Health Tips for January 4

Health Tip: Coping With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by extreme fatigue that makes it difficult to complete life's daily tasks. It has no known cause or cure, but the National Women's Health Information Center says you can take steps to help manage its symptoms: Keep an activities journal, particularly on days that you feel especially tired. Look for patterns in your symptoms and eliminate or reduce activities that seem to trigger them. Work with an occupational therapist to help you conserve energy and feel better. At the end of the day, evaluate how much energy you had, compared to how much energy you needed to use. Doing so may help you better manage your energy. As needed, take over-the-counter pain relievers and antihistamines that don't cause drowsiness. Health Tip: Unexplained Swelling If you have swelling of the ankles, legs or feet, the cause isn't always obvious. Here, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, are some common causes of unusual swelling in these areas: Standing up for long periods. A side effect of your menstrual period. Being overweight. Being pregnant. Prolonged plane or car travel. An injury to the foot or ankle. Certain medications. Swelling in the legs may also indicate serious conditions including failure of the heart, kidneys, or liver. So if you have unexplained swelling, see your doctor without delay.