Do you feel tired on a daily basis?Do you find yourself waiting for the weekend,not to go out,but just to get some well deserved rest?Do you feel tired even after 8 hours of sleep?
I see patients coming to me often with these symptoms.My first instinct is to check for common ailments and lifestyle disorders-Anemia,Diabetes,Hypothyroidism,Low calcium levels and B12 deficiency.But sometimes the cause is a little less obvious and can be picked up only with a detailed and frank conversation with the patient.Some tips which I recommend to beat fatigue and which patients have found useful are:
1.Good Quality sleep:
Switching off bright lights in the room 30-45 minutes before sleep, avoiding tea ,coffee and sweets after 6 pm -can significantly improve quality of sleep
2.Cut down on sugar and trans -fats:
This means avoiding cakes and pastries,jams and chocolate spreads,potato chips and food sold by street vendors
3.Un-plug:
Spend an hour away from all your screens-away form TV,your phone .Take a walk,write or read.
4.Avoid red meat:
Avoid mutton,beef and pork as much as possible.Try fish and egg instead.Avoid frequent ordering of food from eateries and restaurants.
5.Drink at least 3 litres of water daily
Staying hydrated throughout the day keeps your body active and your skin healthy.Inadequate water intake is a causative factor in urine infections,kidney stones and dry and itchy skin
6.De-booze:
Cut down on alcohol and smoking as much as possible.No matter how frequently or occasionally you drink,you can always cut down more
Go for a general check up.Important tests are -Complete blood picture,Random blood sugar,TSH levels to screen for thyroid abnormalities,Liver and Kidney function tests.
Stay informed.Stay healthy.