Medical Portal Mediway.com

Medical Specializations, Medical Dictionary


  Molecules
  Diseases
  Books
  Medical Products
  First aid
  Medical Specializations
  Doctors' Listing
  Hospitals
  Pharma/Drug Companies
  Manufacturers of Surgical
  Instruments

  Medical Colleges
  Medical Associations
  Medical Dictionary
  Conferences & Exhibitions
  Image Gallery
  Video Library
  Home
  Contact Us

Medical Specializations


Paediatrics => Epilepsy => Fatigue


Fatigue


Fatigue (physiology), exhaustion of mind or body resulting from labour or exertion. Certain diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart ailments, can also cause fatigue. Fatigue is characterized by the inability to perform physical tasks at one's usual pace or strength, and by a slowing of the thinking processes that may involve failure of memory.

The term fatigue is also used to denote a decreased susceptibility of a sensory receptor, such as the eye, to sensation. A red surface seems to become grey when it is stared at continuously, and the retina is said to be fatigued by long exposure to the colour red. The same is true of hearing. A prolonged noise that is heard continuously becomes less intense due to fatigue of the processes of the inner ear. Continued mental exertion, as in a protracted working over of a problem, causes the condition known as mental fatigue.

Back