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Written by Robert J Lewis
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 Inland Trader 47
Tiredness (fatigue) is experienced by everybody at some time in their lives and is usually the result of prolonged physical or mental activity, or is associated with lack of sleep.
However, psychological tiredness can be compounded by pathological tiredness and therefore associated with a specific cause/condition.
Chronic tiredness is a common condition experienced by many people without there being any alteration in their daily activities or without there being any obvious signs of illness.
Often people are not prepared to accept that their feelings of always being tired are attributable to emotional or social factors and are convinced that there must be an underlying physical illness, but chronic tiredness is more often psychological than physical in origin.
Cognitive behavioural therapy, which helps people change the way they think and behave, may be of help in cases of chronic fatigue.
Cognitive therapy is a form of psychotherapy. A depressed person, for instance, may believe that they are powerless to change their life, situations etc.; the therapist will help the person identify their false ways of thinking and to avoid them in the future.
Counselling may help a person to re-evaluate their lifestyle, career path etc., and manage stress thereby alleviating the fatigue, a common symptom of stress.
In women, often cases of fatigue can be linked to the monthly menstrual cycle. Tiredness that regularly occurs in the pre-menstrual week and then disappears on the first day or two of the period is most likely to be associated with hormonal changes.
Crash – type slimming diets, where insufficient calories are eaten can cause tiredness, as can irregular eating or consuming only one meal a day resulting in low blood sugar levels.
Long term fatigue can be caused by taking regular large amounts of alcohol or caffeine, and eating a diet regularly high in refined carbohydrates (sugar, biscuits, cakes etc.) can induce fatigue as result of low blood sugar levels.
Vegetarians and vegans can experience fatigue through their diet being too low in iron and possibly the B group vitamins.
Fatigue has been shown to be a symptom of food intolerance (with early morning tiredness being a particular problem), and is often accompanied by migraine and / or irritable bowel syndrome.
Tiredness is made worse by a lazy lifestyle and lack of fresh air. Too much sitting in a centrally heated home and stuffy office can result in increased tiredness. Our bodies need oxygen, and a twenty minute walk in the open air can be both revitalising and refreshing.
Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health, along with a balanced diet. However if the heart is not pumping efficiently blood flow to the muscles may not be adequate during exercise making the person feel tired and weak. In such circumstances people often gradually reduce their activity or blame their age without seeking medical opinion.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is also sometimes known as Post Viral Fatigue or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
There appears to be no specific cause of this condition, and therefore it can be difficult to diagnose, however:
Sufferers often report an abrupt onset following a flu – like illness
Sufferers often experience post exertion malaise in which exercise exacerbates symptoms and increases fatigue for the subsequent 24 –
48 hours
Sufferers often report “brain fog” – memory loss, confusion, difficulties with concentration and comprehension
Often sufferers develop environmental sensitivities and intolerances
Obviously medical tests are needed to rule out clinical conditions that can mimic CFS.
There is no single clinical test that can clearly establish the presence of CFS, and no specific treatment and as sufferers often have a range of symptoms and conditions it is unlikely that any one treatment will emerge.
Most cases of CFS appear to be sporadic and there doesn’t seem to be any evidence that it is contagious.
One of the difficulties for a person experiencing CFS is an acceptance of the condition by others. Often the person will show no outward signs of being ill, and friends or colleagues can consider the person a malingerer or skiver, and can be disbelieving about the condition.
Lifestyle adjustments will need to be made as the degree of fatigue fluctuates, and at times a normal work routine may prove impossible to maintain. Planning ahead also often proves impossible as the person will not know in advance how they may feel on a given day as there are often periods of improvements and relapses.
CFS can affect anyone of any age and ethnicity and this includes children and teenagers. Often the condition can be triggered by viral illness, such as flu or glandular fever or by such things as stress, an accident or vaccination; and sometimes there is no obvious trigger.
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Health 
