Tired? Blame the T cells
Mar 21, 2018 00:00 IST
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Have you been feeling tired, lethargic, short on energy and unable to complete daily chores? While these complaints are common in all age groups, they are more likely in older people, especially women. The tiredness can also is expressed as daytime drowsiness.
That inexplicable tiredness should not be dismissed out of hand. It is not a natural part of ageing and though fatigue may be a component of a psychiatric illness such as depression, this should not be presumed to be the case without ruling out a plethora of medical problems.
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In a small percentage of people - between 40 and 60 years of age and predominantly female - a mild flu can leave a debilitating fatigue which lasts for months. Despite investigations, no cause can be found. Till recently medical personnel did not take this seriously but now it has been identified as "chronic fatigue syndrome". A diagnosis is made if the condition has persisted for six months or longer. Exertion aggravates the symptoms, sleep is not refreshing despite long hours in bed, multiple muscles and joints pain but without redness or swelling. The head aches and a few lymph nodes may be enlarged.
The symptoms are now believed to be caused by an immune system malfunction, often following a trivial viral infection. The blood levels of cytokines are high, and the T cells needed to fight off infection function abnormally.
Treatment has to be individualised. Medications to treat pain, anxiety and depression, a healthy diet, vitamin supplements and sleep intervention are all helpful. Exercise has to be graded. "Pushing the limits" week by week, a little at a time, can help with the fatigue. Recovery is slow and may take a year or so. The important thing is to break up big jobs into little doable tasks, and to persist with the treatment.
The writer is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore and author of Staying Healthy in Modern India. If you have any questions on health issues please write to yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in
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