Why is weakness bad

Symptoms vary, but the most common are extreme fatigue, fever, sore throat Kidney failure is the inability of the kidneys to adequately filter metabolic waste products from the blood. Liver failure is caused by a disorder or substance that damages the liver. Most people have jaundice yellow skin and eyes , feel tired Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that enables them to carry oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to all parts Poor sleep, stress, strains Multiple sclerosis can cause fatigue that increases when people are exposed to heat and humidity.

First, doctors try to determine whether people are weak or simply tired. If people are weak, doctors then determine whether the weakness is severe enough or worsening quickly enough to be life threatening. Doctors also try to identify the cause. People who have any warning sign should go to an emergency department immediately. Immediate medical attention is crucial because weakness accompanied by a warning sign can worsen quickly and cause permanent disability or be fatal.

If people have symptoms suggesting a stroke Warning symptoms of stroke A stroke occurs when an artery to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures, resulting in death of an area of brain tissue due to loss of its blood supply cerebral infarction and symptoms that People without warning signs should call their doctor.

The doctor can decide how quickly they need to be seen based on their symptoms and other disorders they have. If the weakness worsens gradually over months to years , people should discuss the problem with their doctor at their next visit. Doctors first ask questions about the person's symptoms and medical history Medical History in Neurologic Disorders Before doing a physical examination, doctors interview the person.

Doctors ask the person to describe current symptoms, including those related to the nervous system neurologic symptoms : What Doctors then do a physical examination. What they find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause and the tests that may need to be done see table Some Causes and Features of Muscle Weakness Some Causes and Features of Muscle Weakness Weakness refers to loss of muscle strength.

Whether and how the weakness affects the ability to do certain activities, such as breathing, brushing their teeth or hair, speaking, swallowing, standing up from a seated position, climbing stairs, and walking. Whether they have other symptoms that indicate malfunction of the nervous system, such as speech or vision problems, loss of sensation or memory, or seizures.

Whether any activity or condition such as heat or repetitive use of a muscle makes the weakness worse. What seems to be sudden weakness is sometimes gradual weakness, but people do not notice it until they can no longer do something, such as walking or tying their shoes.

Based on the description of weakness, doctors can often identify the most likely causes, as for the following:. A muscle disorder: Weakness beginning in the hips and thighs or the shoulders that is, people have difficulty standing up or lifting their arms overhead and no effect on sensation.

A peripheral nerve disorder: Weakness beginning in the hands and feet that is, people have difficulty lifting a cup, writing, or stepping over a curb and loss of sensation. Doctors also ask about other symptoms, which may suggest one or more possible causes. For example, if people with back pain and a history of cancer report weakness in a leg, the cause may be cancer that has spread and put pressure on the spinal cord.

Doctors ask about conditions that increase risk of disorders that cause weakness. For example, They ask people whether they have high blood pressure and atherosclerosis which increase the risk of stroke or have traveled to area whether Lyme disease is common. People are asked about symptoms that suggest fatigue Fatigue Fatigue is when a person feels a strong need to rest and has so little energy that starting and sustaining activity is difficult. Fatigue tends to cause more general symptoms than true muscle weakness, and fatigue does not follow a particular pattern.

That is, it is present all the time and affects the whole body. People with true muscle weakness often report difficulty doing specific tasks, and the weakness follows a pattern for example, becomes worse after walking.

Doctors ask about recent or current disorders that commonly cause fatigue, such as any recent severe illness or a mood disorder such as depression Depression A short discussion of prolonged grief disorder. Whether family members have had similar symptoms can help doctors determine whether the cause is hereditary. During the physical examination, doctors focus on the nervous system neurologic examination Neurologic Examination When a neurologic disorder is suspected, doctors usually evaluate all of the body systems during the physical examination, but they focus on the nervous system.

Examination of the nervous system—the Doctors observe how the person walks. How people walk may suggest the disorder that is causing symptoms or its location. For example, if people drag a leg, do not swing one arm as much as the other when walking, or both, their symptoms may be caused by a stroke.

Doctors also check for other signs that the nervous system is malfunctioning, such as loss of coordination or sensation. Cranial nerves Overview of the Cranial Nerves Twelve pairs of nerves—the cranial nerves—lead directly from the brain to various parts of the head, neck, and trunk. Some of the cranial nerves are involved in the special senses such as seeing Muscles Motor Nerves When a neurologic disorder is suspected, doctors usually evaluate all of the body systems during the physical examination, but they focus on the nervous system.

Doctors note how smoothly muscles move and whether there is involuntary resistance to movement detected when doctors try to move a muscle that they have asked the person to relax. Reflexes Reflexes When a neurologic disorder is suspected, doctors usually evaluate all of the body systems during the physical examination, but they focus on the nervous system. Reflexes are automatic responses to a stimulus. For example, a physical therapist might suggest progressive resistive exercise to help someone with MS strengthen muscles that have become weak from lack of use.

