Malaise
Malaise refers to feelings of fatigue, illness, and discomfort, often with no apparent and identifiable cause. There are many reasons why people may have malaise. Some triggers are relatively benign or transient, while severe and chronic conditions give rise to them. The description of the experience generally varies, but many share common elements like discomfort, pain, illness, fatigue, and depression. These symptoms can either appear gradually or suddenly. They can also come and go or be long-lasting.
Pinpointing malaise isn’t easy, as several factors can trigger it, including overexertion, lack of physical activity, jet lag, viral infections, specific medications, substance withdrawal, chronic mental and physical conditions, pregnancy, and aging. Chronic health conditions that may result in a malaise are anemia, fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, COPD, and cancer. Viral infections like hepatitis and AIDS can also trigger malaise.
If the malaise experienced is caused by underlying health conditions, it’s best to seek treatment immediately. If not, the disease or illness triggering the episodes may develop and lead to complications. Often, treating the issue behind the malaise can alleviate the symptoms. For this reason, it’s crucial to determine the cause as soon as possible.
