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.