Physical strength what to do. What to do when you lose strength

The two most common problems in the labor market. According to scientists from the University of Durham in Britain, two-thirds of the world's inhabitants constantly feel tired. From time to time, one of them is taken directly from the “battlefield” by an ambulance. And everyone has their own field. Factory workers, office workers, housewives with many children, and even idlers get tired. After all, there can be many reasons for the decline in strength, and not always they are directly related to physical activity. Why does a breakdown appear, how serious is this problem and how to deal with it?

Loss of energy: the scale of the problem

Loss of strength is the first signal of the appearance of chronic fatigue syndrome. This is not just a state when “I don’t want and can’t do anything”! A breakdown that does not leave for a long time may serve as a reason to go for a comprehensive examination. After all, a low content of hemoglobin in the blood, hormonal failure due to disorders in the endocrine system and hyperglycemia can also cause a breakdown. However, most often this condition is not associated with serious diseases and occurs due to stress, insufficient rest, lack of sleep and other stresses. However, it's worth playing it safe.

Symptoms of loss of strength are purely individual. It most commonly presents as drowsiness, dizziness, irritability, and decreased appetite. Also, not many people manage to avoid pallor, insomnia, headaches, fever and (sometimes, on the contrary, low).

In this state, it is difficult to do even the most ordinary things: force yourself to get out of bed and get ready, not to mention the usual performance. Not only the mood of the tired person falls, but also labor productivity.

In addition to the work plan, damage is also done to the nervous system. But not everyone manages to lie down and properly relax. So it turns out that going to work / school / other things turns out to be real torture. Hence depression, apathy and impotence, often - and suicidal behavior.

A breakdown is considered especially dangerous for children, who can get used to such a state and lose their taste for life forever, which in science is called asthenia.

A breakdown makes a person weak before any difficulties, even before the weather: sensitivity to cold increases, limbs become very cold. Against the background of high blood pressure, ringing in the ears, flies in the eyes, and there may also be weakness throughout the body (sometimes even aches, as with a cold). It often becomes difficult for the patient to press the keys or hold the pen, look at the monitor for a long time, and even just sit in one position. Prolonged exposure to this state can lead to serious health problems.

Causes of loss of strength

And so, the first reasons for the decline in strength have already been named - this is an excessive burden on the body: both physical and moral. But, alas, the list of factors does not end there. Lack of sleep, a poor diet for vitamins, iron deficiency anemia, an excess of unhealthy foods, nervous tension and chronic stress, conflicts, problems in personal life ...

Even professional burnout can lead to a breakdown! In our time, when intellectual activity is valued above all else, more and more professions are directly related to four office walls, a computer monitor and routine endless work. And even those who are in love with their profession sometimes get tired not only of overtime, but also of their direct duties.

Whatever the reasons for the breakdown, the main thing is to start fighting it in time. There are several simple methods for this.

Loss of strength: what to do

The immune system is the main ally against increased fatigue and chronic fatigue. Good immunity is the key to cheerfulness and high efficiency in any business. And to keep the immune system in good shape, you need a balanced diet, moderate exercise and good rest.

Eat properly

As a rule, during a breakdown, the appetite is “not very”! And yet, try to eat regularly and in any case do not starve. Foods such as almonds, beans (you can try switching to), eggs, dark chocolate, citrus fruits, cabbage, seeds and coconuts will help accumulate energy. At the time of fatigue, it is better to completely exclude fried, fatty and sweet. The point of contention is coffee. Here caution does not hurt: one cup in the morning will be enough. And it is better to replace tea, coffee and other drinks with ordinary water, it should be a little more than usual when you lose strength. Water cleanses the body of toxins and normalizes metabolism, moreover, it is dehydration that can cause a depressed state.

live actively

get enough sleep

We will not remind you for the hundredth time that lack of sleep is injurious to health. There is something new in this issue too. For example, scientists recently proved that it is also bad. It has also been shown to cause insomnia and other sleep disorders. Smartphones and tablets have no place in the bed. Without the hormone melatonin, which is released during proper rest, the body does not have time to recover. As a result, the forces run out, and we feel the same decline in strength. The quality of sleep is improved by books, heart-to-heart conversations, light music, or milk with honey, or (at worst) sleeping pills and sedatives.

