Dr Julius Parker: Tiredness and growing pains
There are many causes for tiredness, but if this symptom is persistent and affecting your normal day-to-day activities you do need to investigate this further. It is possible a strictly vegetarian or vegan diet could be an underlying cause.
This is because the best absorbed sources of iron, and only source of vitamin B12, are foods of animal origin, including meat and poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products. Your body needs iron, Vitamin B12, and folate, which is available from cereals and vegetables; to make red blood cells. If red cell levels only gradually decline your body can initially adapt to this. However, over time, or if you make an increased effort such as running, you will notice symptoms of tiredness. You may also notice palpations, a feeling of your heart thumping in your chest.
Both conditions are easily diagnosed by blood test and I’d recommend you see your GP who can arrange these. They are also easily treated, although you may need vitamin B12 injections regularly in the future.
If you’re otherwise fit and well it’s unlikely there’s a serious or worrying reason underlying your symptoms, but you should see your GP for a check up.
My 14-year-old daughter is sports mad. In the past month she has started to complain about pains in her legs, especially at night when in bed. It sounds like growing pains, or maybe it is something more serious.
It’s quite common for children to complain of aches and pains in their legs. Traditionally called ‘growing pains’, they can occur in both teenagers and younger children. Typically such pains only occur at night, and are often severe enough to awaken your child. They also occur in both legs, though not necessarily at the same time, usually in the calf, knee or ankle areas. There also may be a family history, so ask your or your partners parents.
It’s clear these pains are not related to a problem with diet, and they may not be linked to how much exercise your daughter does.
Growing pains are harmless, and will settle by themselves. You or your daughter can try massaging the painful areas, using a heat pad, or even paracetamol if she wakes up distressed.
There are a number of symptoms, which may suggest your daughter should be reviewed by her GP. For example, if her leg pain is very localised, so that she always points to the same place, or the same joint, that hurts.
If one joint looks swollen or her pain stops her activities or makes her limp. Or if her symptoms of pain, and perhaps muscle or joint stiffness, last into the morning and affect her movement first thing, even if this then settles for the rest of the day.
These types of symptoms should be investigated further by her GP as they may suggest an underlying illness.
