Exhaustion • Tired, limp & without energy? This helps!

Fatigue is a state that is perceived physically and / or mentally. Sufferers feel tired, limp and lack of energy.

Exhaustion occurs as an everyday phenomenon, but also as a symptom of various diseases. The spectrum of possible causes is wide. Temporary physical and psychological stress, including serious illnesses, such as cancer, can trigger exhaustion. The person affected feels tired, limp and lacking in energy. The symptoms can vary in severity.

The exhaustion can be temporary or persistent. It is often linked to specific triggers such as lack of sleep or stress in the job and can be easily remedied by taking appropriate countermeasures, or is self-sufficient if the triggering factors fail to materialize. In other cases, the exhaustion is persistent and goes well beyond the mere feeling of exhaustion.

See a doctor if you have these symptoms!

Lifeline / Wochit

Exhausted in the long term: Better to see a doctor!

Persistent or chronic fatigue often occurs in connection with certain diseases and should therefore always be a reason for a visit to the doctor. Sufficient sleep and a healthy lifestyle cannot or only partially alleviate the exhaustion in these cases.

If there is persistent (at least six months) physical and mental exhaustion as the main symptom along with other symptoms such as headache, sore throat, joint and muscle pain, concentration and memory disorders, the occurrence of which is not due to another cause such as lack of sleep, a diagnosed other acute or chronic Disease or medication can be explained, doctors refer to this as myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME / CFS). According to today's understanding, this is an independent disease, the cause of which is still unknown.

Exhaustion: These are the causes

Exhaustion can have a variety of causes, from physical and psychological stress in everyday life to lifestyle and behavioral factors to serious illnesses.

In some cases, no clear physical and / or psychological causes for the exhaustion can be found.

Factors that can promote fatigue include:

  • Lack of sleep (e.g. caused by sleep apnea, anxiety and panic disorders or wrong sleep habits)
  • Lack of exercise
  • unhealthy eating habits
  • excessive alcohol consumption
  • pregnancy-related exhaustion

Brainfood: energy suppliers for the brain

Exhaustion as an accompanying symptom of other diseases

  • Psychological causes (e.g. depression, burnout syndrome, stress)

  • Infectious diseases, such as colds, glandular fever, flu, pneumonia and many more

  • Anemia (anemia), for example iron deficiency anemia

  • low blood pressure

  • Cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma

  • Functional restrictions / kidney failure

  • Liver diseases such as hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, tumors or underactive adrenal cortex

  • Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism): symptoms and treatment Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism): symptoms and treatment (hyperthyroidism)

  • Metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus

  • Diseases of the heart

  • Lung disorders such as emphysema or COPD

  • Fatigue in the context of other chronic diseases, for example multiple sclerosis

Stressful therapy methods as the cause of exhaustion

  • for self-test

    Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME / CFS) is now considered an independent disease. Use the self-test to see whether you could be affected

  • Exhaustion as a side effect of cancer therapy, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy

  • Exhaustion as a side effect of medication, for example as a result of taking painkillers or sedatives, heart medication, antihistamines, blood pressure medication, antidepressants

A special case is the so-called chronic fatigue syndrome, which occurs when the exhaustion has existed for at least six months and no cause has been found.

Exhaustion: How the diagnosis works

A doctor should definitely diagnose or clarify the cause of exhaustion if the symptoms appear suddenly and without any explainable connection (such as lack of sleep, stressful situations).

  • for self-test

    Constantly tired or wide awake? Do you gain weight without eating too much? The self-test shows whether an over or under function of the thyroid gland could be behind it!

Even in the event of chronic exhaustion of an unexplained cause, those affected should consult a doctor, as this may be due to an illness requiring treatment.

The doctor checks whether a physical or psychological cause and / or behavioral and lifestyle factors are possible triggers for exhaustion, whether there is a chronic fatigue syndrome (ME / CFS) or a burnout and how pronounced the exhaustion is in order to Connection with the patient to draw up a suitable treatment plan. Diagnosis begins with a detailed patient discussion (anamnesis), followed by the physical examination and, if necessary, further examination procedures.

Questions that need to be clarified

Important questions that the doctor might ask to determine the cause of the exhaustion in the patient consultation are, for example:

  • How long have you been feeling exhausted and are there possible triggers for exhaustion, for example in everyday family or professional life?

  • How intense are the complaints and how exactly do they express themselves? Do you feel physically or mentally exhausted and how impaired is your performance?

  • Are there sleep disorders and what are sleeping habits and lifestyle habits such as nutrition, alcohol consumption, exercise, social and professional activities?

  • Are you often stressed?

  • Have you been diagnosed with other conditions such as diabetes, kidney or liver problems, low blood pressure or a mental illness?

  • What medications are you currently taking?

  • Are you a cancer patient and are you receiving appropriate therapies?

  • Have you had any surgery recently?

  • In addition to exhaustion, do you suffer from other complaints such as headache, joint pain or are you often sad, depressed and listless?

Frequently, questionnaires with predefined scales and answer options are handed out to assess the intensity and individual characteristics of the problem of exhaustion. This makes it easier for the doctor to classify. An "exhaustion diary" can also provide important information for narrowing down the causes, in which the patient documents his symptoms and other factors.

What the blood values ​​reveal

A physical examination as well as laboratory examinations are also part of the basic diagnosis if fatigue persists. They are used to identify or rule out diseases that may be responsible for exhaustion.

The laboratory tests include, for example, a blood count check including the determination of iron, liver and thyroid values ​​as well as inflammation parameters. Depending on the initial findings, further examinations can be carried out. In order to identify or rule out psychological causes of exhaustion, a conversation with a psychotherapist can also be helpful.

Therapy for exhaustion depending on the cause

If a physical or mental illness has been identified as the cause of the exhaustion, this must be treated. If the exhaustion is due to the use of certain medications or a certain therapy, the therapy may be changed or adjusted after careful consideration.

If diagnosed, the treatment also aims to change unfavorable lifestyles and behavior, for example to improve sleeping and eating habits and to minimize stress.

Furthermore, in some cases psychotherapeutic measures such as behavior therapy, talk therapy and / or relaxation procedures and the initiation or increase of physical activity (sport, movement therapy) can be useful. Be part of the treatment and have a positive effect on exhaustion. Sometimes, for example in cancer patients, drug therapy is also suitable to get the exhaustion under control.

Since there are many possible causes for exhaustion, an exact diagnosis by the doctor is the most important prerequisite for successful treatment. Depending on the individual circumstances, the doctor and patient discuss the next steps together and put together a suitable treatment plan. Thorough education and practical help can help those affected in their everyday life.

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