Combatting Chronic Fatigue Effectively

Do you feel tired every single day? If so, you’re not alone! The majority of Americans feel tired each day, which is why more than 80% start their day off with 1 or more cups of coffee. However, if you have intense fatigue that doesn’t go away with proper sleep, a power nap or other methods, it could be a sign of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This condition affects thousands of people and is caused by chronic conditions or even small habits you have. If you have tiredness that causes you to have aches and pains, mental fogginess, daily headaches and more, come get evaluated for chronic fatigue. We can help you know the reasons why you are tired and how to restore your energy once more!

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

If you are like the majority of Americans, you’re not getting as much sleep as you are supposed to. With crazy schedules, work demands, families, extracurricular activities and more, where do you find the time to sleep? Did you know that sleep is one of the first things to go out the window when people are making extra time in their busy schedules? You may even be guilty of doing this as well, not realizing that your lack of sleep can be hurting you. Studies show that your body does tons of work during the time you are asleep. When your body goes down, your mind wakes up.

This is a time for the brain to start flushing all your waste products and toxins from your system. The amount of fluid you have in your brain actually increases during sleep, as part of that flushing process. If you’ve ever felt mental fogginess, headaches and more after not sleeping much, it’s probably because your brain didn’t have time to clean out the toxins it needed to. Your body cleanses itself all over, your brain processes information and stores it away, and your body rejuvenates itself. If you are getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night, you should wake up energized, refreshed and ready to take on a new day.

Tiredness and Fatigue

A good night’s rest or even a power nap is enough to get rid of normal, everyday tiredness. Fatigue is more of a general and pervasive lack of energy rather than the acute need for rest after completing a challenge. Many people with chronic fatigue often lack the energy to even get started on simple tasks and projects. They go to sleep exhausted and wake up with about the same level of exhaustion. That’s even after sleeping 12 hours or more, which is well over the normal amount of sleep a person needs. If you feel a pervasive lack of energy that never seems to go away, consider looking into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

There are over 1 million people in the United States that suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. There may be even more people out there with it, but it’s hard to know because CFS is often diagnosed as other medical problems. A medical professional might diagnose a patient with different sleep disorders, anemia, thyroid problems, mental health issues, chronic stress, allergies or more. However, the problem can actually be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is a real condition that affects many people, but often it goes undetected for months and even years, masquerading as a different problem.

Consider the symptoms of this condition to see if you have any of them:

• Memory loss or mental fogginess
• Lack of restfulness regardless of the amount of sleep
• Chronic pain in the joints or diffuse aching throughout the body
• Depression and anxiety
• Increased fatigue and pain after exertion
• Daily headaches or migraines
• Mood fluctuations
• Symptoms that go on for 6 months or more
• Increased illnesses and impaired immune system function

Oftentimes, chronic fatigue stems from another illness or condition such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart problems, depression, cancer and more. However, it can also stem from a simple cold or flu, side-effects from medications, nutrient deficiencies, electrolyte imbalances, dehydration and more. If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, make sure you are evaluated right away. If not, you could be struggling with symptoms for quite some time without relief.

Combating Chronic Fatigue the Right Way

Generally, people with chronic fatigue are already getting at least the recommended daily dose of sleep. Their body may be going through the processes it should be at night, but it depends on the patient. What you want to watch out for when combating chronic fatigue are habits such as:

• Relying on caffeine to make up for a lack of sleep
• Overworking and not taking time off for real rest
• Stressing out more than you should
• Drinking too much on a daily basis
• Destructive habits that stem from mood fluctuations and overbearing fatigue

The good news is that natural solutions can actually help patients with chronic fatigue. We actually see patients in our office that have this problem, and that find relief through therapies and testing. We do the following services that have helped patients immensely with their chronic fatigue problems:

• Testing for food allergies or environmental sensitivities that cause fatigue
• Nutritional assessments that search for vital nutrient deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances
• Supplementation and diet plans to boost energy, health and mood
• Exercises and stretching regimens to release muscle tension and pain that drains away your energy
• Adjustments and spinal care from a chiropractor that aligns the body correctly and evens out bodily pressure

Do You Have Chronic Fatigue?

If you read through all of this information and thought, “this is describing my life”, then come in for a medical evaluation! Don’t let chronic fatigue wear you down for one more day. Call Texas Spine & Sports Therapy Center today at (512) 806-0015 and get back the energy you deserve!