Fatigue Specialist
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Dallas Sleep
Snoring & Sleep Apnea Specialists & Sleep Center located in Plano, TX & McKinney, TX
Fatigue is more than just feeling sleepy or tired. When you suffer from fatigue, you lack the energy and motivation to go about your daily routine. Fatigue is a common symptom of many medical conditions and may lead to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). If you suffer from fatigue and daytime sleepiness, Raj Kakar, MD, and the team at Dallas Sleep in Plano and McKinney, Texas, can help. Call the office most convenient to you or book an appointment online today.
Fatigue Q & A
What is fatigue?
With fatigue, you feel so overtired it affects your daily routine, zapping your energy and motivation. Being chronically fatigued can also affect your mood, mental capacity, concentration and focus. Ongoing fatigue also contributes to weight gain.
In some cases, fatigue may be associated with extreme drowsiness during the day, a condition known as excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue (EDS). With EDS, you regularly feel tired and sleepy during the day.
In other instances, your fatigue may just make you feel tired all the time without excessive drowsiness.
In either case, if your fatigue affects your ability to manage your day-to-day responsibilities, the Dallas Sleep team can help.
What causes fatigue?
Fatigue may be a symptom of several medical conditions. Common medical causes of fatigue include:
- Anemia
- Arthritis
- Sleep disorder
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- A side effect of medication
- Depression
- Anxiety
Your sleep habits, diet, and physical activity (too much or too little) may also cause feelings of fatigue. You may also suffer from overtiredness if you have ongoing stress or a job that affects your normal sleep cycle.
Not getting enough sleep at night is the most common cause of EDS. In general, most people need 7-8 hours of sleep a night to feel fully rested. However, your individual sleep needs may differ, and you may not be getting a sufficient amount of sleep to keep the fatigue and daytime drowsiness away.
How can a sleep evaluation help my fatigue?
Dr. Kakar is a sleep expert and conducts a comprehensive evaluation to determine how much sleep you need and the problems that affect your ability to get adequate rest.
During your sleep evaluation, the team reviews your medical history and symptoms. To better understand your sleep habits and diagnose sleep problems, the team has you undergo a sleep study.
During the sleep study, you spend the night at the state-of-the-art sleep lab where a sleep technician monitors your body, brain, and breathing while you sleep. The sleep study may diagnose sleep disorders, like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, that might explain your fatigue.
The sleep study may also help identify sleep habits affecting your ability to get a restful night of sleep.
What are the treatments for fatigue?
Treatment for your fatigue may depend on the underlying cause. If the Dallas Sleep team determines your sleep habits are the cause of your fatigue, they work closely with you to design a sleep routine that improves the quantity and quality of your sleep.
If the team diagnoses a sleep disorder, they design a treatment plan to help you manage your sleep disorder. With sleep apnea, for example, the team may recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
When fatigue affects your quality of life, it’s time to schedule an appointment at Dallas Sleep. Call the office closest to you or book an evaluation online today.
