Smart Senior

Have you ever felt so tired
that you could barely keep your eyes open? 
Do you feel that way every day?  Fatigue
pervades our society.  How much is
physical and how much is psychological has always been debatable.  Unless an illness is present many cases of
fatigue are thought to be psychological but Dr. Elizabeth Smoots (www.drsmoots.com) in an article for the
Herald (Tuesday, 08.27.13 WWW.HERALDNET.COM/LIVING)
reminds us that fatigue is often more than just feeling sleepy or exhausted.

Seniors often complain about fatigue, even though they can
no longer blame a physically or mentally demanding day job.  What is it that contributes to this desire to
yawn and doze away the afternoons?  Many
people feel that it is Mother Nature’s way of telling them to “slow down,” but
is it?

Researchers say that a
common error in making a diagnosis is connecting overwork with fatigue. Many
factors, some complex and some apparent, may contribute to fatigue and should
be investigated.  Chronic fatigue should never be thought of as a normal part of aging.

What could be some
contributing factors?

• Nutrition: severe depletion of nutrients in the
  body
• Environment: being bombarded by noise in the
  home, workplace or outdoors
• Stress: physical and emotional stress
• Depression
• Work: housework, factory work, and computer work
  that is routine and unimaginative.
• Alcoholism
• Shift Work: anyone out of sync with the day work
  routine is vulnerable to fatigue
• Coffee and caffeine are major villains
• Hypothyroidism or tumors: undetected or ignored
  can be a basis for chronic fatigue
• Undiscovered illness; anemia and asthma,
  infections, arthritis, heart problems
• Drugs and medications often produce side effects
  that are fatigue inducing. A large portion of the senior population use
  medications that can induce feelings of lethargy
• Fatigue is often a predecessor to illness. Diabetes
  or other chronic diseases conditions may be the culprit
• Poor sleep habits

That is quite a list isn’t
it?  Excessive fatigue is not normal and
may be treatable.  Independent living requires active participation on your part; it
is not the time to be snoozing the afternoons away. It is okay to “slow down”
but it is not okay to be too tired to participate.