Relax

Business time, fun hour. But in practice it is clear that many of us do not know how to rest even an hour.

Folk remedies for the treatment of fatigue

To get rid of energy loss, weakness and recover strength faster, use this recipe: fill the bottle almost to the top with raw grated red beets and fill with vodka. Infuse the mixture in heat for 12 days. Drink 1 glass a day before meals.
With a strong loss of strength and overwork, it is useful to eat 1 tablespoon of garlic boiled with honey before meals.
Iceland moss is a good tonic. Two teaspoons of moss are poured into 2 cups of cold water, brought to a boil, cooled and filtered. Drink a dose during the day. You can also use a decoction: 20-25 g of moss is poured into 3/4 liters of boiling water, boiled for 30 minutes and filtered. The decoction is drunk during the day.
With general weakness and exhaustion, the following remedy is recommended. Put 200 g of bran in 1 liter of boiling water. Boil for 1 hour, then strain through cheesecloth or sieve; squeeze out the remaining broth and strain again. The decoction can be drunk 1/2-1 cup 3-4 times a day before meals. Sometimes a decoction is added to soups or kvass is prepared from it.
Mix 350 ml of red wine (preferably Cahors), 150 ml of aloe juice and 250 g of May honey. Aloe (3-5 years of age) until the leaves are cut, do not water for 3 days. Rinse the cut leaves, chop and squeeze the juice out of them. Mix all components, put in a glass jar, infuse in a dark place at a temperature of 4-8 ° C for a week. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals in case of loss of strength.
Celery raises the general tone of the body and enhances physical and mental performance. Pour two tablespoons of chopped roots into 200 ml of cold water, leave for 2 hours at room temperature and take several times during the day. The infusion is also recommended for allergic urticaria, gout, dermatitis, pyelonephritis and cystitis.
Grind 100 g of fresh astragalus herb and pour 1 liter of red wine. Infuse the mixture for 3 weeks, shaking occasionally. Then strain. Take a tincture of 30 g 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. This drink will help restore the body's defenses and relieve fatigue.
Baths with the addition of pine needle extract are useful for strengthening and recuperating after serious illnesses. Vapors saturated with essential oils have a beneficial effect on the mucous membranes, so it is good to add a few drops of real pine needle oil to the bath. To prepare the extract, take needles, twigs and cones, pour cold water and boil for 30 minutes. Cover and let it brew for 12 hours. A good extract should be brown (or green, if it is a pharmacy product) in color. For a bath, you need 750 ml of extract.
Grind rose hips and boil 2 tablespoons in 0.5 liters of water for 15 minutes over low heat. Wrap tightly and let the broth steep overnight, then strain. Drink the prepared rosehip decoction with honey throughout the day as a tea. It is advisable to refuse food on this day.
We advise you to drink daily on an empty stomach a mixture of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of liquid honey (or slightly warmed thick) and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, preferably olive. All the components that make up this healthy drink will help you look great and feel good.
Take 20 g of common chicory roots per 200 ml of boiling water. Prepare the decoction in the usual way. Take 1 tablespoon 5-6 times a day. You can also use a tincture of chicory roots: 20 g of roots per 100 ml of alcohol. Take 20-25 drops 5 times a day. Both decoction and tincture are used as a general tonic.
Garlic (slices) - 400 g, lemon (fruits) - 24 pieces. Garlic is peeled, washed, rubbed on a grater. Squeeze the juice from 24 lemons, mix with garlic, place in a glass jar and tie the neck with gauze. Take 1 teaspoon once a day, diluting the mixture in a glass of boiled water. The tool improves well-being and increases efficiency.
3 times a week to drink a glass of water decoction of potatoes with husks (more pleasant - cold). It is especially useful to drink water from under not quite cooked potatoes. There are a lot of vitamins A, B, C in the husk. This remedy helps with physical overwork.
2 teaspoons of juniper fruit pour 2 cups of cold water, leave for 2 hours and strain. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times daily as a tonic.
Ginseng root is used mainly in the form of pharmaceutical tincture. Take 15-20 drops 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment is 3-6 months in the autumn-winter season.
Take 15-20 drops of Eleutherococcus tincture (pharmacy) 2 times a day, in the morning and at lunch 30 minutes before meals. Eleutherococcus has a stimulating and tonic effect on the body, improves well-being, increases efficiency, and the body's resistance to adverse conditions.
In folk medicine, Schisandra chinensis is widely used as a tonic and tonic. The Nanais claim that if you eat a handful of dried lemongrass fruits, you can hunt all day long without eating and without feeling the usual fatigue in such cases. They can be brewed as tea or prepared as a decoction at the rate of 20 g of lemongrass fruits per 200 ml of boiling water. Prepare a decoction. Take 1 tablespoon 2-3 times a day warm on an empty stomach or 4 hours after a meal.
Finely chop half a lemon along with the zest. Add a few cloves of minced garlic and put everything in a half-liter jar. Fill the contents with cold boiled water. Close the container with a lid and infuse the mixture for 4 days in a dark place. Then store it in the refrigerator. To strengthen the body and against colds, take an infusion of a tablespoon once a day on an empty stomach 20 minutes before breakfast.
You can prepare a general strengthening mixture, for which they take 100 g of aloe juice, 500 g of walnut kernels, 300 g of honey, juice of 3-4 lemons. This remedy is taken to increase the body's resistance, 1 teaspoon 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
Put 100-150 g of finely chopped onion in a liter bowl, add 100 g of honey, pour in good grape wine, let it brew for 2 weeks, filter and consume 3-4 tablespoons daily. Wine helps protect the body from infections, strengthens the immune system, acts as a diuretic.
2 tablespoons of dried cinnamon rose hips put in a thermos and pour a glass of boiling water, leave for a day. Drink 1/3-1/2 cup 2-3 times a day after meals. Rosehip is used as a tonic for infectious diseases, anemia, bone fractures, to increase potency, improve sleep.

