You’re busy and stressed, juggling the demands of different roles and keeping all the plates of your life spinning. Most people justify that their fatigue comes with the territory - this makes them feel normal like there is nothing wrong. This lets them forget about all the other people who don’t have fatigue with the self-affirmation: “I’m okay.” But what if the fatigue you’re feeling isn’t normal? What if you’re justifying something that, in actuality, is caused by something else...something very common and treatable?
Here is what we hear from patients:
“Of course, I’m tired in the evening. I’m working and on my feet all day.”
“I work outside and walk on concrete for 8 hours a day, wouldn’t you be tired?”
“I’ve got 2 kids to chase around in addition to my job - of course I am tired.”
“I’m getting older, it’s part of aging... isn’t it?"
The reality for most people: it is NOT normal to be fatigued and exhausted at the end of the day.
We commonly blame fatigue on stress, being on your feet all day at work, being overweight, chasing after kids all day, financial worries, insomnia, poor sleep, and just getting old. An average healthy adult may need to stop and rest for 10-15 min a few times a day, but then quickly rebounds and gets back into the game. Because of busy and demanding schedules, it’s not uncommon for normal adults to run low on gas during the day. But most people easily tank back up with a short nap, a quick cup of coffee, rest and pause at work, or a short quiet period at home. Fatigue, however, is completely different and commonly misunderstood.
With fatigue, you wake up feeling exhausted and washed out, even after sleeping through the night. Your mind tells you to keep going, but your body won’t let you. Fatigue can be debilitating and sufferers may struggle to get out of bed in the morning.
You drag yourself into your morning routine, but it is not easy. You may also experience muscle and joint pain, headaches, and “brain fog” - an inability to think or process information clearly. It is the worst at the end of the day. You just want to sit down and not move. It’s also extremely discouraging.
Trying to talk about your symptoms with people who have never experienced them makes it clear that they don’t understand. You get tired of hearing generalities from your friends: “You and me both. We all get tired. Wish I could also take a nap.” They just don’t understand.
Facts are known, fatigue is often a symptom caused by actual medical conditions that should be addressed sooner rather than later. The solution to fatigue may be as close as your next visit with your health care provider.
11 Most Common Causes of Fatigue Include:
- Poor Sleep or Sleep Apnea
- Stress and Anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Abnormal Vein Circulation
- Menopause (women) or Low Testosterone (men)
- Hypothyroidism
- Heart Disease
- Vitamin D Deficiency
- Anemia (Iron or B12 deficiency)
- Chronic Lung Disease (COPD)
Fatigue associated with a vein condition is commonly underdiagnosed, and as a result, it often goes untreated unnecessarily. Vein fatigue is caused by inflammation that comes from stagnant blood that pools in the lower legs because of malfunctioning vein valves. Vein treatments address the root cause of the inflammation by restoring normal blood flow and alleviating symptoms like fatigue and leg pain. Patients experience dramatic improvement with treatments and get back to feeling like their old selves with more energy to do things they haven’t been able to do in years.
If you are suffering from fatigue, know first that it’s a real medical condition, and that there are solutions. Fatigue is a thief, stealing your ability to live your life and robbing you of your health, making you feel frustrated and depressed. If you have fatigue and are concerned you may have a vein condition causing it, contact us for a free vein screening.
