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How Fatigue Affects Men's Bodies?

Psychiatrist, sexologist, psychotherapist
  • Published:
    14 November 2024
  • Updated:
    14 November 2024
How Fatigue Affects Bodies?

Fatigue has a complex, destructive impact on a man's body. It represents overwhelming, persistent exhaustion and a decrease in one's ability to perform daily activities.

From Cognitive Exhaustion to Chronic Diseases

In terms of duration, acute and chronic fatigue are distinguished. Acute fatigue is short-term and quickly relieved by rest or lifestyle changes. Chronic fatigue lasts more than six months and does not disappear after rest. This form is a harbinger of serious diseases that require a careful approach to diagnosis and treatment.

Fatigue is divided into mental and physical, depending on the impact area. Mental fatigue affects cognitive and perceptual functions, impacting the ability to concentrate, memorize information, and make decisions. On the other hand, physical fatigue affects the muscular system and overall performance, reducing the ability to perform even simple physical tasks. The combined effect of both factors creates a vicious circle that deteriorates the quality of life in the long term.

Fatigue and Health

Men aged 40+ are prone to chronic diseases, including hypertension and diabetes. These diseases require resource expenditure, leading to wear, weakness, and exhaustion of the body. Mental disorders, depression, and anxiety also intensify the feeling of constant fatigue, as emotional tension and anxiety consume energy.

Men lose muscle mass and strength twice as fast as women with age. This fact creates additional risks for fatigue as the body copes worse with everyday physical exertion. Constant economic and social transformations in society demand professional and personal productivity, which increases pressure on men. An example is data among working men in China, where up to 81.8% of employees reported constant fatigue. Chronic fatigue also leads to a weakened immune system in men, making the body vulnerable to infections. Sexual life also suffers - libido decreases.

There is a connection between fatigue and decreased hormone production, such as testosterone. Its level plays a key role in maintaining physical and psychological health. A decrease in this indicator leads to weakness, depression, and anxiety, creating conditions for a vicious circle: fatigue causes hormonal imbalance, which in turn intensifies fatigue and worsens overall well-being.

Prevention, or What Can Be Done

Men, especially those after 40, should consider possible risks and take measures to prevent fatigue.

  • Full night's sleep of at least 7-8 hours.

  • Moderate physical activity.

  • Balanced diet high in vitamins, protein, and minerals.

  • Psychological help and support play an important role in improving well-being.

  • Rational distribution of time between work, rest, and hobbies.

Conclusion

Constant fatigue is a complex symptom that can have a serious impact on a man's body. Its influence extends from reduced physical endurance to mental exhaustion, affecting professional life and personal relationships. Fatigue is also an important risk factor for the development of chronic diseases, especially in men over 40-50 years old, making it one of the key problems requiring increased attention.

Sources

Factors Associated with Fatigue among Men Aged 45 and Older: A Cross-Sectional Study (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4586650/), Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015 Sep 2;12(9):10897–10909. doi: 10.3390/ijerph120910897. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Muscle fatigue: what, why and how it influences muscle function (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2375565/), J Physiol. 2007 Aug 16;586(Pt 1):11–23. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.139477. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Muscle fatigue: general understanding and treatment (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5668469/), Exp Mol Med. 2017 Oct 6;49(10):e384. doi: 10.1038/emm.2017.194. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.


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