Exercise feels like a burden when you're exhausted, especially if the exhaustion worsens with physical exertion. Physical activity is needed for a healthy lifestyle, so if tiredness persists for a week or more, even after a good night's sleep, consult with your doctor. Three potential causes of this exhaustion are chronic fatigue syndrome, an underactive thyroid or an early symptom of pregnancy.
Identification
Chronic fatigue syndrome causes you to feel exhausted throughout the day and this exhaustion is worsened by physical activity. You will also feel weak with muscle aches, memory loss and insomnia. Regardless of how much you sleep, you continue to feel tired. Chronic fatigue syndrome can last six months or more. An underactive thyroid can also cause increased fatigue after exercise. An underactive thyroid can make you feel weak and stiff and make your body ache. This condition is most common for women over 50, according to MayoClinic.com. Your first trimester of pregnancy can also cause severe fatigue that is made worse by exercise.
Cause
The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown and there are no diagnostic tests. It's possible the syndrome occurs as an endpoint of disease that results from multiple causes, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The tiredness from an underactive thyroid is caused by the thyroid gland not producing enough thyroxine and triiodothronine, which are hormones that help your body regulate body temperature, your heart rate, protein production and the rate your body uses carbohydrates and fats, according to MayoClinic.com. Exhaustion during your first trimester of pregnancy is caused by an increase of the hormone progesterone.
Treatment
There is no direct treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. If the syndrome is correlating with an underlying problem, such as depression or pain somewhere in your body, then your doctor will treat the underlying problem. An underactive thyroid can be treated with a daily synthetic thyroid hormone called levothyroxine. If the exhaustion is caused by pregnancy, getting extra sleep and taking naps throughout the day are your only options, according to Labor of Love.
Considerations
Although exercise may be the last thing on your mind, your body needs physical activity for optimal health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobics with at least two days of strength training for your major muscle groups. If you're experiencing chronic fatigue syndrome, your doctor may recommend a lower intensity of exercise and then over time, you will gradually increase the intensity. If you're exercising while pregnant, stop exercising and consult with a doctor if you experience vaginal bleeding, dizziness, chest pains or pelvic pains.
