When the body lacks strength

Tiredness or a feeling of fatigue is a symptom that It may be a reflection of a large number of organic pathologies, but also an indicator of psychological alterations, social conflicts or exposure to environmental pollutants.

However, it is a difficult symptom to diagnose. because not even the people who suffer from it can clearly specify when in their lives it began; Even when the cause is some organic disease, it can begin slowly and insidiously.

Since there are many causes of biological origin, We are going to focus on the most frequent ones in the female sex. depending on age, although the multiple psychosocial and environmental causes that can also cause fatigue must always be taken into account.

Possible causes of chronic lack of energy

Before the age of 50, The most common causes of fatigue are anemia and deficiencies in iron reserves, excess menstrual losses or the appearance of autoimmune diseases and alterations in thyroid function.

Instead, from 50 years old, The majority of fatigue symptoms are due to anemias that occur due to vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies, rheumatic diseases and diabetes.

In recent decades, a new disorder has been described that can affect all people regardless of their age: chronic fatigue syndrome.

Does exercise make you tired or restful? Find out in this video.

1. Iron deficiencies

Iron deficiency anemia and iron deficiencies are, throughout the world, the most common reason why women remain «always tired.»

The main symptoms of iron deficiency, even if red blood cell and hemoglobin levels are normal, are:

• Fatigue, which can become so pronounced that it is confused with chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Generalized muscle weakness and pain.
• Cold throughout the body, especially in the hands and feet.
• Daytime sleepiness and nighttime insomnia.
• Tachycardia and palpitations,
• Dyspnea (breathing difficulty) and feeling of suffocation with physical effort or sports.
• Pain in the tongue (with inflammation, shine and redness), atrophy of the taste buds or repeated canker sores.
• Pale skin and mucous membranes.
• Common skin infections, difficulty healing wounds, increase in acne and increase in pimples and boils. Also photodermatitis due to sun exposure and generalized itching.
• Hair loss and dry scalp. Fine hair that is difficult to comb and has split ends,
• Nails with white spots that open in layers…

This extensive list of symptoms is explained because Iron plays an essential role in the Krebs cycle (central element of metabolism), which needs the iron ion that ferritin gives.

Its lack results in an increase in anxiety, phobias and fears, and in loss of memory and ability to concentrate.

A normal iron store is very important for the muscles of the entire body, especially cardiac, and for the balance of the brain. The substantia nigra, the striatum and the areas of the limbic system are the richest in this mineral.

2. Vitamin B12 or folic acid anemias

In addition to that caused by a lack of iron, There are two other types of anemia: due to lack of vitamin B12 and/or folic acid (macrocytic) and an intrinsic factor in the stomach (pernicious anemia).

They occur in 1.9% of people over 60 years of age and their prevalence is higher among women than among men, in a proportion of five to one. It also presents with fatigue, dyspnea on exertion, tachycardia and irritability.

Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies are due to nutritional or absorption deficiencies.

• In the case of folic acid, This can be interfered with by some drugs, such as those indicated for epilepsy, arthritis (methotrexate) and hormonal contraceptives.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency It occurs in diseases of the stomach and intestine, which reduce its formation and absorption. It happens, for example, to those who have had half of their stomach removed due to cancer or to combat severe obesity, or to those who suffer from chronic atrophic gastritis that are produced by the presence of gastric antiparietal antibodies (the parietal cells of the stomach secrete a substance necessary for the body to absorb vitamin B12).

In recent years we have detected a new type of anemia among young women and men who have stopped eating meat and follow a pasta-based diet. These supposedly detoxifying pseudo-diets perpetuate anemia and fatigue.

Vegetarians compensate with supplementation, knowing that their diet lacks essential amino acids and vitamin B12.

3. Autoimmune diseases

Almost all autoimmune diseases begin with fatigue and pain, They develop slowly and progressively, which is why they are confused with other states of discomfort and are difficult to diagnose.

