William Penn Life, 2011 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2011-05-01 / 5. szám
Our Health Corner Debbie Wolfe, rn The rundown on feeling rundown THE WEATHER is getting better every day. I am sure many of you have been very busy. You may have already gotten your summer garden planted, given your home that traditional spring cleaning and just found yourselves a whole lot busier. This can lead us to ask ourselves: "Why am I so tired all the time?" Maybe it's a lack of sleep. Maybe it's all the running around, the shopping, the cleaning, the errands. Or, maybe it's hone of those things at all. That tiredness you are feeling could actually be fatigue. Fatigue is a medical condition that has many hidden causes. The good news is that once you get to the bottom of those hidden causes, you can fight the fatigue and get back the energy you used to have. Cause #1: Low Thyroid Thyroid problems are a common cause of fatigue. The American Association of Endocrinologists estimate that 13 million Americans have thyroid disorders, and more than half of those cases are undiagnosed. Have you noticed any unexplained weight gain, hair loss or dry skin or hair? If you feel rundown, weak and sluggish, and have muscle aches, especially in cold weather, you could have a thyroid disorder. Cause #2: Iron Deficiency Anyone can be iron deficient, especially women. The Centers of Disease Control report that 15 percent of women over 50 are iron deficient. Is your complexion pale? Are you frequently short of breath, or have a rapid heart rate, or feel cold? If you tire easily, feel lethargic or notice that things you used to do with ease now require more effort, have your iron level checked. Cause #3: Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by very shallow breathing or periods during which you even stop breathing during sleep. This can prevent you from getting restful sleep and result in fatigue. Are you overly tired during the day? Do you nod off or have a strong urge to nap? Other symptoms include snoring, morning headaches, heartburn, poor concentration and frequent middleof-the-night bathroom trips. Luckily, sleep apnea, iron deficiency and thyroid problems are all treatable. Sit down with your physician and talk about these issues. Be a good patient and communicate your concerns. Doctors can help you only if you tell them what you feel. These feelings of tiredness may not have to be a part of your every day life. Until next month... stay Healthy - stay Happy - fee Fit! Egészségére1. T>ebbte j-JaaJih JUnEs To learn more about thyroid disorders, iron deficiency, sleep apnea and other conditions that may be causing you to feel tired or fatigued, log onto the following web pages of the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine: O http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fatigue/MYOOI 20 Z) http://www.www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003088.htm William Penn Life 0 May 2011 0 17 i
