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Being tired happens to everyone. But sometimes, fatigue becomes pathological and can slow us down in our daily lives. How do you know when this is the case? Here are the three signs to spot, according to Professor Pierre Philip, sleep specialist.
The French sleep on average 6.5 hours per night, whereas official recommendations recommend between 7.5 and 9 hours of sleep to feel in good shape. This sleep deficit leads to a feeling of fatigue, which can sometimes become chronic. But when does fatigue become pathological? Professor Pierre Philip, psychiatrist, sleep specialist and author of several works, including Anti-fatigue and very recently Antidepressionpublished by Albin Michel, reveals three signs to spot.
Persistence over time
Pathological fatigue generally lasts more than 6 months, without improvement despite rest. Unlike normal fatigue which disappears after a few days or weeks, pathological fatigue is chronic and persistent. “Fatigue is increasing difficulty performing a physical or mental task” first describes the expert. “It results in an extension of the duration of certain tasks and must be treated with rest. And when it comes to chronic fatigue, this type of disturbance lasts over time“.
A person suffering from persistent sleep disorders will express fatigue that can be described as pathological. It will materialize in particular by difficulty concentrating during the day.
No improvement with rest
Pathological fatigue does not improve significantly with rest or sleep. Even after a good night’s sleep, the person still wakes up tired and without energy.
The consequence? Excessive sleepiness. “Patients rarely complain of a lack of sleep or excessive sleepiness during the day, but often speak of extreme fatigue“notes the specialist.”However, sleepiness, which is difficulty staying awake during the day, is an important sign to notice” notes Professor Pierre Philip.
Other symptoms and impact on daily activities
Pathological fatigue is disabling to the point of significantly disrupting daily and professional activities. It is often accompanied by a decline in work productivity or academic performance, as well as difficulty carrying out usual tasks.
Other symptoms accompany it and should not be neglected, such as muscle and joint pain, lymph nodes or swelling, headaches, and sometimes digestive problems or weight loss. We must then look for an underlying cause of the fatigue symptom.
Among the pathologies, the doctor emphasizes cancer or even depression.
“Scientists have taken an interest in diseases linked to fatigue and classify the pathologies into two categories:
- organic diseases influencing the immune system, such as cancer, chronic infections or autoimmune diseases;
- and neuropsychiatric diseases, such as depressionmultiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases and even sleep disorders” specifies Pierre Philip.
The notion of depression being particularly intertwined with those of fatigue and sleep disorders, the book also proposes to deepen these points thanks to tests to assess the state of fatigue and general health, but also a program and a monitoring log.
Take control of yourself and consult if necessary
According to the doctor, a person suffering from fatigue must take an interest in their healthy lifestyle. “She needs to ask herself the right questions, particularly about her sleep debt, whether she goes to bed at a fixed time or not, whether she does physical activity during the day, etc. And try to correct this if necessary.“.
And if this is not enough, it is then advisable to consult a doctor, a general practitioner first, before seeing specialists. “Some patients require follow-up sleep center, to determine the cause of their state of fatigue and manage it“concludes the doctor.
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