fatigue deserve another chance.
