CHRONIC FATIGUE

Fatigue is said to be the seventh most common complaint expressed in the physician’s offices in the
United States. Today fatigue cripples more people’s lives than does heart disease, arthirtus or
bronchitis. It has been found to occur far more in those who have a sedentary occupation than those
who are more physcially active. Fatigue is primarily lifestyle related, therefore it would make sense to
change ones lifestyle in order to help to restore health and overcome disease.

It has been found that women are affected with it more than men, which could possibly be the result of
less physical activity, improper dress, and poor nutrition.

The causes of the disease may be divided into two categories: physiological and psychological.
Psychological causes are things such as stress, grief, worry, anxiety and depression.

Physiological causes of fatigue are many, and are as follows:

Alcoholism Inflammatory bowel

Amyotrophic lateral disease
sclerosis Insomnia
Anemia Low cardiac ouput
Arthritis Malignancy
Asthma Medications
Caffeinism Menorrhagia
Chronic dehydration Mitral valve dysfunction
Chronic obstruction Multiple sclerosis
Collogen-vascular disease Myasthenia gravis
Congestive heart failure Narcolepsy
Dementia Obesity
Diabetes mellitus Parkinsonism
Drug use or abuse Peptic ulcer
Emphysema Post-concussion
Endocrine abnormalities Pregnancy
Environmental stress Recent injury, illness,
Exercise, lack of surgery
Fasting Rheumatic fever
Food allergy Severe dietary restriction
Glomerulonephritis Sickle cell
Hepatitis Sleep disturbance
Hypertension Strep infections
Hypothyroidism Sydenham’s chorea
Hyperventilation Systematic lupus
Hypoglycemia Tension-fatigue syndrome
Hypokalemia Tuberculosis
Inadequate rest Undulant fever
Infection Urinary tract infection
Infectious mononucleosis Ventilation, poor
SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC FATIGUE:

Aching muscles and joints, , fever, headaches, intestinal problems, temporary memory loss, mood
swings, anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, irritability, jaundice, loss of appetite, bone pains,
stomachaches, , muscle spasms, recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, sensitivity to light and
heat, sleep disturbances, sore throat, swollen glands (lymph nodes), – and most of all extreme and
often disabling fatigue.

Mental symptoms associated allergic tension fatigue syndrome include the following: irritability,
mental confusion, obstinate behavior, temper tantrums, unhappiness, sluggish thinking, inability to
concentrate, uncooperative, antisocial or rebellious behaviour, emotional instability, unruliness,
sullenness, nervousness and crying.

COMMON FOOD ALLERGIES:

Milk is the most common food allergy in the United States. Common sources of milk include whole,
dried, skim, 2% milk, and buttermilk, custards, cheese, cream or creamed foods, yogurt, sherbert, iced
milk, and ice cream. Traces of milk are found in butter, breads, and many commercial prepared foods.
Examine all foods for milk prodcuts such as lactose, milk solids, sodium caseinate, sodium lactate,
milk fats and whey. It has been found that all patients allergic to cows milk are also allergic to goats
milk.

Other foods to watch out for are: chocolate, and any caffeine related products, such as coffee, milo,
ect, corn, eggs, legumes, citrus fruits, tomato, grains, (wheat, rice, barley, oat, rye, millet, and wild
rice,) spices and food additives, meats (oyster, abalone, shrimp, crab, lobster, pork the most common,)
and environmental allergens such as chemical, drugs, synthetics, cosmetics, gases, ect.

BLOOD SUGAR AND FATIGUE:

High blood sugar levels (diabetes) or low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) may both lead to fatigue.
In either case the body is unable to maintain proper blood sugar levels, and with the liver and pancreas,
are responsible for producing hormones to keep the blood sugar level at the optimum level.

