Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most frequently experienced symptoms of menopause, with up to 80% of women reporting this experience at one time or another. Hard to pinpoint and sneaky in its effects, fatigue can make this already tumultuous time period even harder to deal with by making women irritable and unable to concentrate during the daytime. Primarily caused by the hormonal changes that come along with menopause, fatigue can be exacerbated  by  other  illnesses,  other  menopausal

Around 20% of Americans claim to have fatigue intense enough to interfere with their normal life. Physical causes are estimated at 20-60%, and emotional causes are the other 40-80%.

symptoms, or behavior and lifestyle. By understanding more about the causes and effects of fatigue, it is fortunately possible to overcome it. Read on to learn more about fatigue, how to recognize it, its causes, and possible treatment options to regain energy.

Fatigue	About Fatigue In order to discuss what fatigue is, it is helpful to not only define it but also to outline the signs and symptoms of fatigue in menopause. Fatigue is defined as an ongoing and persistent feeling of weakness, tiredness, and lowered energy level. This should be distinguished from drowsiness, which implies an actual urge to sleep. Fatigue involves lack of energy rather than sleepiness. Another distinction that must be made is that between fatigue as a symptom of menopause and chronic fatigue syndrome, which is a more serious and complicated disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome includes periods of extreme fatigue that do not improve with bed rest, may worsen with physical or mental activity, and is often tied to other illnesses.
Fatigue Overview About Fatigue Definition Symptoms Crashing Fatigue Causes of Fatigue Hormonal causes Disease causes Fatigue Treatments

This symptom can be distinguished by a variety of characteristics, both mental and physical. Oftentimes these symptoms can be experienced in tandem with each other. A woman undergoing menopause might feel a lag in energy levels that lasts all day, or experience shorter bursts of fatigue intermittently.

Fatigue is particularly frustrating as it has this duel effect on both mind and body, making the completion of normal tasks difficult if not impossible.

Click the following link to read more about fatigue, or continue reading to learn about the causes of fatigue.

Causes of Fatigue

For women undergoing the menopausal transition, the most likely cause of fatigue is the fluctuation in hormones that occurs naturally during this time. Hormones are responsible for controlling energy at the cellular level, thus when levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease, so do energy levels. Compounding this, hormones also play a role in regulating the sleep cycle. These fluctuations will also affect a woman´s ability to get a good night of rest, leading to fatigue in the morning.

Other hormones that are involved in this process include the thyroid and adrenal hormones, as well as melatonin. These all work at the cellular level to regulate energy levels, thus when the hormone levels naturally decrease during menopause, so does a woman´s energy. This is what leads to the feeling of persistent fatigue.

While most middle aged women experiencing fatigue as a result of the hormonal changes that occur naturally during this time period, there are certain other, less common conditions such as thyroid disorders or depression, that are capable of causing fatigue as well.

Other Causes of Fatigue: • Adrenal Fatigue • Thyroid dysfunction • Sleep disorders • Narcolepsy • Psychological Illness • Depression • Anxiety • Chronic fatigue syndrome • Sleep Apnea • Heart Disease • Anemia

Risk Factors for Fatigue: • Allergies • Alcohol/Drugs/Caffeine • Poor Diet • Stress • Jet Lag • Sedentary Lifestyle • Boredom

Click here to learn more about the causes of fatigue or keep reading to learn more about the different treatment options for this troubling menopausal symptom.

Treatments for Fatigue

The most effective approach, as fatigue in menopausal women is primarily caused by a hormonal imbalance, is to treat the problem directly at the hormonal source. A variety of natural and alternative supplements exist that may be able to address this imbalance.

For more prolonged or drastic cases of fatigue, it may be necessary to seek the advice of a healthcare professional and possibly seek surgical or pharmaceutical options, though these carry the most risk of side effects.

Click the following link to learn specific treatments for fatigue, which begin with lifestyle changes, move onto alternative medicines, and finally, if those options don´t seem to help, drugs and surgery. The most affective treatments for mood swings typically combine lifestyle changes and alternative medicines.

Return to home page and learn more about the 34 Menopause Symptoms.

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Review on November 2nd, 2011 Eating shiitake mushrooms to deal with your menopausal fatigue The Far East, and Japan in particular, has long been associated with having the answers to ... Review on November 2nd, 2011 How to deal with fatigue at work You’ve been struggling to get up in the morning since a time you struggle to remember, but now it’s different. It’s not just getting... Review on August 3rd, 2011 How to fight fatigue with your morning routine If you’re plagued with constant exhaustion, what you do right after you wake up can make all the... Review on August 1st, 2011 How Walking Can Fight Fatigue during Menopause Fatigue is a tricky symptom of menopause because there is no way to measure how tired you are; it... Review on June 30th, 2011 Foods to fight fatigue during the menopause Fatigue affects so many women during the menopausal period, and if you are one of them, then you have probably found that its effects... Review on June 22th, 2011 The Benefits of Citrus Fruits for Fatigue during Menopause They’re aromatic, juicy, and…great for menopause? Specifically, citrus fruits provide essential...

Review on June 13th, 2011 Exercise tips to help combat fatigue Fatigue is an exceedingly common symptom of menopause, reportedly affecting 80% of women when they go through “the change.” Caused by... Review on May 24th, 2011 Will beans help you fight fatigue? To bean or not to bean… A lot of people who suffer with fatigue in menopause will grab for a cup of coffee before setting... Review on May 11th, 2011 How caffeine exacerbates fatigue during menopause If you can’t bear the thought of getting out of bed in the morning unless you have a cup of coffee... Review on April 30th, 2011 A day of good habits to fight menopausal fatigue It’s ten o’clock in the morning and you feel like you haven’t slept in days. You can’t understand it... Review on April 6th, 2011 How Can You Reduce Fatigue? Fatigue is a common symptom of menopause, and one that can easily disrupt your everyday lifestyle if it is not managed well. Over 80%... Review on April 6th, 2011 5 Tips about What Food and Drink You Should Avoid, or Consume to Fight Fatigue Fatigue is a common symptom of menopause, and one that can easily disrupt your everyday... Read all Fatigue Articles

Review on April 06, 2009 Menopausal Fatigue Could Be Sign of More Serious Health Problems Although fatigue during menopause has been know share a connection with more serious health... Review on March 19, 2008 Pierce the Problem; Deflate Fatigue Acupuncture and vitamin supplements are known to treat fatigue and boost energy levels...

Review on June 12, 2007 Recurrence of Chronic Fatigue in Women Research by Dr. Jason from DePaul University involved assessment of people with CFS from a community-based study... Review on September 25, 2007 The Effects of Qigong on chronic fatigue New research has shown that Qigong is effective for relieving chronic fatigue symptoms... Read All Fatigue Research