In the case of a persistently disturbed sleep, leaden tiredness can become a paralyzing permanent companion. But chronic exhaustion often follows after a viral infection such as Covid-19. Here you can find out what helps to get fit again and how you can permanently improve your sleep.
How wonderful: lying comfortably in bed. Tiredness, a gently rolling wave that carries you away into deep slumber. If only restful sleep would work so well. According to figures, we became a nation of bad sleepers at the latest when the Corona pandemic began. According to a representative survey commissioned by mhplus health insurance, more than every second person across all age groups has problems falling asleep , wakes up in the morning as if exhausted and hangs through the day like tulips without water. The main factor behind bad nights is stress, as a recent survey by the KJT Group on behalf of Philips showed: According to this, 32 percent of those surveyed answered that worries about health and financial challenges restricted their ability to sleep well the most.
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Chronically exhausted: When the batteries just don’t charge properly anymore
Many are familiar with such phases of exhaustion and daytime sleepiness. But what if these symptoms don’t go away? When muscles are constantly heavy, every little effort becomes a challenge. If there is a lack of concentration, dizziness, headache or depressive moods . If such signs persist over a longer period of time, experts speak of “fatigue” (pronounced: fatieg, from French = tired) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) .. Those affected by this serious illness can hardly participate in normal life, they suffer invisibly. Therefore, there is a general lack of awareness of this disease – which now seems to be changing. For years, our numbers have hovered around 300,000 cases. With Corona, they really shot up: Fatigue as a result of a COVID-19 infection now affects more than 100,000 additional people. According to estimates, around ten million people worldwide suffer from post-COVID permanent fatigue .
Fatigue syndrome also occurs with other diseases
Classically, fatigue occurs in connection with cancer. “Tumor cells emit certain messenger substances with chronic inflammatory activity. But chemotherapy can also be massively weakening and trigger a permanent feeling of exhaustion,” explains Dr. Michael Feld, general practitioner and sleep physician from Cologne. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatismand severe viral infections such as Lyme disease, flu or COVID-19 also cause the syndrome. “In my practice I have some post-COVID cases. The patients suffer from severe permanent physical weakness for weeks to months. The unmasks itself, if z. B. would like to walk up a flight of stairs, but just can’t manage it,” says Dr. Field. “Compared to depression, one could say: In depression, the will to drive is not there. With fatigue, the will is there, but the body doesn’t cooperate.”
Fatigue: A complex regimen of therapy can bring strength back
Anyone who constantly feels extremely exhausted should seek medical help as early as possible. Because severe fatigue can have various reasons – restless legs, nocturnal breathing pauses , problems with the iron balance, the thyroid gland or the kidneys – examinations such as ultrasound, ECG or a lung function test are usually on the agenda. And the blood count: “Even if there are no super meaningful values, increased inflammatory markers and certain immune cells can give an indication,” says Dr. Michael Feld. In some cases, the lymph nodes also swell.
“In the case of fatigue from cancer, the treatment regimens, e.g. B. offered in university clinics, very complex: Combinations of sport, psychotherapy, medication or certain micronutrients such as selenium and zinc, which are used depending on the type of tumor and always have to be coordinated with the oncologist,” says Dr. Field. “Melatonin is also very suitable because it not only improves sleep, but also has a strong anti-inflammatory function as a radical scavenger. Also often helpful are adaptogens, botanicals like those in ginseng that increase exercise resistance.”
Fatigue and Long COVID: Recovery treatment for cell metabolism
Acupuncture, light therapy and relaxation methods have also proved their worth in the fight against extreme tiredness. “These are non-specific therapies, difficult to prove scientifically, but effective,” emphasizes Dr. Field. “Especially with long COVID, autohemotherapy with ozone oxygen is very beneficial.” To get the immune cells going, blood is taken, mixed with oxygen and ozone and put back into the vein. The so-called IHHT, interval hypoxia hyperoxia therapy, also brings good results. Patients alternately breathe oxygen-reduced and enriched air to strengthen the mitochondria in the cells. Together with micronutrients and infusions, these methods have an activating effect. “The patients do a kind of rehabilitation treatment over several weeks,” says the expert.
Tips for a better sleep
Basically, it helps a lot to take care of good sleep hygiene and to clock your internal clock with a regular daily routine, for example by always getting up and going to bed at the same time. “If psychological stressors are interfering with rest, gentle bedtime rituals can help,” recommends Dr. Field. Going for a short walk, reading light literature – the mind then associates this with a good night’s rest. It programs for tiredness and falling asleep is easier. And the batteries are finally recharging.