When strength is lost effective use of decoction of oats. Pour 1 cup of oat grains with 1 liter of water, boil over 5 low heat until the state of liquid jelly, then strain, add an amount of fresh milk equal to the broth by volume, 5 tbsp. honey and mix everything thoroughly. Drink 50 mg 3-4 times a day. The course of treatment is 2-3 months.

The fastest method treatment for depression- a cool shower, herbal tea and a piece of chocolate.

You can also take a bath with the addition of a decoction of pine needles. It has a beneficial effect on the upper respiratory tract, skin, and through nerve receptors - on the entire nervous system. Such baths increase the overall tone of the body. They can be taken 1-2 times a week.

Bring back a good mood and cure loss of energy the following folk method helps: mix 100 g of raisins, dried apricots, prunes, walnuts, add lemon and zest to them, pass everything together through a meat grinder and mix with 3 tbsp. spoons of honey. We store in the refrigerator. Take a tablespoon in the morning before breakfast. The whole mixture is a concentrate of almost all vitamins.

Proper nutrition is the best remedy from overwork and loss of strength. Research has shown that people who eat little but often often suffer less from fatigue and nervousness, while maintaining clarity of thought, unlike those who eat 2-3 times a day. Therefore, between main meals, it is recommended to eat some fruit, drink juice, a cup of tea with milk and a spoonful of honey, or a glass of peppermint infusion.

When strength is lost it is good to eat a few pieces of fish (especially pike); the phosphorus contained in it is necessary for brain function. People who are mainly engaged in mental activity are recommended to eat more walnuts, peanuts, almonds, peas, lentils. For the work of the endocrine glands, it is necessary to consume more raw vegetables, fruits, milk, yolks, whey.

Fresh green onions relieve the feeling of fatigue and drowsiness. With any fatigue, as well as with a disorder of the nervous system, it is recommended to shake the raw yolk in a glass of almost hot milk, put a little sugar in it and drink it slowly. This drink can be consumed 2-3 times a day.

