Hi pcventures -
I can certainly understand feeling generally unhealthy but not being
able to describe why or how. It's about the most frustrating thing
out there - and having a doctor who doesn't take much time to figure
out what's going on doesn't help. The first thing I would do, in your
situation, is have a regular checkup with my doctor. Before I go to
my doctor, I sit down and write out all the health concerns I've had
since my last appointment. That way I won't forget them (which I tend
to do) and I can prompt my doctor to talk about them. It's possible
that your doctor just doesn't know that you feel icky all the time.
The comments given here by other researchers are excellent with
regards to the Cleveland and Mayo clinics, and, should you continue to
be unhappy with your doctor's recommendations, you may wish to pursue
those lines of research. However, it's possible that something simple
and environmental is causing your problems, rather than something big
and scary. I think you're wise to ask about diet and lifestyle habits
that might be affecting your health.
Smoking and drinking are the obvious "bad habits" that people think of
for health problems. Other things that can contribute to a general
feeling of "unwellness" that can be hard to diagnose:
- low-grade allergies (including but not limited to pets, mold, dust -
things that are always in your home or at your workplace). Do you
feel better (physically, not mentally) when you take an extended
vacation? My husband found out in college that he'd been sick for 18
years because he's allergic to cats, not because he was a sickly kid.
Check out the fast facts on allergies from the AAAAI:
http://www.aaaai.org/patients/resources/fastfacts/allergies.stm
- dehydration (most people don't drink enough water, which really
plays havoc with your system) - drink water! if you don't like water,
I'd suggest a sugar-free flavored drink. Do the sugar-free so that
you aren't adding calories to your day (which will result in weight
gain, and further feelings of illness that accompany that). Here's an
article on dehydration from the MEDLINEplus encyclopedia:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000982.htm
- vitamin deficiency (this can include Vitamin D - which is treated
using a sunlamp or exposure to the real sun - vitamin C, or any of the
B vitamins) - go on a multivitamin! There are a lot of great
resources on the MEDLINEplus health topic for vitamins and
supplements: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitaminandmineralsupplements.html
- stress (it's amazing what stress can do to your health) - I've found
yoga twice a week for a half an hour (using a tape at home) really
helps alleviate and even prevent migraines. Here's a handout from the
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health:
http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001201-d001300/d001245/d001245.html
- lack of sleep - the MEDLINEplus health topic for sleep disorders may
be helpful: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sleepdisorders.html
- lack of exercise (endorphins, which are released by activities such
as sex, eating chocolate, and exercise, are vital for "feeling good").
Here's the MEDLINEplus health topic for exercise/physical activity:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exercisephysicalfitness.html.
- poor working conditions (such as - lighting, noise, air quality,
height of the desk/keyboard if you do a lot of typing, glare from
computer monitors, etc.) - many companies now have a specialist in
ergonomics who can help you figure out if you're "working healthy."
You might find the occupational health links from MEDLINEplus
interesting: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/occupationalhealth.html
- poor diet (you could be lactose intolerant, for example, or eating
too much fatty foods and too little fibrous foods) - check out some of
the nutrition sites on the web or contact a nutritionist for a
consultation. There's also this handout from the Academy of Family
Physicians: http://familydoctor.org/handouts/369.html
I found these sites using the MEDLINEplus service from the National
Library of Medicine (www.medlineplus.gov). I am entering this as a
comment, not an answer, because I've only answered half of your
question. Please note that I am not a physician, so the above is not
to be construed as medical advice or a diagnosis.
Good luck!
librariankt |
