When you are feeling run down and can't keep up, you may describe your symptoms as being tired, exhausted or fatigued. Although we commonly use these as interchangeable words to describe what we are feeling, in medical terms they mean very different things. Understanding the symptoms of each can help us better explain how we feel and ultimately lead us to find a solution for the problem.
There are different types of being tired. The type of fatigue that is felt by a cancer patient for example is not the same type of fatigue that we feel at the end of a very long day.
Tiredness differers from fatigue because although you may not feel like it, your body still has some energy left to tap in to. The symptoms of tiredness include a feeling of heaviness and weakness in muscles, forgetfulness and impatience. Tiredness is common, especially if you have run yourself weary and haven't taken time to relax. Most of the time, all it takes is rest for us to recover from a bout of tiredness.
Fatigue is a different animal. A person who is suffering from fatigue will have difficulty concentrating, a decrease in physical ability and stamina, difficulty sleeping, and may turn away from social activities that they once enjoyed. Fatigue, unlike tiredness, is not a transient state that can be cleared up with a nap or rest.
Further up the scale is exhaustion. Exhaustion is characterized by confusion, delirium, numbness, difficulty staying awake and difficulty falling asleep as well as complete withdrawal from others. Exhaustion is a serious situation that points to a deeper problem than simple tiredness. Anyone who is experiencing this degree of a problem needs to consult with their doctor promptly.
The only thing I'm not feeling is delirious - or maybe I am, and I'm just in denial.
1 comments:
I have no good words, only prayers for what is exhausting you and that you will get the rest you need and deserve.
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