Many people take tiredness for granted. After
each day of hustle and bustle, they come
home dog tired and ready to hit the bed
immediately.
Those who drive sometimes discover that
they are dozing off behind the steering; while
those who commute in commercial vehicles
simply take to sleeping throughout the
journey and may have to be woken up at the
last bus stop.
Tiredness is a part of the human nature, no
doubt; but when it becomes a way of life,
such that you’re perpetually fagged out,
physicians are saying that there may be more
to it and that you may need to visit the
hospital to ascertain the real reasons behind
your constant tiredness.
Symptoms of fatigue include weakness, lack
of energy, constant tiredness or exhaustion,
lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating,
and/or difficulty starting and completing
tasks.
Of course, in general, though your dietary
habits, how much time you have for sleep and
how much you exercise can have serious
impacts on your strength, General
Practitioner, Dr. Ismail Oluwadare, says your
tiredness may be due to underlying diseases
that your body wants to draw your attention
to.
He avers that though fatigue can occur in
normal, healthy individuals as a normal
response to physical and mental exertion,
‘normal fatigue’ may become abnormal if it
becomes chronic, extreme or prolonged.
Experts warn that any serious illness,
especially painful ones, can make you tired;
while some quite minor illnesses can also
leave you feeling washed out.
What are those likely diseases? Let the
physician answer.
Anaemia
Oluwadare says anaemia – a medical
condition in which a person has fewer red
blood cells than normal – can be caused by
many conditions and diseases such as iron
deficiency, poor diet and nutrition, cancers,
bone marrow problems, and more.
He says anaemia can cause fatigue when
there is less oxygen supply to your heart and
muscles.
“Consequently, you have less energy to
perform your usual activities,” the physician
says.
He, however, warns that it is not everyone
who is tired that is also anaemic, as
depression, emotional stress, insomnia,
physical exhaustion, and a variety of medical
problems might also be responsible for
tiredness that won’t go.
Why is this medical emergency? Oluwadare
says as the number of your red blood cells
drops further, you may develop shortness of
breath, lightheadedness (especially when you
stand up), rapid heartbeat, pale skin, marked
weakness and difficulty exercising.
“When anaemia becomes severe, it may lead
to lethargy and confusion; while those with
pre-existing heart or lung disease may suffer
potentially life-threatening complications
such as congestive heart failure, chest pain
(angina), or heart attack,” the doctor
explains.
Underactive thyroid
Scientists say the thyroid gland produces the
hormones that regulate how our cells use
energy, all of which determine our blood
pressure, heart rate, and weight. However,
when the thyroid gland does not make
enough of these important hormones, it will
affect the body’s ability to perform normal
metabolic functions such as efficient use of
energy from foods, regulation of many
chemical reactions in the body, and
maintenance of healthy cells, bones and
muscles, etc.
Common causes of hypothyroidism include
surgical removal of the thyroid, autoimmune
diseases such as HIV/AIDS, too much or too
less iodine in the diet, and radiation
treatment.
Experts say women over the age of 50 are
more prone to hypothyroidism; and that once
the condition sets in, it’s for life.
The symptoms of this condition include
tiredness, weight gain, constipation, aches,
dry skin, lifeless hair, heavier menstrual flow,
feeling cold, hoarseness, puffiness of the face,
hands, and feet; slowed speech, decreased
taste and smell, thin eyebrows, thickened
skin, and coma.
“That is why you cannot afford to ignore
unexplainable tiredness, especially after you
have taken medications and had enough
rest,” Oluwadare counsels.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
This is sobering, because carbon monoxide
poisoning is now common all over the
country and many people have died because
of it. In recent times, entire families have
even died as a result of it.
The most common source of carbon
monoxide poisoning that has led to overnight
deaths is the generator fume. Other sources
are motor vehicle exhaust, smoke from fires,
engine fumes, and nonelectric heaters.
Experts say where generator fume doesn’t kill
outright or immediately, victims of regular
exposure to it might suffer from headache,
dizziness, nausea, flu-like symptoms, fatigue,
shortness of breath on exertion, impaired
judgment, chest pain, drowsiness, seizure,
fainting, etc.
Diabetes
This is a very debilitating disease in a class
of its own, what with the fact that it is a
long-term condition caused by too much
sugar in the blood.
Diabetologist/Medical Director of Rainbow
Specialist Medical Centre, Dr. Afokoghene
Isiavwe, says one of the main symptoms of
diabetes is feeling very tired.
“Regular tiredness, particularly tiredness
following meals, is a common symptom of
diabetes,” physicians warn.
Isiavwe says two common reasons for
tiredness or lethargy are having too high or
too low blood sugar levels.
In both cases, she notes, the tiredness is the
result of having an imbalance between one’s
level of blood glucose and the amount or
effectiveness of circulating insulin.
Of course, not all tiredness is occasioned by
diabetes, but you must be concerned if your
fatigue is also accompanied by other notable
symptoms such as urinating often, feeling
very thirsty, feeling very hungry (even though
you are eating), extreme fatigue, blurry vision,
cuts/bruises that are slow to heal, weight
loss (even though you are eating more (type
1), and tingling, pain, or numbness in the
hands/feet (type 2).
The bottom line
While you may not turn yourself into
emotional wreck because you’re always tired,
the most important is that you see the doctor
for diagnosis and treatment of a tiredness
that you can’t explain.
Copyright PUNCH.