Fatigue is more than just plain tired

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Fatigue is more than just plain tired

Fatigue a persistent daily lack of energy that impairs ability to

function normally

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By Judy Fortin CNN Medical Correspondent

Driving a taxi for a living can be exhausting. Just ask 62-year-old

Belcher of Atlanta, Georgia.

Belcher says he used to work 12 hours a day, seven days a

week.

" I worked seven days a week, 12 hours a day normally, " Belcher

said. " I just thought I was tired and maybe if I got a good night's

sleep I'd feel better. "

Like millions of Americans, Belcher was really suffering from

fatigue. It's a common complaint among an estimated 20 to 30 percent

of patients who see their primary care physician.

" Most of the time you know why you are tired and the tiredness goes

away after adequate sleep or rest, " said Dr. Susmita Parashar, who

specializes in internal medicine at the Emory School of Medicine in

Atlanta. " Fatigue on the other hand, is a persistent daily lack of

energy that impairs your ability to function normally. "

Belcher described it as feeling burned out. " I would go to the

grocery store and park my car. By the time I would go to the front

door I would have to sit down and rest before I actually started

shopping. "

Parashar called fatigue an important marker that patients and doctors

shouldn't ignore. Health Minute: Watch more on tired vs. fatigue »

" The list of causes of fatigue is quite long, " Parashar said. " It

includes anemia, underactive thyroid, diabetes, depression, sleep

apnea, insomnia, chronic pain, liver, kidney and heart disease and in

some cases cancer. "

Belcher knew something was wrong. After months of putting it off, he

finally went to the emergency room. He was found to have myriad

ailments, from sleep apnea to emphysema to a heart blockage.

Facing fatigue

Regularly get enough sleep.

Eat a healthy diet.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, drugs.

Take a vitamin supplement.

Increase level of exercise.

Try meditation and breathing exercises.

If Belcher hadn't gone to the hospital, Parashar said, his

combination of conditions could have been fatal. " He really saved his

life. "

Before you start panicking about your own complaints, Parashar wants

patients to know that fatigue is a relatively non-specific symptom.

That means it can show up in a variety of forms in different patients.

" It's telling a doctor that a patient's body is not able to keep up

with normal activities, so it's important to determine the cause, "

Parashar said.

Parashar starts tackling the problem by taking a detailed medical

history, asking patients about work, sleep, exercise, alcohol intake,

stress and their living environment. Then she does a detailed

physical exam.

Depending on her findings she might order blood tests to look for

anemia, an underactive thyroid or diabetes. X-rays or an

electrocardiogram might be used in the investigation. She also does a

depression screening for some patients.

As in Belcher's case, the comprehensive evaluation doesn't always

reveal a single cause.

Parashar advises not to wait more than a week or two to see a doctor

about fatigue. " You might want to see if a good night's sleep and

improving your diet will help, but if it's something that is really

bothering you and you can't do your normal activities, call your

doctor. "

When it comes to preventing fatigue, Parashar offered similar

advice. " Take care of your body, get adequate sleep, good nutrition,

regular exercise and avoid alcohol. "

Some experts also recommend stress reduction techniques such as yoga,

meditation and breathing exercises.

Belcher cut back on his work and started swimming a couple of times a

week. With proper treatment and medication for his ailments, he

reported he's doing much better these days.

" This was a big wakeup call for me, " Belcher said. " Now I'm feeling

great. "