Counselling Sheets

Fortunately, there are a number of simple causes of fatigue. If we eliminate these, fatigue will usually disappear. A rarely understood cause of fatigue is overeating. It would seem that a snack, or between meal eating would be the very thing to help cure fatigue, but the reverse is actually the case. Do not overeat, use between meal snacks or heavy suppers. While a heavy supper may enable some to sleep the sleep of the drugged, it does not cause refreshment. Next morning the person awakens in a partial stupor.

Too little exercise is another common cause of fatigue. Again it would appear that exercise would cause fatigue in itself. Not so! As the out-of-condition person begins to exercise, chronic fatigue may disappear like magic.

The use of too little water is a common source of weakness and fatigue. Drinking water will perk you up just as a wilted flower perks up in water. Chronic dehydration is often caused by diuretics such as coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate. Eating concentrated, rich, or heavy foods promotes chronic dehydration. Protein food supplements can also cause chronic dehydration.

There are certain conditions of the body associated with fatigue which must be diagnosed by chemical tests: Thyroid problems, blood sugar problems, and many chronic diseases. Ideal fasting blood sugar ranges between 70 and 85. Any deviation from the ideal may mean a trend toward an error in metabolism. A special program should then be followed.

If your hemoglobin (blood iron) is either too high or too low you may feel fatigue. Almost everyone is aware that a low level of hemoglobin is associated with fatigue, but it is the rare person who understands that rich, heavy blood can also cause fatigue. Pushing around the heavy blood is a tax on the heart and arteries, uses up energy, and results in fatigue. In order to bring the hemoglobin down one should take more exercise, eat more fruits and vegetables prepared simply or eaten raw, avoid all rich or concentrated foods, avoid overeating, drink plenty of water, and avoid stresses.

A class of stressful stimuli can be listed as fatigue producers. These include working around a lot of noise, being in a stressful or anxious state, having periods of lack of rest, and depression. One of the first indications of depression is fatigue. Overweight, overwork, and depression are often related, and may cause fatigue.

If one has an irregular schedule the body does not have the ability to control the expenditure of energy, and the loss of energy with resultant fatigue is a usual companion of an irregular schedule.

Constipation can cause fatigue by the constant transmission of electrical signals from the gastrointestinal tract to the central nervous system, using up energy.

Poor air, especially in the bedroom while sleeping, is a common cause of early morning fatigue as well as headache. If exhaled impurities are taken again into the blood, the body must expend double energy to throw them off. Foods having a high nutrient density per unit volume, require more energy of the body to metabolize them; fatigue results. Concentrated foods are oils, sugars, wheat germ, all animal products (meat, milk, eggs and cheese), and anything other than fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Excesses of one’s pleasures is a sure producer of fatigue.

Make a self-evaluation and correct all those things that are known to be causes of fatigue. If fatigue continues after correcting all known causes, then one should select a good physician and receive an evaluation of such things as thyroid, blood sugar, hemoglobin levels, etc.

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Disclaimer: The above counseling sheet is provided courtesy of the Uchee Pines Health Institute. The Uchee Pines Institute was started almost 30 years ago by Calvin Thrash, M.D., specialist in Internal Medicine, and his wife, Agatha Thrash, M.D., board specialist in pathology. It is a non-profit, health educational and treatment facility located in the country near Seale, Alabama, 15 miles from Columbus, Georgia. (Address: Uchee Pines Institute, 30 Uchee Pines Road
Seale, Alabama 36875-5702. Phone: (334) 855-4764. Fax: (334) 855-4780. Email: ucheepines@msn.com. Location Map: Click Here). The information contained in the counseling sheets is presented as a general educational and information guide. The counseling sheets are not intended to be used for instruction in medical treatment. The author cannot assume the medical or legal responsibility of having this information misinterpreted and considered as a prescription for any condition or any person.