In doctor’s offices all over the United States, fatigue is the most common complaint by patients.  It is probably the most over looked complaint that gets lost in the shuffle of the patient’s main complaint and its prescription.  An in-depth look into fatigue includes ruling out many possible causes such as anemia, side effects of medications, eating disorders, insomnia, poor diet, and endocrine imbalances to name a few.  This list is not exhaustive, but rarely is fatigue given a thorough work up in its beginning stages and given the attention it requires.

Why is addressing fatigue properly so crucial?  How does one enjoy running around after their children, or bask in the glory of the summer sun when they are feeling pooped (that is a technical term)?  Fatigue can be so debilitating that it hurts, physically and emotionally.  Severe fatigue can keep people cooped up in their houses, incapable of living their life to their full potential.  Fatigue causes an inability to participate in life, and with the social stigma of being called lazy or boring, this can lead to depression along with a host of other illnesses.

A closer inspection of your diet is the first step for those suffering from fatigue.  Does your diet lack essential nutrients?  Is it properly balanced with fruits, vegetables and healthy grains, do you make it a point to include protein with each meal?  Often people pick quick, on-the-go, meals which have tons of sodium, sugar and preservatives.  Lacking the nutrients that our bodies need, these processed foods often are heavy in simple carbohydrates and calories.  To deal with their fatigue people often stop off and buy their favorite sugar rich caffeine drink. You know what I’m talking about, and I’m guilty of it as well, but the rapid rise and fall of your blood sugar leaves you even more tired!

Along with addressing dietary insufficiencies, your doctor can take a closer look at lab testing to rule out any infections, underlying anemia, adrenal or thyroid issues.  I prefer to rule out adrenal fatigue through salivary analysis, which is an easy, non invasive way for patients to submit samples throughout the day.  A four point cortisol is analyzed along with other adrenal hormones to evaluate overall adrenal function. A decline in adrenal function is the most common cause of fatigue that I see in my office.   The adrenal glands are found on top of the kidneys and these little powerhouses secrete steroid hormones such as cortisol, estrogen and testosterone.  The main purpose of the adrenal glands is to help your body deal with stress. With the results in hand a supportive program is outlined to nourish the adrenals and also address potential sources of stress in the patient’s life.

The way a particular stress impacts our life is dependent on how we react to it.  Two people facing the exact same situation can have dramatically different responses to it.  Often people don’t realize that we can shift our thought process and change our experience through a situation.  If traffic is a fact of life on your daily commute – getting worked up over it and angry at other commuters is not going to help. Leaving 5 minutes early and listening to a soothing CD can change your experience and stress response in your body dramatically.  There are situations you can control by making small changes to your daily routine.  However, if those changes are still not enough it is crucial to evaluate all possible causes and factors so you can live a more healthy life with the energy you need day to day.  How do you make the best out of a stressful situation you have little control over?

So if you find yourself struggling with fatigue on a daily basis here are 5 tips you can employ right away:

1. Get some exercise – start with breaks from your desk every 30-60 minutes for a quick stretch and also include a walk at lunch time.
2. Eat healthy foods and beverages – include adequate amounts of protein!
3. Get enough sleep – help rejuvenate your body and its systems by setting a regular schedule for bedtime and waking up.
4. Reduce your stress levels – by doing deep breathing exercises and relaxation techniques.
5. Add a multi-vitamin – include a high quality multi-vitamin to help make up for any nutritional deficiencies.

If the above 5 tips don’t help improve your fatigue, schedule an appointment with your doctor to address the symptoms you are experiencing.