For someone with ALS, a physical therapist might recommend stretching and range of motion exercises to prevent muscle stiffness. Occupational therapists can suggest exercises to strengthen your upper body. They can also recommend assistive devices and tools to help with day-to-day activities. Occupational therapy can be especially helpful during the stroke rehabilitation process. Therapists can recommend exercises to address weakness in one side of your body and help with motor skills.

Over-the-counter OTC pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen , can help manage pain associated with conditions such as:. Thyroid hormone replacement is used to treat hypothyroidism. Standard treatment usually involves taking levothyroxine Levoxyl, Synthroid , which is a synthetic thyroid hormone. Changing your diet can help remedy electrolyte imbalances. Your healthcare provider may also suggest taking supplements, such as calcium , magnesium oxide , or potassium oxide depending on your needs.

Surgery may be used to treat certain conditions, such as a herniated disc or hyperthyroidism. Check Your Symptoms Are you having problems with weakness or fatigue? Weakness is a lack of muscle strength and a reduced ability to move your body, no matter how hard you try. Fatigue is a feeling of extreme tiredness or extreme lack of energy. How old are you? Are you male or female?

Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have. If you are transgender or non-binary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms. If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female".

This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Do you have sleep problems? Have you noticed any irregular heartbeats or changes in your heart rate?

Could you be having symptoms of a heart attack? If you're having a heart attack, there are several areas where you may feel pain or other symptoms.

Have you had any new neurological symptoms? Do you have these symptoms right now? Have you had the symptoms for 1 week or less? Do you have symptoms of a serious illness? The symptoms in an adult or older child are different than the symptoms in a baby or toddler.

Do you have a feeling of general, all-over muscle weakness that does not seem to be getting better? It's normal to go through a brief period of weakness after a hard workout or a very stressful situation.

But that type of weakness should not last. Is the weakness quickly getting worse over days? Has the weakness gotten so bad that you can't complete your daily activities? Do you think that the weakness or fatigue is related to a chronic illness that you already have?

A few examples are diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease. Is the weakness or fatigue worse than normal? Do you think that a medicine may be causing the weakness or fatigue?

Think about whether the weakness or fatigue started after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.

Do you think that a mental health problem could be causing the fatigue? Fatigue is a common symptom of problems such as depression, stress, anxiety, grief, and eating disorders. In the past few weeks, have you been losing weight without trying? Has the weakness or fatigue lasted more than 2 weeks and made it harder to do your daily activities?

These include: Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker. Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.

Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, or natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse. Recent health events , such as surgery or injury.

These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious. Your health habits and lifestyle , such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel. Try Home Treatment You have answered all the questions. Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms. Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect.

You may need care sooner. Symptoms of serious illness may include: A severe headache. A stiff neck. Mental changes, such as feeling confused or much less alert. Extreme fatigue to the point where it's hard for you to function. Shaking chills. Symptoms of serious illness in a baby may include the following: The baby is limp and floppy like a rag doll. The baby doesn't respond at all to being held, touched, or talked to.

Problems with the heart, such as coronary artery disease or heart failure , that limit the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle or the rest of the body. Metabolic disorders, such as diabetes , in which sugar glucose remains in the blood rather than entering the body's cells to be used for energy.

Kidney disease and liver disease, which cause fatigue when the concentration of certain chemicals in the blood builds up to toxic levels. Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition.

Insomnia: Improving Your Sleep. Check Your Symptoms Are you having problems with weakness or fatigue? Weakness is a lack of muscle strength and a reduced ability to move your body, no matter how hard you try. Fatigue is a feeling of extreme tiredness or extreme lack of energy. How old are you? Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

If you are transgender or non-binary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms. If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female". This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Do you have sleep problems? Have you noticed any irregular heartbeats or changes in your heart rate?

Could you be having symptoms of a heart attack? If you're having a heart attack, there are several areas where you may feel pain or other symptoms. Have you had any new neurological symptoms?

Do you have these symptoms right now? Have you had the symptoms for 1 week or less? Do you have symptoms of a serious illness? The symptoms in an adult or older child are different than the symptoms in a baby or toddler.

Do you have a feeling of general, all-over muscle weakness that does not seem to be getting better? It's normal to go through a brief period of weakness after a hard workout or a very stressful situation. But that type of weakness should not last. Is the weakness quickly getting worse over days? Has the weakness gotten so bad that you can't complete your daily activities?

Do you think that the weakness or fatigue is related to a chronic illness that you already have? A few examples are diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease. Is the weakness or fatigue worse than normal? Do you think that a medicine may be causing the weakness or fatigue?

Think about whether the weakness or fatigue started after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine. Do you think that a mental health problem could be causing the fatigue? Fatigue is a common symptom of problems such as depression, stress, anxiety, grief, and eating disorders. In the past few weeks, have you been losing weight without trying?

Has the weakness or fatigue lasted more than 2 weeks and made it harder to do your daily activities? These include: Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker. Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner. Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, or natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse.

Recent health events , such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious. Your health habits and lifestyle , such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment You have answered all the questions. Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms. Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect.

You may need care sooner. Symptoms of serious illness may include: A severe headache. A stiff neck. Mental changes, such as feeling confused or much less alert.