EXHAUSTION
What Is Exhaustion?
Exhaustion is more than feeling sleepy after a long day. It is a deep feeling of being drained. Your body may feel heavy. Your mind may feel slow. Small jobs can seem insurmountable.
You may feel exhausted even after sleeping. You may have trouble focusing, exercising, working or enjoying time with your family.
Doctors often use the word fatigue to describe this feeling. Fatigue is different from sleepiness. Sleepiness means you feel like you need to fall asleep. Fatigue means you lack the physical or mental energy to do what you normally do.
Exhaustion is not a disease in and of itself. It is a warning signal, like a flare you shoot off when you are lost or are pulled over on the side of the road. It tells you nothing specific but it DOES tell you your body is trying to get your attention.
What Does Exhaustion Feel Like?
Exhaustion may feel like:
Your body is heavy or weak.
You wake up tired even after sleeping.
Your brain feels slow, cloudy or unfocused.
Normal chores feel like a major effort.
You have little energy or motivation.
Exercise feels much harder than usual.
You become irritable, overwhelmed or emotional.
Rest does not seem to recharge you.
Exhaustion can affect your body, your thinking and your mood.
It may be temporary, or it may continue for weeks or months.
Why Am I Exhausted All the Time, Even When I Get Enough Sleep?
Getting enough hours of sleep does not always mean you are getting good quality sleep.
You may spend eight hours in bed but still wake up tired if pain, stress, snoring, sleep apnea, restless legs or frequent waking keeps you from reaching deep, healing sleep.
Exhaustion may also come from dehydration, poor nutrition, too little movement, too much activity, emotional stress, medication side effects or an underlying health problem.
Common medical causes include anemia, hormone and thyroid problems, diabetes, infections and vitamin deficiencies.
Your body is not lazy. It just may be working harder than you realize.
The first step is to look for the reason your energy is being drained instead of simply covering it up with more caffeine.
Is My Exhaustion Caused by Stress, or Is Something Wrong With My Body?
The answer may be both.
Stress is not only something you feel in your mind.
Your body responds to stress too.
Your muscles tighten. Your breathing changes.
Your sleep may become lighter.
Your body may stay in a high alert state even when you are trying to rest.
Over time, this can leave you feeling worn down.
However, ongoing exhaustion should not automatically be blamed on stress. Fatigue can also be connected to sleep disorders, anemia, thyroid problems, blood sugar problems, infections, heart or lung conditions, medication effects and other health concerns.
Do not guess. Pay attention to the full pattern.
The right doctor for you will ask you the right questions like:
When did the exhaustion begin?
Did anything change before it started?
Am you sleeping well?
Am you in pain?
Have your medications changed?
What other symptoms have you noticed?
Those clues can help determine what your body may be trying to tell you.
Could a Vitamin or Mineral Deficiency Be Draining My Energy?
Yes, but a deficiency is only one possible cause.
Low iron or anemia can reduce the amount of oxygen carried through your body.
Low vitamin B12, vitamin D and other nutritional problems may also contribute to fatigue.
Dehydration can make you feel weak and drained as well.
This does not mean you should begin taking several supplements without knowing what you need.
A healthcare professional may recommend blood testing based on your symptoms, health history and medications. An appropriate consult, exam and labs may include looking at your blood count, iron levels, thyroid function, blood sugar, kidney or liver function and certain vitamins.
Testing helps you treat the real problem instead of throwing random supplements at a symptom.
When Is Exhaustion a Warning Sign That I Should See a Doctor?
Occasional tiredness is normal.
Ongoing, unexplained exhaustion is not something you should ignore.
Schedule a medical evaluation when:
Your exhaustion has lasted two weeks or longer despite rest, hydration, good nutrition and reduced stress.
Your energy keeps getting worse.
You cannot complete your normal daily activities.
You regularly wake up exhausted.
You also have unexplained weight loss, fever, unusual bleeding, severe weakness, ongoing pain or changes in mood.
You think a medication may be causing the problem.
Mayo Clinic recommends contacting a healthcare professional when basic self care has not improved fatigue after two or more weeks.
Seek emergency help when exhaustion occurs with chest pain, serious shortness of breath, a fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting or the feeling that you may pass out.
How Can I Get My Energy Back Without Living on Caffeine?
Start by finding out what is stealing your energy.
Caffeine may help you feel more awake for a short time, but it does not repair poor sleep, dehydration, pain, weak muscles, stress or an untreated health problem.
Begin with the basics:
Keep a regular sleep and wake time.
Drink enough water throughout the day.
Eat regular meals with enough protein and nutrients.
Take short walks and slowly rebuild your activity.
Get natural morning light.
Limit alcohol.
Avoid large amounts of caffeine late in the day.
Review your medications with your healthcare provider.
Address pain or physical problems that keep disturbing your sleep.
If movement has become painful or difficult, your body may begin moving less. Less movement can lead to more stiffness, weakness and poor stamina. That can make normal activity feel even more exhausting.
The goal is not to push harder until you crash.
The goal is to find the barriers, rebuild your capacity and help your body work more efficiently.
Chiropractic care is not a treatment for every cause of exhaustion. Chiropractic care can assist your body in working at its highest level and recovering faster compared to no chiropractic care.
At Active Family Chiropractic AZ, we look beyond the question, “Where does it hurt?”
We look at how your body moves, where it is struggling and what may be forcing you to use more effort than necessary.
When your joints are stiff, your muscles are constantly tense or your body does not move well, everyday life may require more energy. Pain can also interrupt sleep and make activity harder.
Our goal is not to promise a quick energy boost. Our goal is to identify physical barriers that may be draining your capacity and help you rebuild a body that moves, rests and performs better.
The Alpha 5 Phase System
Exhaustion is often a sign that your body has been spending more energy than it can restore.
The Alpha 5 Phase System helps us move beyond temporary relief.
We work through five steps:
Relieve: Calm pain and reduce the immediate stress on your body.
Realign: Improve joint movement and help your body move more efficiently.
Rebuild: Strengthen the areas that are weak or overloaded.
Retrain: Teach your body better movement patterns.
Reclaim: Help you return to the activities, work and life you have been missing.
Relief may help you feel better.
Rebuilding helps you become more capable.
The enemy is not laziness. The enemy is an unresolved energy drain.
As we have discussed there a multitude of reasons you may be feeling exhausted.
You cannot fix what you refuse to investigate.
Exhaustion is your body asking for attention. If you are ready to give it the attention it requires, hit REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT below:
REMEMBER: NO ONE IS COMING TO RESCUE YOU BECAUSE THE HERO YOU NEED IS ALREADY INSIDE YOU
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Mon: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tue: 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Wed: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thu: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Fri: Appointment only
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129 S Smith Road Tempe, AZ 85288
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