Constant FATIGUE a warning sign of a deadly condition?
There’s no shame in feeling tired every now and again.
Even I’ll admit that I’m still feeling a little tired and rundown from the hustle-and-bustle of the holidays.
But for many older adults, what starts out as feeling ‘tired’ can lead to constant FATIGUE…
Fatigue that never seems to go away… no matter how much rest you get!
If you find yourself feeling constantly fatigued, you’re going to want to keep reading.
Because new research has discovered a link between fatigue and a potentially DEADLY disease.
Here’s what you need to know, including how you can identify the warning signs EARLY.
Researchers have identified fatigue as an early warning sign of multiple sclerosis (MS), a neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative condition that affects more than two million people – this according to a study recently published in published in medRxiv.org.
MS comes with a laundry list of symptoms like a loss of vision… the inability to speak… numbness in your limbs… memory issues and pain.
But perhaps the most frustrating part of MS is not being able to detect the disease EARLY…
Until now.
You see, while feeling tired and fatigued are also symptoms of MS… they can also be one of the most recognizable warning signs of the disease.
The first thing to look out for is the general feeling of tiredness. This includes feeling like you didn’t sleep the night before… or sleepiness later in the day, or after any kind of physical activity.
The second thing to be mindful of your muscles feeling tired.
Things like feeling weak after any kind of repeated activity (like walking), or like one leg is ‘dragging’, are signs of muscular fatigue – which are linked to MS.
Now, even though there isn’t a cure, you don’t need to succumb to the disease – even if you’re experiencing tell-tale signs.
In fact, according to a study published in the journal Neurology, spending as little as 30 minutes outside, daily in the sunshine may cut your risk roughly in half.
It turns out that vitamin D – aka the ‘sunshine vitamin’ – has a protective effect on your body’s neurological system, which can help stave off MS.
The study found that those who spent an average of 30 minutes to an hour outside each day during the previous summer had a 52% lower chance of developing MS.
You can also take a vitamin D supplement, which is a great way to ensure that you’re getting ample amounts of the ‘sunshine’ vitamin.
These supplements can be found at most grocery stores, pharmacies, and health food stores. As with any supplement, be sure to only take the dosage listed on the product label.
If you have a history of MS in your family – or are experiencing early symptoms linked to MS – be sure to talk to your doctor about vitamin D.
To being proactive against MS,
Sarah Reagan
Sources:
Kreimer, Susan. “Fatigue and Depression Common in Early Multiple Sclerosis.” https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/967147?uac=371802EZ&faf=1&sso=true&impID=3972189&src=wnl_edit_tpal
Study Finds. “A 30-minute walk in sunlight can cut the risk of developing multiple sclerosis in half.” https://studyfinds.org/30-minute-walk-multiple-sclerosis/