To fight viruses, our body spends a huge amount of cells of the immune system. Many people after the flu feel weak, weak, lack of appetite. All these are the consequences of a viral attack, after which the immune system is completely exhausted. Even after the disappearance of all symptoms of the disease (fever, muscle aches, cough and runny nose) the body needs about two weeks to recover. But they should not be stored for a long time - two weeks, this is the maximum after which it is time to start worrying about health. In this case, vitamin-mineral complexes (primarily A, C, group B) and trace elements (iron, selenium, iodine etc.) Include high protein foods in your diet: - lean fish - lean meats - mushrooms - legumes (lentils, peas or beans) - nuts (3-4 walnuts or a handful of other types of nuts or seeds) - caviar (A teaspoon of caviar has a good effect). There are a number of products that regulate cellular immunity, activate phagocytosis, stimulate the formation of lymphocytes and antibodies. These are immunomodulating plants: chaga, ginseng root, chinese lemongrass , eleutherococcus, calendula flowers, chamomile, St. John's wort, onion, garlic. Alkaline mineral water, herbal teas, cranberry juice, lingonberries with honey, tea from ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, a little nutmeg will help to remove toxins from the body. Before eating, you can drink a decoction of immortelle. Can tea be St. John's wort.

Classic garlic tincture

Take 40 g of crushed garlic, 100 g of alcohol or vodka, a little mint for smell. Place the mashed garlic in a glass vessel, fill it with alcohol or vodka, close the lid tightly and leave for at least ten days in a dark place. The taste and smell of this tincture will become more pleasant if you add a little mint to it. It is recommended to take tincture ten drops two to three times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Another option: four to five cloves of garlic, a glass of dry red wine. Finely chop the garlic and pour over the wine. Leave for at least 3 hours. Take 1 teaspoon three times daily before meals.

Or one head of garlic, vegetable oil. Finely chop the garlic, pour in chilled vegetable oil and infuse for 6-8 hours. Take twice a day 20 minutes before meals.

There is also such a recipe: two or three heads of garlic, gelatin or honey. Cut the garlic into thin slices and dry. Then grind dry slices of garlic into powder and mix with gelatin to make capsules, or with honey to make honey pills. Take one pill or capsule three times daily before meals.

onion medicine recipe

Pour boiling water over the peeled and chopped onion, wait three minutes, then strain. It is necessary to drink a drink immediately, as vitamins quickly disappear due to hot water. The taste can be improved by adding a little honey. This recipe is also suitable for those who are sick with bronchitis, as the onion softens the cough and helps to expectorate sputum. It is better to brew such tea in the evening, because the onion calms the nervous system well and promotes sleep.

Each person can experience a decrease in strength. The condition can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, but one symptom that everyone has is severe and prolonged fatigue.

Sometimes it is not possible to independently determine the decline in performance, for this reason, you need to know the symptoms of loss of strength. It is also required to consider the causes and methods of treatment.

Loss of energy symptoms

A sharp decline in strength can appear in everyone - in a child, an elderly person, an adult.

The condition occurs in any season, but often it manifests itself in the fall, this is due to the fact that during this period many people experience a lack of vitamins and a decrease in the immune system.

It is worth noting! If a breakdown, fatigue, lethargy is observed for 2-3 days and then disappears, then you should not worry.

But if the condition drags on for a long period, then you should contact a psychotherapist and a psychologist, they will help you quickly cope with it.

Loss of energy symptoms may include:

lethargy and constant sleepiness.
If the symptoms are observed constantly, even after a long sound sleep, then you should pay attention to them, perhaps they are signs of the development of an unpleasant process.
dizziness, headaches, physical discomfort.
May occur nausea just like that, sometimes appetite disappears. Symptoms may occur when there is a decrease in energy during pregnancy.
Frequent jumps in blood pressure. During internal exhaustion, low pressure appears.
Are celebrated manifestations of tinnitus, a feeling of heaviness behind the hearing organs, sometimes there are dark flickering points in front of the eyes.
Violation motor functions.
For days, a person's performance indicators decrease. He cannot concentrate on work, constantly gets confused, makes mistakes, looks inhibited.
Many there may be a depressed state of mind, accompanied by a general breakdown.
In this case, memory impairment, memory loss may additionally appear.
There are cases when people during this unpleasant condition manifest phantom pain sensations, respiratory distress for no apparent reason.
Many temperature changes throughout the day. But a decline in strength is characterized by a persistent decrease in temperature.
Additionally a person may experience emotional states as during menstruation.
He can be sad, angry, aggressive and anxious.
Sometimes there is a state close to tears, a feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, irritability, apathy, irascibility.
Absence interest in what is happening around.
Manifestations I persistent weakness, as after illness, malaise, excessive sweating.

