a test for the presence of rheumatoid factor, an antibody found in the blood. About 80% of people with RA test positive for this antibody, but the test is not conclusive.
6. Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. In the most common type, obstructive sleep apnea, your upper airway actually closes or collapses for a few seconds, which, in turn, alerts your brain to wake you up to begin breathing again. Someone with obstructive sleep apnea may stop breathing dozens or even hundreds of times a night, says Roseanne S. Barker, MD, former medical director of the Baptist Sleep Institute in Knoxville, TN.
Symptoms: Sleep apnea is often signaled by snoring and is generally followed by tiredness the next day. Because sleep apnea can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke, it’s important to be tested.
Tests: This involves an overnight stay at a sleep clinic, where you’ll undergo a polysomnogram, which is a painless test that will monitor your sleep patterns, breathing changes, and brain activity.
7. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
People who suffer from CFS feel too tired to carry on with their normal activities and are easily exhausted with little exertion.
Symptoms: Other signs include headache, muscle and joint pain, weakness, tender lymph nodes, and an inability to concentrate. Chronic fatigue syndrome remains puzzling because it has no known cause.
Tests: Unfortunately, there are none. Your doctor must rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as lupus and multiple sclerosis, before making the diagnosis.
Remember that if you’re struggling through your day, talk to your doctor. Exhaustion can be your body’s way of signaling a real problem, so rule out serious conditions that need to be treated. If you find that you don’t have a condition that’s standing in your way, ask your doctor about more customized steps you can take to start feeling better and more energized.