WELLBEING: TIME TO UNDERSTAND PERSISTENT FATIGUE AND BODY ACHES

Persistent tiredness and body aches are common health complaints and affect productivity and quality of life.

- DR P.S.VENKATESH RAO

These symptoms are usually shrugged off as inconsequential by family members, colleagues, and health workers, and sometimes by the afflicted themselves, as caused by overwork. These symptoms are often caused by a stressful lifestyle, lack of sleep, nutrient deficiencies, anaemia, obesity, imbalanced hormones, or sometimes due to post viral recovery, chronic inflammation, and disease. An understanding of these causes can help avoid or reduce the suffering. Acute inflammation is a healthy, short-term response to injury, while chronic inflammation is damage to healthy tissues due to a misguided, persistent immune reaction. Inflammation has been discussed in detail on 13.07.2026 in the article titled “Persistent inflammation is disabling and a major cause of heart attacks”.

The lack of understanding is a significant part of the burden, often leading to invalidation and increased distress, which can worsen symptoms.

• Unrelenting Fatigue is not typical tiredness. It is profound, long-term exhaustion that does not improve with sleep.

•In Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM), symptoms flare up or "crash" after minor physical or mental activity, often lasting days or weeks.

•Body aches & muscle/joint pain, headaches, or tender lymph nodes are common, often mimicking flu-like symptoms.

•Because of "Invisible" signs, the person does not look sick, and faces scepticism, adding emotional strain to physical pain.

A highly active immune system (inflammation and infection) consumes a lot of energy, depriving the body of energy for daily activities, leading to fatigue and body aches and pains. Other causes include lack of nutrients (e.g., anaemia reduces oxygen supply), misallocation of resources (stress, inadequate sleep, and obesity cause inflammation, and hormonal imbalance), and chronic diseases.

• Both overexertion (strenuous workouts) and extreme inactivity (sedentary lifestyle or poor posture) lead to muscle stiffness and fatigue.