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Yet Another Cause of
Fatigue...
Is low blood volume merely something else to worry about? Or does its identification mean that a large number of people will be able to avoid unnecessary fatigue? Literally, low blood volume means there is less blood in the body than there should be. Some of the symptoms include cold hands and feet, light-headedness when standing up, and dry eyes. Anxiety attacks could be a symptom, and definitely fatigue is a symptom. The theory of low blood volume is that there is a faulty feedback mechanism in the brain that does not alert the body that it needs more water. It used to be thought that a mitral valve prolapse syndrome caused these problems. Now the thinking is that the low blood volume could actually cause the mitral value problems. Low blood volume can also cause panic attacks. This happens because fluid levels have dropped, which causes the brain to produce more adrenaline so the heart pumps more blood to compensate for the low blood volume. The best way to diagnose this condition is to get your blood pressure taken twice. Take it once while you're sitting, and then after you stand up. If your blood pressure plummets when you stand up, you probably are a candidate for this diagnosis. What can you do about it? The solution is probably one that is good for everyone regardless of whether they suffer from low blood volume or not. That is, drink lots of water. At least eight to ten glasses a day. Salt will also help, but before increasing your salt intake you should make sure that your blood volume is truly low. The water won't hurt you in any case. If these solutions don't work, there are beta-blockers, but this requires the diagnosis and assistance of your physician. It turns out that there are a large number of people who suffer from low blood volume, but they do not have the related mitral valve prolapse syndrome. The solution is the same: increase your liquid consumption, eliminate caffeine, and increase salt. One thing I know can happen with is that people who spend all day long on the telephone end up dehydrated at the end of the day if they don't drink a lot of liquids. They lose a lot of body water from talking all day long. Not only does this dehydration affect mental functioning, but it can also cause fatigue. It might be interesting for Call Center managers and supervisors to institute a procedure whereby someone comes by every hour and fills up glasses of water. If it works, it would be a tremendous positive mental and emotional contribution to the Call Center environment. Janelle Barlow, President
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