Some autoimmune processes interfere with brain function, causing depressive syndromes due to neurotransmitter deficiency.

Its frequency varies greatly. There are very common disorders, such as thyroiditis, which affects 25% of the female population, and others that are less common, such as lupus erythematosus (one case per 500/1,000 women).

The fact that these diseases are introduced in a hidden way and the long period that usually elapses until their diagnosis, which can be several years, It also contributes to creating a depressive statesince women have to live and work with fatigue and pain, which leads to a low quality of life.

An excess of estrogen due to the presence of environmental chemicals (insecticides, solvents, anesthetic gases and other endocrine disruptors) is a stimulus for the appearance of autoimmune diseases.

4. Hypothyroidism

The most common autoimmune thyroid pathology is hypothyroidism.which manifests itself, even if it is mild, with:

• Tiredness and muscle pain (myopathy).
• sensation of intense cold.
• Constipation.
• Dry skin (especially on elbows and heels).
• Weight gain even when eating little.
• Swelling in extremities and hands when waking up in the morning.
• Increased menstrual bleeding and shorter menstrual cycles.

Due to the effect of thyroid hormone on the central nervous system, and in particular on serotonin, its deficiency is related to increased appetite in the mid-afternoon, and memory loss and ability to concentrate.

Also the tendency to depression that presents resistance to the usual psychotropic drugs, and that can only be corrected with the administration of thyroid hormone until the function is normalized.

When studying the correlation between thyroid hormone deficiency and quality of lifewe have found that women with hypothyroidism:

• they had difficulties in developing active leisure activities.
• They had the capacity to finish their usual work, but at night they couldn’t do anything.
• They had problems with alert behaviorthey stumbled, they had frequent and repeated forgetfulness.
• They felt difficulties in psychosocial relationships and in their own emotional behavior.

All these aspects improved after the treatment with the necessary doses of levothyroxine sodiumwhich normalized thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

Many women who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia actually have a myopathy due to hypothyroidism that can be treated and improved. The same goes for fatigue.

5. Diabetes

Excess glucose in the blood in adulthood, The so-called type II diabetes is one of the causes of fatigue in women of all ages, but especially in those over 50 years of age.

When you have type II diabetes, sugar remains in the blood because the body does not produce insulin (the hormone that helps glucose enter cells) or does not use it efficiently.

Since energy is not reaching the cells, the cells are “hungry” and “tired.”

People with type II diabetes always feel hungry, especially after meals with carbohydrates, which increases obesity, thirst and the need to urinate frequently.

Symptoms can appear even with small alterations in blood glucose tests after meals. So, it is essential to reduce carbohydrate intake and make it more proportional to that of proteins.

remedies to improve performance and relieve fatigue

Practice physical exercise It is a healthy habit with many benefits for the body and mind. However, sports activities require a certain expenditure of energy and muscular work that can cause exhaustion and reduce performance. On the other hand, after practicing intense exercise, tissue injuries may appear.

The herbs and plant extractslike products enriched with vitamins and minerals, can help speed up recovery after effort, prevent damage caused by free radicals, promote muscle growth, facilitate the elimination of toxins, reduce pain and inflammation and increase resistance.

Next, we give you two ideas for gain extra energy and reduce fatigue muscle after intense activity.

Energy shake to have more energy

To prepare it you will need 1 banana, 1 teaspoon of guarana powder, 1 teaspoon of freeze-dried black currant, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, 1 date and 1 glass of vegetable drink.

• How is it prepared: Beat all the ingredients until you obtain a creamy result.
• Dose: Two to three times a week one hour before training. Avoid if you have heart disease.

Anti-fatigue massage oil to reduce muscle fatigue

To prepare it you will need almond oil (100 ml) and essential oils of rosemary, camphor, eucalyptus and wintergreen (10 drops of each).

• How is it prepared: Pour the almond oil into a dropper bottle and add the essential oils. Close and shake well.
• Dose: Apply to legs and lumbar area before and after training.