The inner portion of the adrenal gland produces catecholamines, adrenalin, and norepinephrine. These
hormones function in the fight or flight response. A portion of the body’s stress response includes
raising the blood sugar level to provide sufficient energy for emergency situations. Any type of stress
will induce production of these hormones; stress of prolonged duration will tax the adrenal glands.
Overwork, overeating, high nutrient supplementation, lack of exercise, improper diet, and poor lifstyle
habits tax the adrenal glands, decreasing their ability to function. When sugar is introduced into the
body, the pancreas secretes adrenalin into the blood to assist the sugar into the cell to be used for
energy. When there is too much sugar in the blood stream it can lead to secreting too much insulin,
and leave the body in a condition of a low blood sugar level. This in turn leads to a craving of more
sugar to boost blood sugar levels, which in turn leads the person to feel fatigued. Fatigue will continue
as long as this habit continues, and the pancreas and liver become fatigued as well in attempting to
control the blood sugar highs and lows.
The adrenals are responsible for mobilizing the energy-providing glycogen stored in the liver and
muscles. Unfortunately, artificial stimulants may have already exhausted the adrenal glands and made
them unable to function at their peak, but there is a natural stimulant for the adrenal glands-exercise.

Fatigue associated with low blood sugar level is typically present on awakening in the morning,
improves slightly after breakfast, and typically worsens in the midafternoon. Headache, weakness,
sweating, dizziness, and fainting may be reported.

Fatigue present only in the morning may be due to poor bedroom ventilation, improper sleep,
excessive stimulation of the senses-visual, sexual, or auditory– or “cumulative fatigue” from long term
stress or overwork.

Caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol are all harmful to the blood sugar regulating mechanism of the body.
Over the counter drugs can also contain caffeine.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES OF FATIGUE

Fear, sorrow, guilt and depression may as effectively depress body functions as a powerful drug.
Anxiety, anger, resentment, bitterness, and frustration drain our energy. Sorrow and grief depress
body functions, and sufferers often walk about with head hanging down and shoulders on their back.
The slumped shoulders decrease lung expansion, while nature calls for a sigh to increase oxygen
exchange in the lungs.

Joy induces dilation of the capillaries and arteries, increasing blood supply throughout the body. This
change may stimulate activity such as “jumping for joy.“ The eyes become brighter, thinking becomes
clearer, respirations deepened, heart beat becomes stronger, and digestion becomes more efficient, and
as the old proverb says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”

Worry is a common cause of fatigue, and is non productive, a well known health educator knew what
she was talking about when she said: “There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care
because they seek to reach the world's standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities,
adopted its customs. Thus their character is marred and their life made a weariness. The continual
worry is wearing out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. He
invites them to accept His yoke; He says, "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Worry is blind
and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His
way prepared to bring relief. "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly."
Matthew 11:30; Psalm 84:11. MH.481.

Worry induces adrenaline secretion, which increases blood pressure. It has been shown to have
pronounced effects on the thyroid, pancreas, and pituitary. The mental short circuiting caused by
worry drains energy which could be put to other more constructive purposes. Heavy intellectual work
is less draining than negative emotions such as worry. The effects of worry are similar to overwork.
Worry increases the pulse rate, weakens muscle tone, induces lung congestion, causes paling of the
skin, chills and extremities, and produces sleep disturbances. Exhaustion of the cranial nerves leads to
pupil dilation. Blood pools to the internal organs because of the contraction of surface blood vessels.
The worrier may break out in a cold sweat.

The person who worries continually must learn to cast their cares upon the Lord, by praying to him and
in simple child like trust resting in His promises that He will take care of all things, as He is acquainted
with all your needs. Keeping your mind off yourself through distractions, such as activities, helping
others, and light work are some of the best ways to help a mind bent towards negative emotions. Self
centredness is often associated with this disease, and you will often find the individual bringing a
conversation back to themselves all too frequently. The more they dwell on how bad their condition is
the more prone they are to keeping it with them.

Just as water takes the path of least resistance, so too does our thoughts toward the negative unless of
course we consciously channel them into positive ones.