Autumn Years Spring 2023

HEALTH & WELFARE

Fit for Life

“I’m So Tired That Even My Tiredness Is Tired.” By Roger Anthony

T here is a difference between “tiredness” and “fatigue.” Everyone eventu ally gets tired, and most people have experienced fatigue at some point. Actually, tiredness is a good thing. I think of tiredness as our bodies’ way of telling us that it is time to stop, rest and recover. It is physical, transient and usu ally the result of doing more than we can handle without taking measures to pace ourselves and give ourselves time to rebound. Fatigue, however, is more than being tired or sleepy. People who have fatigue feel so drained that their exhaus tion interrupts their daily life and impacts their quality of life. It is often insidious and can become chronic.

to know and understand what is caus ing it. There are many factors that can play a role. The most common is when we relentlessly push ourselves beyond our capabilities to the point of exhaus tion and burnout. It can be insidious. Without realizing it, we can take on re sponsibilities and tasks that can become overwhelming and result in fatigue. This is often the case for people who are act ing as caretakers. Health Issues The list of possible causes or contribu tors to fatigue is long, but the most important and worrisome consideration is possible illness. Fatigue is often a symptom of other underlying conditions that require medical treatment. When experiencing prolonged fatigue, it is imperative to see a physician as soon as possible. Unrelenting exhaustion may be a sign of an undetected or undiag nosed condition such as cardiac issues, diabetes, cancer, anemia, depression or anxiety disorders, chronic fatigue syn drome, chronic infection or inflamma tion, liver failure, chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), sleep apnea, emphysema, fibromyalgia, overactive or underactive thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and so many other lurking medical issues.

Physical tiredness It should not be a surprise that as we age, with physical activity, we tire sooner and can do less than we could in our younger years before we need to stop. Aging is not a disease, but it does bring with it normal changes that lead to alterations in cells. This can cause aging muscles to lose mass, strength, range of motion and flexibility. As our energy and stamina wane, exertion can result in discomfort or even pain, and recovery time from exertion becomes longer. We tend to slow down and often need to begin to make lifestyle changes and/or seek assistance for tasks that once were easy for us. Even though we may wish that we could do more, some tiredness as we age is to be expected and is probably not something to be concerned about as long as we can recover and return to

normal functionality after adequate rest. However, when the tiredness lasts for weeks or more, do not just write it off as “getting old.” It may in fact actually be fatigue, and it is essential to find out why it is happening. Chronic fatigue Fatigue is a symptom that often oc curs with other symptoms like very low energy and motivation, general malaise, muscle weakness and pain, depression, anxiety, trouble concentrating, nervous ness, irritability and sleeplessness. To ease and relieve fatigue, you first need

12 AUTUMN YEARS I SPRING 2023