Causes of weakness and decline in vitality

A decline in strength is considered a physiological state during which a reduction in vitality occurs. As mentioned above, it is accompanied by various symptoms. And what causes this disease?

Consider the main causes in women, men, children, the elderly, leading to a decrease in vital energy:

Decreased energy can cause prolonged sleep deprivation. A person should sleep at least 6 hours at night, but 8 hours is better.
Performing increased physical training.
Mental loads.
Nervous breakdowns, frequent stressful situations.
A decline in vitality can occur during a lack of certain vitamins, with beriberi. Obviously, the condition manifests itself in the cold seasons, off-season (autumn, spring).
Abrupt changes in weather conditions.
A drop in energy can occur when the activity of the thyroid gland, pancreas is disturbed.
Changes in the glycemic index.
Misuse of many drugs.
Monotonous and routine work.

How to restore strength and energy?

How to restore strength, and overcome the decline of energy? What to do in these situations? You can bring back to normal working capacity and restore vigor on your own at home.

Of course, for this you will need to follow some recommendations, but they can really bring the condition back to normal.

If you need to get yourself back to normal before a birthday or before an important meeting, then follow a number of useful recommendations indicated in the table:

Recommendations	Description
Need to make some dietary changes	Regardless of who has a decrease in energy - in men, women, children, the elderly, fruits, vegetables, berries, greens should be included in the menu. These components contain an increased level of vitamins and trace elements. For a while, you should stop eating chocolate and other sweets. You should not drink tonic drinks with caffeine, they will not be able to cheer up, but only worsen the condition
drink water	It is worth drinking up to two liters per day. Liquid increases metabolic processes, cleanses the body of harmful substances
Get out into the fresh air	Try to walk on the street in the evening, it causes an increase in energy.
Follow the regime	Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Children and the elderly should take at least 40 minutes of sleep breaks during the day
To improve the condition, you can resort to aromatherapy, relaxation and music therapy procedures.	If you feel severe overwork, fatigue, malaise, then take a warm bath with aromatic oils to relaxing music and a pleasant massage. This will help eliminate the symptoms of physical overexertion, as well as add strength.
move more	Constant physical activity has a beneficial effect on the general condition. It increases strength and restores performance
More positive emotions	Do what you love to do, chat with friends
Immunity Boost	With a breakdown, a lack of useful components, vitamins should be taken, especially iron and vitamin D

Treatment with folk remedies

If there is a constant decline in strength, then you can use the treatment of folk remedies. It is absolutely safe for health, but at the same time it shows increased efficiency.

Important! If there is a strong decline in strength, then it is better to consult a doctor.

During the examination, he may prescribe the use of stimulants and antidepressants. But they should be taken only under the supervision of a medical professional.

The following recipes for herbal remedies, natural ingredients have a good effect:

Medicine based on aloe juice, honey and lemon. Mix juice, aloe, lemon and honey in a cup in equal amounts.
It should be consumed 1-2 times a day before meals.
Tincture based on St. John's wort. Pour 1 large spoonful of herbs into a thermos and pour a glass of hot water.
Good effect has carrot juice.
Tea with ginger. Ginger tea has a good invigorating effect, causes a quick recovery of strength.
A small piece of the root (1 cm) needs to be rubbed finely, pour it with a glass of hot water.
Add some green tea and a slice of lemon to the tea. You can drink a drink with the addition of honey or sugar.

You can easily restore the breakdown yourself, the main thing is to follow all the important recommendations.

It is advisable to contact a psychotherapist and psychologist when an unpleasant condition appears.

Medical specialists will be able to identify the underlying cause and select an effective treatment that can increase performance.

Useful video

In this article, I want to talk to you about prostration. It happens to every person when he has no strength left for anything. Here we will talk about the causes of loss of strength, about its symptoms. I will definitely tell you what to do and how to be treated when this happens to you. Read this article to the end and very carefully.

