The expert listed the causes of chronic fatigue

Yakov Yakubovich, an expert on socio-economic policy, explained why 63% of Russians live with chronic fatigue, and every sixth person in the world has mental problems.

In conversation with the agency RuNews24.Ru On Monday, May 4, the expert noted that the October VTSIOM poll showed that 37% of Russians feel tired every day, another 26% — several times a week, that is, 63% face it regularly. The expert noted that this is no longer a private overwork, but a stable social norm, and the proportion of people who get tired every day has increased since 2022. According to him, the reasons have shifted: stress, nervous and responsible work have come to the fore, rather than physical exertion, which indicates emotional and cognitive exhaustion.

He added that the feeling of fatigue is becoming the background of life: Russians are less likely to feel young and more likely to consider themselves middle-aged. At the same time, the problem is global in nature — according to international research, stress and burnout levels are increasing, and the number of people with mental difficulties is increasing. This is attributed to information overload, constant notifications, and multitasking.

The expert stressed that it is important to distinguish between ordinary fatigue, burnout and chronic fatigue syndrome. If the first one goes away after rest, then burnout is associated with prolonged stress, and chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease that does not disappear even after recovery. He noted that in Russia these conditions are often confused, which is why people underestimate the problem. According to him, if rest does not help and cognitive impairments or deterioration of the condition appear after exertion, it is worth contacting a doctor, since more serious conditions may be hidden behind habitual fatigue.

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Earlier, on May 4, internist Galina Volkova told 360.ru that if fatigue does not go away after a good sleep and rest, weakness, shortness of breath, pain in some parts of the body, and sudden changes in weight additionally appear, it is better to consult a doctor.

Expert Anna Shatravkina said on May 1 that exhaustion is often triggered by chronic stress, high responsibility and uncertainty, and not just physical exertion. It can be difficult to distinguish the types of fatigue: ordinary overwork, for example, after completing a project, takes place after a rest, while emotional exhaustion affects the perception of life, causing cynicism and a feeling of inner emptiness, writes Pravda.Ru .

In April, Maria Lavrenova, a neurologist, warned that it was harmful to "sleep off" too much on weekends after a lack of sleep on weekdays, as it disrupted the biological rhythms of the body. She recommended increasing sleep on weekends by no more than 1.5-2 hours, and using a short afternoon nap to recover, writes NSN.

Also in April, internist Svetlana Burnatskaya told Izvestia that fatigue after winter is associated with vitamin deficiency. Among the most common deficiencies, experts identify vitamin D, vitamin C, and B vitamins.

In March, rhinosurgeon and plastic surgeon Sergey Karpovich told RIAMO that a curved nasal septum often leads to sleep apnea, chronic fatigue, decreased concentration and daytime sleepiness.

At the same time, reproductive therapist Gunai Salayeva warned that chronic fatigue affects the possibility of becoming pregnant. According to her, cortisol plays a key role: if short-term stress mobilizes the body, then its chronic increase, on the contrary, depletes resources and suppresses reproductive function.

In September, doctor Bella Bragvadze said that excessive mental stress and chronic stress weaken the immune system, reducing the body's ability to fight infections. The expert also drew attention to the importance of proper sleep and daily routine, the Moscow City News agency notes.