Are you suffering from hyper-fatigue? The 8 signs and how to combat it
WHILE it’s normal to feel tired sometimes, experts say a new epidemic is upon us in the form of “hyper-fatigue”.
New research has found more than half of Brits are feeling hyper-fatigued.
It’s not a medical term, but it describes a state of continual physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, caused by unprecedented demands on your energy.
The study by Mintel found 55 per cent of Britons are hyper-fatigued, with 65 per cent of 25-34 year olds suffering from the condition.
So what are the signs and symptoms?
Tim Allardyce, physiotherapist at surreyphysio.co.uk, said the symptoms are fairly broad, but include:
- Feeling very achy in your body
- Feeling like you have flu
- Headaches
- Brain fog
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Joint pains
- Feeling particularly tired after exercise (known as post-exertional malaise).
He added: “If you feel so tired that you are unable to get out of bed, you might be suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome or long Covid and you should see your GP.”
What causes it?
You may be more at risk of hyper-fatigue if you don’t have a balanced diet or get enough sleep, said Dr Samantha Wild, GP at Bupa Health Clinics.
She said: “You might also be at risk if you’re relying on things like alcohol or drugs, or you’re not exercising enough, or are exercising too much.”
How to treat it
Tim said fixing hyper-fatigue isn’t easy.
He said: “However, I’ve seen significant improvements and cures in people who suffer hyper-fatigue through lifestyle changes.
“First you must improve your immune health. Strengthening the immune system is very important for allowing your body to recover and function optimally.
“Ways to improve immune health include improving the quality of your sleep, ensuring you have good levels of vitamin D, and eating a healthy diet.
“We recover when we sleep, and if you are not sleeping well, you are going to struggle to improve.
“Also eating sugar-foods and drinking sugary-drinks might give you a short-term pick -me-up, but it won’t help in the long run.
“Drink plenty of water and detox your body from sugar. Eating a low carbohydrate diet may help too.
“Finally, it is essential to reduce psychological stress.
“Many cases of hyper-fatigue occur shortly after a period of high mental or psychological stress, such as a divorce, work tribunal, family bust-up or death of a close friend or relative.”
Dr Sam said it’s also important to move regularly and give yourself a break.
She said: “It might feel counterintuitive to exercise if you’re feeling tired, but exercise actually helps to boost your energy levels.
“Try small exercises first and vary them to find something that you enjoy and can make a habit of.
“Aim to do at least 150 minutes of exercise a week.
“It doesn’t have to be anything too strenuous – a daily 30-minute walk around the block can get you moving and help to clear your head.
“As hyper-fatigue isn’t something that can be fixed overnight, be kind to yourself and set realistic goals to spend time working, resting, and enjoying yourself.
“You don’t have to do everything, all the time, so if you’re feeling overwhelmed by social plans, for example, take the time to recognise that you can say no to plans, and empower yourself to say no.”
Can hyper-fatigue develop into something more serious?
If you experience persistent hyper-fatigue for months at a time, it may be a sign of an underlying health condition, warned Dr Sam.
She explained: “Fatigue can be a symptom of many illnesses, so you should see a health professional to talk through how you’re feeling, to help figure out if you might benefit from having further tests.”
Conditions that can cause tiredness and fatigue
A range of different conditions can lead to tiredness and fatigue, according to the NHS - some more serious that others
Sleep apnoea – symptoms include feeling tired during the day because of waking up at night, making gasping, snorting and choking noises at night and loud snoring.
Iron deficiency anaemia – a lack of energy, noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations), shortness of breath and pale skin can occur.
Diabetes – feeling very tired, feeling very thirsty, peeing more often than usual (particularly at night), and weight loss are all signs.
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) – feeling tired all the time, finding it hard to stay still, feeling nervous, anxious and irritable and muscle weakness can signal the condition.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) – this can cause extreme fatigue for at least three months (making it very hard to do daily activities), problems with thinking, memory and concentration, and flu-like symptoms.