When to Visit a Medical Center for Fatigue
Posted on: 8 October 2015
Being tired or fatigued is not unusual for persons today, as they may simply not sleep as they should or neglect to follow a good diet that allows them to be healthy and full of energy. Sometimes going to bed earlier on a regular basis, cutting back on activities that keep a person up at night, and even getting moderate exercise to increase energy levels are all that's needed to address the problem.
However, there are times when fatigue should be diagnosed by a medical professional. If you're feeling especially tired but aren't sure if this warrants a trip to the doctor's office, note the following.
Other symptoms
If your fatigue is accompanied by constant headaches, severe back pain, and other such symptoms, you may want to see a doctor. You may have headaches because of sleep apnea, which is a cessation of breathing during sleep. If severe and left unchecked, sleep apnea can lead to chronic fatigue and even death; a person wakes up to get themselves breathing again, but in some extreme cases, they cannot wake up, and this can be fatal.
Severe back pain with fatigue can be caused by a back injury, poor posture, and other conditions that are putting pressure on the back muscles and causing them to work overtime. You may not realize that your back has been stressed or strained, but the pain can keep you up at night, and this type of injury should be treated.
Psychological symptoms
Sometimes a lack of sleep can be caused by psychological symptoms, such as severe stress, grief, depression, anxiety, panic, and the like. In some cases, these conditions may pass on their own if given enough time. In other cases, they may simply become worse and continue to deprive you of your sleep. Your medical doctor can refer you to a counselor who can help address these issues and consider a sleep aid in the meantime.
Acute fatigue
Acute fatigue is that which does not get better after several months, and after having tried addressing it with lifestyle changes, changes to your diet, and so on. Long-term fatigue can be associated with anemia, diabetes, and other very serious health conditions including autoimmune disorders. Your doctor should test you for these types of conditions and at least rule them out as a cause of your fatigue. If you have chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition that may develop after an infection, your doctor may want to prescribe antidepressants and a routine of rest.
For more information, contact a doctor at a local medical centre.
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