Being busy with family obligations, work duties, and life in general can make anyone tired at times. But sometimes, fatigue points to a health issue. If your lack of energy is persistent, it could be a sign that something’s going on — and you’re not simply “feeling off.”
Dr. Mingliarti Tjahjana is experienced, knowledgeable, and caring, so when you visit One Health Medical Center complaining of fatigue, our team is committed to getting to the bottom of it and creating a personalized treatment plan that will have you operating at full capacity once again.
If your get-up-and-go has gotten up and gone, Dr. Tjahjana will thoroughly evaluate you and investigate every possible cause your fatigue may stem from.
You may first suspect a malfunctioning thyroid — part of your amazing endocrine system — as the culprit when your energy lags. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can cause a variety of symptoms, from dry skin and hair to weight gain; it can also lead to chronic fatigue.
If Dr. Tjahjana diagnoses hypothyroidism, she’ll prescribe a thyroid hormone replacement pill that you take once a day. It stimulates your thyroid to produce sufficient thyroid hormone so your levels re-regulate — and your energy improves.
If you don’t have a thyroid disorder, however, the root cause of your exhaustion could still be related to your health. Dr. Tjahjana may consider and screen for:
Along with low mood, irritability, lack of interest in things you used to love, and appetite changes, depression is marked by fatigue, or feeling like it’s a major effort to tackle even the smallest task.
Feeling chronically drained due to depression is no way to live. Dr. Tjahjana offers complete care — from antidepressant medications and therapy to lifestyle recommendations — to help improve how you feel. You may benefit from eating well, exercising, getting outside in nature, and adopting a mindfulness practice, like meditation.
Did you know that untreated allergies — whether to pollen, animal dander, or something else — can strip you of energy as well as make your nose run and eyes water?
An immune system that’s working overtime, allergy-related sleep problems, breathing issues, and medication-related tiredness all contribute to feeling fatigued.
Dr. Tjahjani can test you for allergies and prescribe oral allergy medications and/or shots to relieve your symptoms. She also educates you about how best to avoid your allergy triggers.
Asthma symptoms are depleting. It’s no wonder you feel tired after struggling to breathe, coughing and wheezing, and coping with tightness in your chest. Asthma also disrupts your sleep, so you can get trapped in an exhaustive cycle where you’re simply not being replenished.
Dr. Tjahjana treats asthma effectively with advanced oral medications and quick relief inhalers. She also counsels you on how to identify and avoid asthma triggers, such as allergies.
You can also make environmental adjustments that lessen your chances of suffering an attack, like keeping your home dust-free, using your air conditioning, and maintaining an ideal indoor humidity level.
You may immediately think of increased thirst, hunger, or numbness in your hands or feet as being associated with diabetes, but intense fatigue is also a major symptom.
Dr. Tjahjana prescribes insulin for patients with type 1 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes, she can make recommendations about optimal nutrition and weight loss, as well as physical activity. You may also require insulin supplementation of some sort.
Once your diabetes is under control and well managed, your energy should bounce back.
If you’re carrying extra pounds you don’t need — whether it’s just a few or many — you may feel like you’re dragging every day. Luckily, simply reaching a healthier weight range can make a world of difference in relieving your fatigue.
Dr. Tjahjana provides medical weight loss services, which enable you to lose weight in a safe, sustainable way. Healthier eating patterns, regular exercise, and weight loss are natural energy boosters.
No matter what’s sapping your energy, Dr. Tjahjana can help you find the cause — and provide a targeted solution to help you feel more like yourself again.
Ready to resolve your fatigue problem? Contact our Reston, Virginia, office at 571-572-9198 to schedule a visit with Dr. Tjahjana today, or book an appointment online at your convenience.