Loss of strength: causes and symptoms

You know, today I have a breakdown. Perhaps that is why I decided to write this article. It's hard for me to write now. I know why I feel weak today. The reason is lack of sleep. Usually I always sleep soundly and get enough sleep, but today I somehow could not sleep. All night I stared at the ceiling. Then I woke up at 7 o'clock in the morning and went to do my business. I barely made them today. My head was not thinking, my hands were trembling slightly, my mood was bad. I decided to drop everything and take a nap. After two hours of sleep, I felt much better. Now I write these lines with ease, although at the beginning I thought for ten minutes about what kind of introduction I should write.

We go further. Today I was riding in a crowded public transport. I noticed that after leaving the minibus, I noticeably weakened. I was exhausted while stuck in a traffic jam like a sprat in a tin can. If you find yourself in this position every morning and every evening, it is not surprising that you feel a breakdown. The city exhausts the person.

The eternal companion of a breakdown is a constant and nerves. When a person is nervous, his vitality plummets. Like a vacuum cleaner sucking energy. Stress and nerves are the cause of sleep deprivation. A person cannot sleep because he is worried about something. I was the one who couldn't sleep today because I was worried about some things. Then in the morning, being in a crowded minibus, I stood in a traffic jam, forgot to eat, and two hours later I could hardly walk down the street, I could hardly lift my legs. Stress and nerves are two fat reasons for a breakdown.

There you can include the eternal fuss. Agree that energy becomes less when you are in a hurry somewhere. You start to get nervous, in a hurry, things are done poorly because of the haste, stress arises and that’s it, hello breakdown. Read articles: and.

You can probably keep quiet about overwork. Everything is crystal clear here. If a person works a lot and rests little, then, as a result, a breakdown will certainly occur. A person simply does not have time to recover from hard work. If he works 18 hours and rests only 6 hours, then it’s easy to get exhausted.

Now about the symptoms of loss of strength. I will be brief: You constantly want to sleep, desire to do nothing, irritation, you can hardly stand on your feet. All of the above are symptoms of low energy.

Power loss what to do? Treatment

To increase brain function and improve the immune system of the body, prepare a mixture of juice squeezed from aloe leaves, lemon juice and honey. Proportions do not play an important role, but it is necessary to take all components in the same proportions. You can prepare this delicious natural remedy each time before use by squeezing lemon and aloe juice into a tablespoon and adding a teaspoon of honey. Take this medicine in the morning before meals and you will soon feel your strength return to you again.

Eat a carrot. Carrots are enriched with vitamins A, C, E, K, PP. This is a whole set of trace elements important for the human body. Carrots belong to the category of antioxidant plants that prolong life well. Frequent consumption of carrots increases the tone of the body, which is necessary in the event of a breakdown. Make more carrot juice.

From berries, I advise you to eat gooseberries and black currants. Berries are also enriched with all sorts of vitamins and microelements to raise the tone of the body. In addition, they are very tasty and cheer up a person. Eat vegetables and fruits, as well as various cereals. Drink water. I forbid you to drink coffee and any soda.

And the best thing you can do is treat yourself to a great holiday. In fact, rest is the best way to restore the body. You can go to the sauna, massage, go on vacation abroad, swim in the sea. This is what you need to focus on right now.

Finally, I have prepared a video for you, from which you will learn what you need to eat in order to be always energetic. Nutrition is very important. And if you know energy products, then you won't even need a rest. You will be powerful like a robot. So be sure to watch the video.

I wish you to always be energetic, so that the topic of a decline in strength is forgotten by you forever. Ask your questions in the comments. That's all for me.

loss of strength, causes, symptoms, what to do, treatment


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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) causes a lack of energy, constant exhaustion that affects the quality of life and does not go away after sleep or rest.

This condition used to have other names, for example, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), myalgic encephalopathy, nervous asthenia, and others.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition that leads to a long-term disability that can worsen over the years. According to statistics, only 17-64% of patients experience a gradual improvement in well-being, in 10-20% of cases, on the contrary, the decline in strength and energy progresses. Complete recovery is possible in approximately 10% of cases, more often in children and adolescents.

Anyone can develop CFS, although it is more common in women. As a rule, the disease manifests itself at the age of 20-45 years. CFS also occurs in children, usually between 13 and 15 years of age.

