Anyone can feel tired. It is a common symptom in daily life. Rest often leads to natural recovery, but sometimes it is overlooked. Regardless of the cause, fatigue that persists for more than six months or recurs is called 'chronic fatigue.' Should you always rest thoroughly when you feel tired? Is there nothing wrong with your body?

 

Chronic Fatigue vs Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

 

Medically, there is a term called 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.' According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, it refers to one of the underlying diseases among various factors that cause chronic fatigue symptoms. In other words, chronic fatigue refers to the symptom of fatigue itself, but chronic fatigue syndrome can be diagnosed based on strict medical criteria. Patients complaining of chronic fatigue are very common, but those who actually meet the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome are rare.

Tired but want to exercise? ... If you only rest, your muscles will deteriorate.

 

In the past, it was generally recommended for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome to avoid strenuous physical activity and to rest completely. However, recent research has shown that gradual aerobic exercise can help improve symptoms, leading to a change in this perspective. Patients tend to avoid exercise altogether due to extreme fatigue and prefer to rest. However, this can actually damage muscle condition and worsen fatigue symptoms.

Recently, patients are being encouraged to exercise within their possible limits. Of course, since physical conditions vary, it cannot be applied uniformly to all patients. Gradually increasing aerobic exercises such as walking, cycling, and swimming can help patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Exercising at least five days a week for a minimum of 12 weeks is recommended. Depending on the physical condition, each session can start with 5 to 15 minutes of exercise, gradually increasing the duration to a maximum of 30 minutes. If fatigue symptoms are severe, lower-intensity exercises are necessary.

 

Unusual fatigue… When is a doctor's examination definitely necessary?

 

1) When fatigue symptoms suddenly appear and are so severe from the beginning that they affect daily life

2) Cases where fatigue was not severe at first but gradually worsened over time

3) When it persists for more than a month even without severe fatigue

If you experience fatigue along with a slight fever, muscle aches, joint pain, headaches, decreased memory and concentration, feel unrefreshed even after waking up in the morning, feel exhausted the next day despite normal activity, or experience weight loss, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

 

Signs of anemia, diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney disease, or cancer.

 

Common illnesses associated with complaints of fatigue include severe anemia, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and male menopause. Kidney diseases such as chronic renal failure and chronic nephritis are also common. Infectious diseases like tuberculosis, acute and chronic viral hepatitis are also causes. Hypertension and various heart diseases can also present with fatigue. Sleep disorders such as depression, anxiety, and sleep apnea are also related. Since these symptoms can sometimes be signals of cancer, it is advisable to identify the cause through medical examinations.

 

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Always feeling exhausted and so fatigued that it interferes with daily life.

If it is severe, it could indicate a health problem.

 

If fatigue becomes excessive, it seems to turn into a chronic condition.

It's better to resolve it as it happens.