Posted in Category : Common Ailments | January 8, 2010

Lethargy - Causes, Cures and Remedies

Lethargy and Fatigue

Every individual has experienced the onset of lethargy in more than a single instance over the course of their lives. Lethargy, also often called exhaustion of the mind or fatigue, is more of a state of mind that has a significant impact on the effectiveness of your muscles as well as the amount of strength the body can generate. A state of lethargy can find its roots in both physical and mental exertion. While the physical type of lethargy can greatly impact the functioning of a person’s normal abilities, the mental type can equally significantly affect a person’s quality of work, primarily due to the lack of concentration.  Fatigue is also very commonly nothing more than a symptom of some underlying medical condition. Some of the more common medical conditions that list lethargy as a symptom include jaundice, hepatitis, kidney failure and all types of thyroid problems. The English phrase – “you are what you eat” is as significant as lethargy can be caused by a lack of nutrition or intake of essential vitamins and minerals in a persons daily diet. If you are unsure of the causes of your lethargy, you will more than likely have to perform a number of medical tests at your local hospital to identify the root cause.

The kind of overall lifestyle you lead could also be a significant factor as people that tend to lie in bed and do not drink enough fluids over the course of the day to keep their body well hydrated put themselves at a higher risk of suffering from fatigue. If you are on some kind of prescription drug or medical supplements, you may want to check and see if they list fatigue as a side effect. Excessive working or worrying could drain the body and mind of energy resources that could best be utilized in some other aspect of ones body, while jet lag and depression are also factors that, although being temporary in most cases, affect the daily routine of an individual considerably.

How To Cure Lethargy

To avoid the onset of lethargy, start to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables avoid intake of any canned foods as well as foods with high fat content or lots of carbohydrates. Regular exercise will help tone the muscles and guard them against physical lethargy. During a bout of severe lethargy, you could also try drinking tea that has been made using basil leaves. You could also try drinking a glassful of either grapefruit or lemon juice as they are known to stimulate the mind as well as the muscles in the body.

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