In most cases, symptoms are mild or moderate, but about 25% of people have severe symptoms of CFS. There are the following criteria for the severity of the disease:

Mild symptoms: a person is able to take care of himself, but sometimes he needs to take a day off to rest.
Moderate symptoms: the ability to move may be limited, and various symptoms may also be observed. Sleep patterns may be disturbed, sometimes a person has to sleep in the afternoon.
Severe symptoms: a person is able to perform a minimum number of tasks, such as brushing his teeth, but his ability to move around is severely limited. You may also have trouble concentrating.

The causes of chronic fatigue are not fully understood. There are several theories of its origin:

viral infection;
hormonal imbalance;
psychological disorders, such as stress or emotional trauma.

Presumably, some people have a genetic predisposition to this disease, as it is more common in some families. For the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, there are several methods that are usually used in combination. These are drug therapy, psychotherapy, physiotherapy exercises and lifestyle correction.

Chronic fatigue (CFS): symptoms

Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are individual, often the course of the disease consists of alternating periods of exacerbation and improvement. For some time, the symptoms may disappear, and the person returns to the usual rhythm of life. Then fatigue, drowsiness and loss of strength overcome with renewed vigor, affecting the quality of life.

Constant physical and mental fatigue- the main symptom of CFS that does not go away after sleep or rest and prevents a person from doing daily activities. Most people with CFS describe this fatigue as overwhelming and say it is different from the fatigue they have experienced before.

Physical activity can exacerbate symptoms. Sometimes this does not appear immediately: fatigue may appear after a few hours or the next day after playing sports. In severe CFS, a person is unable to do anything by himself or is only able to perform simple tasks, such as brushing his teeth. Sometimes people spend all their time in bed and can't even leave the house.

There are other common symptoms besides fatigue and low energy, but most people experience only a few of them. These symptoms include the following:

muscle, joint or severe headache;
poor short-term memory, impaired concentration, difficulty in trying to concentrate, find the right word, "head in a fog";
soreness of the lymph nodes;
abdominal pain and other symptoms similar to irritable bowel syndrome, such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea and nausea;
a sore throat;
sleep disturbance, such as insomnia or feeling tired upon waking;
sensitivity to light, loud noises, alcohol and certain foods or their intolerance;
psychological disturbances such as depression, irritability and panic attacks;
less common symptoms such as dizziness, sweating, fluctuations in body temperature.

Causes of fatigue

The exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not known, but there are several theories. Some experts believe that CFS can be triggered by a viral infection, such as mononucleosis. Weakness after a viral infection is normal, but it does not explain why CFS symptoms do not improve over time and gradually become more severe.

Other possible causes of fatigue:

disorders of the immune system;
hormonal imbalance;
psychiatric disorders - in some cases, the disease is associated with emotional exhaustion, stress, depression and psychological trauma;
heredity - some people may inherit a predisposition to chronic fatigue syndrome, as this disease sometimes runs in families;
any physical injury - in some cases, the disease developed after a surgical operation or a serious accident.

A combination of factors may be the cause of fatigue in CFS, and these issues are currently being studied.

Diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome

There is no specific analysis or examination for chronic fatigue syndrome, but the diagnosis of the syndrome can take a long time, as other diseases that have similar symptoms must first be ruled out. Most often, the diagnosis and treatment of CFS is carried out by a neurologist or generalists: general practitioner, pediatrician (for children), family doctor.

When you see a doctor with symptoms of severe persistent fatigue, you will need to tell how the disease appeared and developed, which worsens the symptoms or brings relief. After that, the doctor will conduct an examination.

To exclude other diseases that cause a feeling of constant fatigue and drowsiness, for example, anemia, hypothyroidism, hepatitis or kidney disease, blood tests, urine tests and other studies are prescribed.

If the examination excludes other causes of fatigue, your doctor should evaluate your condition against special criteria that have been adopted by the International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study Group. According to these criteria, CFS is possible if fatigue and loss of energy persist for 6 months or more, are not relieved by rest, and significantly limit daily activities. In addition, the person must have at least 4 of the following symptoms:

memory impairment and problems concentrating;
sore throat (pharyngitis);
soreness of the lymph nodes in the neck and armpits;
muscle pain or stiffness;
joint pain without signs of inflammation (no swelling and redness);
the appearance of a headache and a change in its type and severity;
sleep problems;
worsening of symptoms after physical or mental effort.

