The “Exhausted” States of America
This survey taking a look at how Americans deal with tiredness found that the average respondent feels tired 4 hours a day and 31% admitted to feeling tired for even longer than that, with 1 in 3 reporting that they “always” or “often” still feel tired after a night of sleep.
58% of the respondents said that being tired is preventing them from enjoying life, 58% reported that feeling exhausted causes them to avoid social interactions, 33% said that feeling exhausted makes them skip events they wanted to go to, and 27% had to cancel plans with family and friends due to being too tired.
Those living with chronic conditions can face even greater struggles, compared to those without persistent health issues, this subset of respondents reported being tired 2 extra hours a day, 64% avoided social interactions because of their health, and 66% reported having a more difficult time enjoying life. 40% of this subset skipped events, and 33% canceled plans due to feelings of exhaustion.
Fake it until you make it or procrastinate?
The average American spends around 27% of their weekend trying to recuperate from their week during the weekend. 32% procrastinate doing their chores when they are feeling tired and 30% said that when they feel tired they just stay in bed. When they feel exhausted 21% said that they skip their exercise routine, and 20% don’t even feel like cooking. However, despite feeling tired or exhausted 33% of the respondents said that they push through those feelings to get the things done they need to do.
Most people will just come right out and say that they are tired three times a day, but many people try to hide that they are tired and just say that they are fine, even when they are not fine. 54% of those who fake it until they make it say that they just push through because they are concerned about not getting things done and falling behind, and 23% just feel like their tiredness will pass.
Although they are tired and moving slower, 36% rarely (or never) think about the underlying reasons for them being sluggish, and 43% were not aware that there is a difference between tiredness and fatigue.
Tiredness and fatigue are not the same
“Despite using words like ‘tired’ and ‘exhausted’ interchangeably, there are distinct and clinical differences between tiredness and fatigue,” explains Dr. Maggie Williams, medical director for MD Live Virtual Primary Care, in a statement. “Occasional tiredness can often be managed with better sleep habits and lifestyle changes, but fatigue is a persistent exhaustion that could signal underlying health issues that should be discussed with a doctor.”
Even though 88% identified experiencing symptoms of fatigue on a regular basis, 51% of the respondents do not believe that fatigue is a serious health concern, and 35% did not know that fatigue can be due to an underlying health concern.
38% of the respondents report having very low energy regularly, 37% have trouble sleeping, 33% have low motivation, 32% have tired eyes, and 32% experience muscle pain or weakness. Some people may be overlooking other lesser recognized symptoms of fatigue such as poor memory, and anxiety or nervousness that 27% and 22% of the respondents respectively reported experiencing regularly.
Despite experiencing symptoms frequently, only 5% of the respondents said that they discussed their feelings of tiredness with a physician, and when it came to fatigue 66% said that they have never brought up the subject or mentioned that they are experiencing any of the symptoms with a physician either. However, lack of knowledge may be part of this reason, with 17% not being sure if they suffer from fatigue.
Do you know the difference?
While people may use the terms tired and fatigue interchangeably, they are not the same. Tiredness typically refers to a short-term lack of energy that improves with rest or sleep. Tiredness can be caused by lack of sleep or physical exertion, sometimes just a short nap can help to resolve tiredness. On the other hand, fatigue is more of a constant mental or physical exhaustion that impacts your ability to do everyday things whether you are at work or at home, as well as your social life. Fatigue can linger even after a good night of rest, and naps typically won’t help to resolve troubles with concentration, anxiety, sensitivity to light, lack of motivation, muscle pain, or trouble getting up in the morning.
“If sleep-related issues or feelings of extreme tiredness begin to interfere with your quality of life, it’s important to consult a doctor. Before diagnosis, more than one-third of chronic disease sufferers noted they experienced extreme tiredness without realizing it was a symptom of their underlying condition,” notes Dr. Williams. “A doctor’s evaluation can help identify the root cause of any symptoms and develop an effective treatment plan.”
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
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References/Sources/Materials provided by:
T.W. at WHN
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/video/average-american-feels-exhausted-more-than-4-hours-each-day/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21206-fatigue
