Name That Symptom / Question
Published: January 3, 2008
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am worried because I’m 18 years old and I don’t really feel healthy. I am usually really active and run almost every day and take any chance I can to exercise and eat well, but in the last few months, my hair seems to be less healthy and is falling out more, and I feel really tired and unmotivated, I don’t feel capable of doing the things I normally love to do. I have been away from home for almost a year, so I am eating differently than I normally do, because I’m vegetarian and everything, but I think I am getting enough protein. My periods are also irregular and seem to not last as long as normal. Do you think this could be caused by a hormone imbalance? I had blood tests done, and the doctor said I was healthy, but I don’t feel good. Do you have any idea what could be causing these symptoms?
Signed: I'm 18 Years Old And I Don't Feel Healthy
Dear I'm 18 Years Old And I Don't Feel Healthy,
TeenHealthFX congratulates you on trying to lead a healthy lifestyle. But, as with all things, moderation is the key to success when it comes to nutrition and exercise. Your exercise routine may be too demanding on your body – what many athletes refer to as “overtraining.” Your body needs time to recover from strenuous exercise, and will work better after an adequate period of rest. The longer the duration or higher the intensity of exercise you do, the longer a period of recovery you’ll need. Exercising every day for long periods of time or at very high intensities will eventually lead to breakdown, fatigue, and injury. ‘More’ is not always better and too much of a good thing is usually not good. Exercise breaks down muscle and, as the muscle responds to the overload caused by exercise, it demands more oxygen and nutrients in order to recover properly.
Oxygen is delivered to your tissues (i.e. muscle, brain, skin, etc.) by red blood cells (RBCs). In order to make more RBCs, your diet must contain enough iron. The typical American diet contains a lot of iron, mostly from animal meats and certain vegetables. If you are a strict vegetarian, you may not be getting enough iron, thus making you feel tired. Active people also need protein and if you are not getting enough protein in your diet, your muscles won’t be able to rebuild as you break them down through exercise.
Another possibility for your irregular periods is that your body fat might be too low. Once again, the key to good health and optimal fitness is moderation. Stress from being in a new environment may be contributing to the irregular periods as well but it is common for women who are involved in excessively high intensity physical activity, who aren’t eating properly to meet their bodies’ nutritional needs, or who have too low a percentage of body fat to have all of the symptoms you describe.
FX advises that you take a couple of weeks off from your training (or at least cut back on the frequency, intensity and duration of your exercise) to let your body rest and recuperate. After that, make sure that you exercise in moderation and be careful not to overtrain. Mix in some strength training with aerobic exercises and vary the intensity, frequency and duration of your exercise activities. In addition, learn what foods you like contain the most iron and be sure to include foods in your daily diet that will provide you with enough iron and protein. If you don’t notice any changes in your mood or other symptoms, and your periods do not normalize, we recommend you visit your primary care physician to discuss your concerns. Your doctor may refer you to a gynecologist if he/she thinks that your irregular periods are not the result of exercise, diet or weight, but the result of a gynecologic condition.
If you don't have a doctor and live in northern
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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