Fatigue strikes everyone at one time or another - after vigorous
exercise, a long workday, or prolonged stress. In the elderly
population, fatigue can be a severe problem, especially for
seniors suffering from physical ailments.
How
serious is the problem? According to a study in the Journal
of the American Geriatrics Society, very serious. A survey
of 199 residents at a residential care facility revealed that
almost all of the participants reported some fatigue symptoms:
51% reported mild fatigue, 40% reported moderate fatigue,
and 7% reported severe fatigue. Fatigue also influenced depression,
activities of daily living, pain, medication use, and the
ability to perform a three-minute walk. Even more distressing,
one in four seniors reported suffering chronic fatigue (1-5
years), and 11% reported fatigue lasting more than five years!
Whether you’re young or old, the battle against fatigue is
an important one. How do we fight fatigue? There’s no single
answer, but consistent exercise and a sensible diet might
be a good place to start. Your chiropractor can tell you more
about fatigue and outline a wellness program to keep you active
now and in the future.
Reference:
Liao S, Ferrell BA. Fatigue in an older population. Journal
of the American Geriatrics Society 2000: Vol. 48, pp426-30.
For more information on senior health, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/senior.html
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