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome

So far, there is no specific treatment that can definitely get rid of chronic fatigue syndrome. However, there are ways by which it can be facilitated. Treatment in each case is selected individually, based on existing complaints and diseases. Early diagnosis, medication to relieve symptoms, and lifestyle changes can all help.

Treatment is aimed at:

maintaining and, if possible, developing the mental and physical abilities of the patient;
control of disease symptoms.

There are various treatments for CFS, described below, but it is important to remember that the effects of treatment vary from person to person. During treatment, repeated correction of treatment approaches may be required, including if therapy does not work for several days and symptoms worsen.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for CFS

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps to relieve fatigue - a type of psychotherapy that allows you to change a person's attitude to the manifestations of the disease. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to relieve symptoms and control their effect on the psyche. To do this, the problems that put pressure on a person are broken down into smaller ones, and the cycle of interconnected negative thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions is also broken.

Ideally, the physician conducting the therapy sessions should be experienced in treating chronic fatigue, and the sessions should be one-on-one. Treatment is selected individually and may include the following elements:

assistance in making a diagnosis;
struggle with thoughts that interfere with symptom relief;
attempts to increase the person's sense of control over their symptoms.

Therapeutic exercise for chronic fatigue

A specially selected step-by-step training plan is aimed at gradually increasing the time during which a person can perform physical work. Typically, the training schedule includes aerobic activities (accelerating heart rate), such as swimming or walking. The plan is drawn up individually, taking into account the level of physical fitness.

Training is carried out strictly under the supervision of a physiotherapist who has experience in the treatment of CFS. It is preferable that the lessons take place individually. Having determined the basic level of load (comfortable for a person before training), the doctor will gradually increase the duration of training and their intensity.

Also, the doctor will set goals for the person, for example, to go to the store or work in the garden. It may take weeks, months, or even years to achieve these goals, but in no case should the specified load level be exceeded prematurely.

Medications to relieve fatigue

There are no drugs specifically designed to treat chronic fatigue syndrome, but various medications can help relieve the symptoms of the disease. For example, pain in various parts of the body can be relieved with painkillers.

Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, a weak tricyclic antidepressant, may be prescribed for pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. It has contraindications, for example, it should not be taken with heart disease. It can also cause side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, dizziness, and drowsiness.

If chronic fatigue syndrome is accompanied by severe nausea, antiemetics may be prescribed.

In addition to treatment from specialists, you can relieve fatigue with simple lifestyle tips. For example, try to regulate your physical activity by balancing the periods of sleep and wakefulness, do not overload yourself and do not try to do more than you can do. Otherwise, it may negatively affect the prognosis of CFS. Over time, periods of activity can be increased.

By properly managing the available forces, you can do more things. To do this, you need to properly plan your schedule for the day and even the week ahead. By doing things right—instead of rushing to get as much done as possible in a short space of time—you can make steady progress.

The following rules may also help:

avoid stressful situations;
refrain from alcohol, caffeine, sugar and sweeteners;
avoid any foods and drinks that cause a negative reaction of the body;
Eat regular small meals to relieve nausea
rest a lot;
try not to sleep for a long time, as excessively long sleep can worsen symptoms.

Despite treatment and lifestyle changes, relapses sometimes occur. This is a period of time when all the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome intensify, and the person is unable to perform their usual activities. Relapses in CFS are common and can be caused by a number of factors, such as infection or overwork. Sometimes there is no obvious reason.

To alleviate the condition during this period, it is recommended to rest more. The doctor may prescribe a set of therapeutic manipulations during a relapse, in order to more easily alleviate its manifestations. With time and treatment, many people with chronic fatigue syndrome get better.

Alternative Treatments and Nutritional Supplements

Some people with CFS report that alternative therapies such as relaxation techniques, yoga, kinesitherapy, massage, taking vitamins or dietary supplements, etc., help them. Although there is no scientific evidence of their effectiveness yet, you can use these methods in addition to traditional treatment.

Which doctor should I contact for chronic fatigue?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is usually treated by a neurologist. However, other diseases can have similar symptoms, so a therapist can help you diagnose. You can find these specialists using the NaPopravka service by clicking on the links. A whole team of doctors will deal with the complex treatment of symptoms, to figure out which specialist you need, use the section