Don’t Confuse Fatigue with Sleepiness
Research on fatigue is expanding our treatment options
If you’re feeling weary, you’re not alone — a fifth of the world’s population experiences moderate to severe fatigue lasting for at least six months. Fatigue is defined as a feeling of extreme tiredness, along with a lack of energy and motivation, that prevents one from performing usual activities. It’s tough to be a human right now in this dog-eat-dog world; there’s plenty to make us dog-tired.
The world wears us down in multiple ways:
- physical and mental overexertion
- insufficient sleep and nourishment
- medications
- substance abuse
- medical problems
- mental health conditions
Social factors, ranging from existential threats of global warming, the impact of computer technology on our lives, and the political rancor of the current moment, also deplete our energy.
The prevalence of fatigue among those suffering from long COVID has brought renewed interest and validation to those dealing with other chronic fatigue syndromes. Ongoing research is helping us understand fatigue, and is pointing out new methods to reduce its debilitating force.
