What is chronic fatigue?
Chronic fatigue is a complex medical condition characterized by extreme and persistent tiredness, fatigue, or exhaustion that lasts for more than 6 months and is not improved by rest. The key aspect is that the fatigue causes disruption in daily activities and quality of life.
Some key points about chronic fatigue:
- The fatigue is usually more severe and disabling than expected for the level of activity done and not relieved by sleep and rest. It may worsen with physical or mental activity.
- The cause is often unknown but may involve immune dysfunction, hormone imbalances, infections, genetics, stress etc. There are many theories but more research is needed.
- There may be other symptoms like muscle and joint pain, sore throat, headaches, poor sleep, concentration issues, dizziness etc. This cluster of symptoms is sometimes called systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) or myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
- It can occur at any age but often develops between late twenties to mid forties. Women are more frequently affected than men.
- Diagnosis involves excluding other medical conditions with similar symptoms through history, physical exam and medical testing. There are no standard diagnostic tests for chronic fatigue itself.
- Treatment focuses on symptom management through lifestyle changes, stress reduction, gentle exercise, nutritious diet and medications. Addressing hormone deficiencies like low testosterone, thyroid, cortisol etc may help some patients.
If you struggle with chronic exhaustion impacting your life, consider getting evaluated at Vitality Hormone Clinic clinic. Our integrative treatments combine cutting-edge lab testing, bioidentical hormone optimization, customized nutrition and lifestyle changes to help you reclaim your energy and vitality.