Therapy

The therapy of fatigue depends largely on its cause. If it is merely due to overwork and lack of sleep, it is important that the person affected rethinks his or her life circumstances, structures them better and learns to take care of himself or herself. A regular sleep-wake rhythm with at least seven hours of sleep can often improve fatigue.

The diet should also be healthy and balanced. Late, high-fat meals are often heavy on the stomach at night and hinder night’s sleep. Daytime tiredness is the result.

Sufficient physical activity is also necessary if persistent fatigue is to be eliminated in everyday life. All in all, a healthy lifestyle is therefore very important to combat persistent fatigue. However, if the fatigue is caused by other factors, these must first be treated.

This applies to all diseases that cause fatigue symptoms.Infectious diseases of a bacterial nature may require the use of antibiotics, while viral infections must usually be treated and cured symptomatically. Hormonal disorders often require the use of medication, for example thyroid hormones in the case of hypothyroidism. Mental disorders can be improved by psychotherapy or, if necessary, by psychopharmaceuticals. Persons who handle chemicals and toxins at work and subsequently develop excessive fatigue caused by these substances may need to be retrained and placed in another profession. If the fatigue is caused by a malignant disease, it may have to be treated by surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy, depending on the type and severity of the cancer.

Prognosis

The prognosis of constant fatigue also depends largely on its cause. In most cases, however, fatigue improves as soon as the underlying problem is corrected. Since fatigue is usually caused by harmless factors, the prognosis is on average very good if the person concerned structures his or her daily routine better, does not overdo it at work and allows himself or herself sufficient sleep.

Tiredness in the context of acute disease states (e.g. flu-like infections, gastrointestinal infections) usually exists only temporarily for the duration of the infection and disappears after a few weeks at the latest. An exception is Pfeiffer’s glandular fever, an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This disease is often accompanied by long-lasting fatigue, which can persist for several months even after acute symptoms have subsided.

Since persistent fatigue can have many different causes, no direct prophylaxis can be recommended to avoid these conditions. However, it is generally accepted that a healthy lifestyle can help to prevent everyday fatigue. Since fatigue is often caused by overwork and lack of sleep, it is very useful to structure your daily routine well, not to overdo it and to plan time for relaxation and sleep.

A person who is rested and relaxed can achieve more in a shorter working time than someone who spends a lot of time at work but is overworked, exhausted and chronically tired. Time for oneself is very important to stay healthy and active. The regular daily routine should be supplemented by a balanced, vitamin-rich diet and sufficient physical activity.

A light endurance training of 3×30 minutes per week is sufficient. The diet should not be too high in fat and should contain a lot of fiber, fruit and vegetables. Especially red meat (pork, beef, game) should not be consumed too frequently.

Better is Mediterranean food with fish, more spices instead of salt and lots of vegetables. Nicotine consumption should be avoided and the consumption of alcohol should be limited. In addition, a sufficient drinking quantity of at least 2 liters per day should be ensured.

Water and unsweetened teas are particularly recommended. These rules of conduct provide a good basis for maintaining health and vitality. Of course, not all factors that can lead to persistent fatigue can be avoided, but a healthy person has more energy reserves and can better ward off diseases.