Everyone experiences fatigue, but this is something else entirely. This chronic, debilitating fatigue cannot be alleviated by a quick nap. Perhaps they no longer take their morning stroll, or maybe they have been lounging in their favorite recliner, watching the television all afternoon without much interest.
Physiologically, the heart and lungs require more effort to circulate oxygen throughout the body as we grow older. Chronic fatigue may also be the “silent” indication of ailments such as anemia or even depression, according to a study featured in The Lancet. Social isolation has even been linked to physical weariness; with fewer reasons to look forward to, the body’s “engine” idles.
Think about a grandfather who previously spent hours tending to his garden. Today, all he does when he sees the weeds is let out a sigh. This is not because he is being “lazy”; rather, it is because the effort involved is like scaling a mountain.
