WEAKNESS AND FATIGUE

WEAKNESS IS A LACK OF PHYSICAL STRENGTH  THAT CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN MOVING OR INABILITY TO MOVE ARMS, LEGS OR OTHER MUSCLES.

FATIGUE ON THE OTHER HAND IS A FEELING OF BEING TIRED OR EXHAUSTED, OR A LACK OF ENERGY.

UNEXPLAINED MUSCLE WEAKNESS IS USUALLY  MORE SERIOUS THAN FATIGUE. IT MAY BE DUE TO METABOLISM PROBLEMS SUCH AS DIABETES, THYROID PROBLEMS, KIDNEY PROBLEMS OR STROKE.

FATIGUE ON THE OTHER HAND CAN USUALLY BE TREATED WITH SELF-CARE. MOST FATIGUE IS CAUSED BY LACK OF EXERCISE, STRESS OR OVERWORK, POOR SLEEP, DEPRESSION, WORRY OR BOREDOM.

HOW TO PREVENT FATIGUE

·         REGULAR EXERCISE IS YOUR BEST BET AGAINST FATIGUE. IF YOU FEEL TOO TIRED TO EXERCISE VIGORIOUSLY, TRY A SHORT WALK.

·         EAT A WELL-BALANCED DIET. CHOOSE A DIET WITH PLENTY OF GRAIN PRODUCTS, VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. ALSO CHOOSE A DIET THAT IS LOW IN FAT, SATURATED FAT AND CHOLESTROL. FINALLY, CHOOSE A DIET THAT IS MODERATE IN SUGAR, SALT AND SODIUM.

·         MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP. TO ACHIEVE THIS, AVOID STRENUOUS EXERCISE WITHIN TWO HOURS BEFORE BEDTIME. AVOID ALCOHOL AND SMOKING BEFORE BEDTIME. DRINK A GLASS OF MILK AT BEDTIME AND ALSO AVOID DRINKING MORE THAN A GLASS OF FLUID BEFORE BEDTIME. ENGAGE IN RELAXING ACTIVITIES IN THE EVENING LIKE TAKING A WARM BATH.

·         DEAL WITH FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION.WE MAY EXPERIENCE SOME FORM OF DEPRESSION AT SOME POINTS IN OUR LIVES .  IT CAN RANGE FROM A MINOR TO A MAJOR LIFE- THREATENING ILLNESS. MANY THINGS CAN  TRIGGER DEPRESSION, FOR EXAMPLE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE OR SOMETHING THAT IS HIGHLY VALUED, CHRONIC STRESS OR A  STRESSFUL EVENT, A MAJOR ILLNESS, REACTION TO MEDICATIONS, ALCOHOLISM, DRUG ABUSE OR A MAJOR HEALTH PROBLEM.

·         LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. ALTERNATE REST WITH EXERCISE.

·         LIMIT THE USE   OF DRUGS THAT MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO FATIGUE, FOR EXAMPLE TRANQUILIZERS.

·         REDUCE YOUR USE OF CAFFEINE, NICOTINE AND ALCOHOL.

·         SPEND LESS TIME WATCHING TV. SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS, NEW ACTIVITIES OR TRAVEL TO BREAK THE FATIGUE CYCLE.

TRY AND SEE A DOCTOR IF ;

*YOU HAVE UNEXPLAINED MUSCLE WEAKNESS IN ONE AREA OF YOUR BODY.

*IF SEVERE FATIGUE CAUSES YOU TO LIMIT YOUR USUAL ACTIVITIES FOR LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS.

*IF YOU EXPERIENCE SUDDEN UNPLANNED WEIGHT LOSS.

*IF  YOU ARE EXPERIENCING LACK OF ENERGY FOR UP TO SIX WEEKS.