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The word '''fatigue''' is used in everyday living to describe a range of afflictions, varying from a general state of 'lethargy' to a specific work-induced burning sensation within one's muscles. It can be both physical and mental. Physical fatigue is the inability to continue functioning at the level of one's normal abilities^[1][2][3]. It is in everyday life, but usually becomes particularly noticeable during heavy exercise. Mental fatigue, on the other hand, rather manifests in somnolence.

Contents

Types

Physical fatigue

Mental fatigue

Causes

Diseases

Medications

See also

References

External links

Types

Physical fatigue

Physical fatigue or 'muscle weakness' (or "lack of strength") is a direct term for the inability to exert force with ones muscles to the degree that would be expected given the individual's general physical fitness. A test of strength is often used during a diagnosis of a muscular disorder before the etiology can be identified. Such etiology depends on the type of muscle weakness, which can be true or perceived as well as central or peripheral. True weakness is substantial, while perceived rather is a sensation of having to pur more effort to do the same task. On the other hand, central muscle weakness is an overall exhaustion of the whole body, while peripheral weakness is an exhaustion of individual muscles.

Mental fatigue

In addition to physical, fatigue also includes mental fatigue, not necessarily including any muscle fatigue. Such a mental fatigue, in turn, can manifest itself both as somnolence (decreased wakefulness) or just as a general decrease of attention, not necessarily including sleepiness. In any case, this can be dangerous when performing tasks that require constant concentration, such as driving a vehicle. For instance, when a person is sufficiently somnolent, he or she may experience microsleeps. However, objective cognitive testing should be done to differentiate the neurocognitive deficits of brain disease from those attributable to tiredness.

Causes

Fatigue is typically the result of working, mental stress, jet lag or active recreation, and also boredom, disease and lack of sleep. It may also have chemical causes, such as poisoning or mineral or vitamin deficiencies.
The sense of fatigue is believed to originate in the reticular activating system of the lower brain. Musculoskeletal structures may have co-evolved with appropriate brain structures so that the complete unit functions together in a constructive and adaptive fashion.^[4] The entire systems of muscles, joints, and and functions plus parts of the brain evolve and function together in a unitary way.^[5]

Diseases

Temporary fatigue is likely to be e.g. common cold. Chronic fatigue, on the other hand, meaning of six months or more duration, is a symptom of nearly 30 different diseases.

★ Addison's disease

★ AIDS

★ Anemia

★ Ankylosing Spondylitis

★ Anorexia Nervosa

★ Anxiety or Panic Disorder

★ Arthritis

★ ATRT - Brain Cancer

★ Autoimmune disease

★ B12 Deficiency

★ Cancer Syndrome

★ Chemical dependency

★ Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

★ Clinical depression

★ Congestive Heart Failure

★ Crohn's Disease

★ Diabetes

★ Epstein-Barr Virus

★ Endometriosis

★ Fibromyalgia

★ Hemochromatosis

★ Hepatitis C

★ HIV

★ Hyperthyroidism/Graves' Disease

★ Hyperparathyroidism

★ Hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

★ Idiopathic Hypersomnia

★ Lead poisoning

★ Leukemia or Lymphoma

★ Lupus erythematosus

★ Lyme disease

★ Interstitial Cystitis

★ Mitral valve prolapse/Mitral regurgitation

★ Mononucleosis

★ Multiple sclerosis

★ Muscular Dystrophy

★ Myasthenia gravis

★ Parkinson's disease

★ Pernicious anemia

★ Pneumonia

★ Post-Cancer Fatigue

★ Post-Concussion Syndrome

★ Pregnancy

★ Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC)

★ Reyes Syndrome

★ Certain medications, e.g. lithium salts, ciprofloxacin

★ Sinusitis

★ Sleep deprivation

★ Sleep disorders, e.g. insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, or narcolepsy

★ Starvation

★ Ulcerative colitis

★ Wegener's granulomatosis

Medications

★ Beta blocker medication causes fatigue, especially after exertion, inducing exercise intolerance. ^[6]

See also

★ Somnolence

★ Insomnia

★ Combat stress reaction (Battle fatigue)

★ Malaise

★ Asthenia

★ Paresis

★ Debility

★ Muscle weakness

★ Muscle fatigue

★ Infectious mononucleosis

★ Celiac disease (gluten sensitivity)

References

1. Some central and peripheral factors affecting human motoneuronal output in neuromuscular fatigue, Gandevia SC, , , Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 1992
2. Muscular endurance and surface electromyogram in isometric and dynamic exercise, Hagberg M, , , Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology, 1981
3. Fatigue revisited, Hawley JA, Reilly T, , , Journal of sports sciences, 1997
4. The remembered present: a biological theory of consciousness, Edelman, Gerald Maurice, , , Basic Books, 1989,
5. Dynamic patterns: the self-organization of brain and behavior, Kelso, J. A. Scott, , , MIT Press, 1995,
6. Fatigue caused by medications

External links

★ National Cancer Institute