Fatigue Does Not Equal Weakness

In common use, weakness and fatigue have similar meanings, but for the medical community the two words are not the same, and confusing the two can result in misleading medical advice. People who are getting certain mouth sores on a regular basis may deal with fatigue as supposed to weakness. Differentiating the two will help a great deal to treat your condition properly.

Let’s examine the differences between these two words that are often used interchangeably. Weakness refers to actual muscle strength. It may help to think of a person with a skinny body stature, as opposed to a weight lifter or bodybuilder, when you think of weakness. However, if what you are feeling is more like the way your body feels after having worked twenty hours without a break or after you have taken a twenty-mile hike then this is fatigue. In this condition you do not have sufficient energy to do the activities you wish to accomplish. Sometimes getting out of bed can be too much of an effort.

Certain symptoms, canker sores, for one, are linked to fatigue. These sores can appear for many reasons and they are associated with certain illnesses. Still, when, where and how frequently they will develop remains beyond the comprehension of experts. It is widely believed that outbreaks may be related to the immune system.

When the body’s ability to fight off illness is compromised, sores seem more likely to develop. This can happen as a result of an existing condition, such as HIV, cancer and many others. This can also occur when a person is not getting proper rest and becomes fatigued, not necessarily weak.

Again, the difference may seem minimal, but it can make all the difference in the world as it relates to making a proper diagnosis. As advanced as the medical field has become, it is still you who knows the most about your body and can share the information with your doctor.