By Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

“BACK TO SCHOOL FATIGUE” MAY BE CAUSE OF MOM’S TIREDNESS

Question: Since my kids went back to school a couple of weeks ago, I have been really tired. I am worried that something is wrong with me, but I have noticed many of the other women at work are complaining of being tired as well. Do we all have a virus or something? What can be going on?

Answer: Fatigue is a common complaint seen in the family physician’s office, and usually, it is not caused by an underlying serious medical problem. One of the first things your doctor needs to do when you tell him or her that you feel fatigued is to ask questions about your actual symptoms. This is because people often use the term fatigue when they really mean that they just feel sleepy or drowsy.

Fatigue and drowsiness are not synonymous, though they do overlap a bit. Drowsiness can be defined as the feeling we experience when we need to sleep, while fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation. The overlap occurs because fatigue-related lack of energy and motivation can lead to drowsiness. People with fatigue also sometimes experience apathy -- a feeling of indifference or not caring about what happens.

Over 80 percent of all cases of fatigue are due to lifestyle or emotional issues. When the children go back to school it causes an abrupt change in the household routine for most people. You have to wake up earlier, get the kids off to school, make sure homework is done in the evening and plan for numerous after school activities. This can all be very difficult to juggle and can cause a caregiver, like a mom, to not sleep well. Chances are that you and most of the other women at work are dealing with these same issues. You may have what could be termed “back to school fatigue.”

About 20 percent of fatigue cases, however, are due to an underlying medical problem. Some of these disorders are simple, easy-to-treat conditions, but others are very serious.

For instance, it is not unusual for people who have mild allergies to feel fatigued. Fatigue can also be a symptom of pain, sleep disorders, low thyroid and alcohol use. Some medications, particularly antihistamines, blood pressure meds and sleeping pills can cause fatigue. On the other hand, serious medical conditions like diabetes, some types of cancer, heart failure and major infection can have fatigue as an early symptom.

Here are a few tips that can help alleviate fatigue that’s not the result of an underlying medical problem:

• Eat a balanced diet -- it is easy to skip meals and eat poorly when you are stressed by life’s demands.
• Try to get some regular exercise -- this will actually perk you up.
• Set a regular bedtime for yourself so that you get enough sleep.
• Learn to relax through meditation or yoga.
• Try to eliminate as much stress in your life as possible.
• Take a multivitamin pill.Avoid alcohol, nicotine and drug use.

If these simple measures don’t help, and your fatigue persists, you should see your doctor. He or she will take a thorough history and do a physical. Lab tests may also be ordered to rule out anemia, diabetes, infection and thyroid disease.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701, or via e-mail to readerquestions@familymedicinenews.org. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnose and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at www.familymedicinenews.org