Muscle fatigue is very common after a physical effort that is greater than normal because the muscles are not used and get tired quickly, even for simple activities such as walking or picking up objects. Thus, most people only feel muscle fatigue when they begin to engage in new physical activity.
Decreased strength and increased muscle fatigue is also a normal feature of the aging process because over the years, muscles lose weight and become weaker, especially if they are not trained. If these are the causes of your fatigue, see what you can do to alleviate the problem.
Situations that can cause Muscle Fatigue
However, muscle fatigue can also indicate health problems, especially when it is not caused by these two major causes or when it affects quality of life, preventing normal activities. See the most common:
1. Lack of minerals
When muscle fatigue appears very often, one of the first causes investigated is the failure of important minerals in the body, such as potassium, magnesium or calcium. These minerals are essential for muscle work, allowing you to contract and relax muscle fibers. That way, whenever they are missing, the muscles have more difficulty working, causing more tiredness.
- What to do: It is important to increase the consumption of foods that are rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium, but if the problem does not improve it is advisable to consult a general practitioner to do a blood test and confirm the diagnosis, starting the use of dietary supplements, if necessary.
2. Anemia
Muscles also need oxygen to function properly and hence, anemia is another common cause for muscle fatigue. This is because in anemia there is a decrease in the number of red cells that carry oxygen into the blood to the muscles.
As anemia usually develops slowly and gradually it is possible that some symptoms, such as muscle fatigue, tiredness and shortness of breath arise even before the diagnosis is made.
- What to do: If you think you may be having anemia you should consult a general practitioner to have a blood test and confirm the problem. Treatment usually varies according to the type of anemia, so see what the doctor may recommend doing.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes causes an increase in blood sugar that can affect the sensitivity of the nerves, so the muscle fibers that are attached to the affected nerves will become weaker or stop working, greatly reducing muscle strength.
- What to do: This type of problem is more common in people who have diabetes but do not follow the treatment. Thus, it is recommended to do the treatment correctly or to consult the endocrinologist to evaluate if it is necessary to adapt the treatment.
4. Heart problems
Some heart problems, especially heart failure, can cause a decrease in the oxygenated blood that travels through the body, also decreasing the amount of oxygen that reaches the muscles. In these cases, it is common to feel excessive fatigue, even without exercise, and a feeling of frequent shortness of breath. See other symptoms may indicate heart problems.
- What to do: When you suspect heart problems, it is advisable to see a cardiologist for tests, such as an electrocardiogram, to see if your heart is working properly.
5. Renal diseases
When the kidneys are not functioning normally it is possible that an imbalance in the amount of minerals in the organism arises. Thus, if minerals such as calcium, magnesium or potassium are in the wrong quantity, the muscles may fail to work, causing a marked decrease in strength and increased overall fatigue.
- What to do: If there is a family history of kidney disease or if it is suspected that this may be the problem, it is recommended to consult a nephrologist to identify if there is any disease in the kidneys and initiate appropriate treatment.
In addition to these causes there are others that can cause fatigue in the muscles, so if this symptom is present for more than 1 week and if you have not started any type of physical activity, nor made any extra effort, such as a cleaning, for example, you should seek medical help to perform tests and initiate appropriate treatment.
