Everyone knows about the fatigue of a flu, but can anyone explain WHY your body is so tired when you have the flu?
2007-09-02 10:44:36 · 5 answers · asked by Yentl 4 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Your body is conserving every bit of energy it has to fight the flu. It shuts down other functions so that you can't use them to take away the energy the body needs. This is simplistic, but it makes sense. When a virus attacks, it attacks everywhere and your body is just pooped trying to fight it. Good luck if you have the flu!
2007-09-02 10:49:53 · answer #1 · answered by P S 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Several factor contribute to the fatigue one feels when suffering with the flu. First would be decreased food and fluid intake. The next would be the energy your body is using to fight off the illness. Cells use energy. Fever and chills are also very common with the flu. The human body's response to fever or chills is to shiver. Shivering is movement, and movement uses energy. Unlike a 30 minute workout, these energy expenditures happen 24 hours a day while you're suffering from the flu. It adds up to being very run down.
2007-09-02 10:53:16 · answer #2 · answered by IAINTELLEN 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your body uses the energy to kill the flu so your body shuts down most of your organs. Why? Read what I wrote.
Once the virus enters your body, the flu starts... The virus first by your mouth. Then your blessing (haaaapptchouuuu) tries to take it out. If that doesn't work you sometimes yoan. This tries to take the virus to your stomach with the stomach acid tries to burn it. If it doesn't work then a real flu starts to take place and you will get sick.
The virus first takes the code of the DNA and transfers it to go into your trought. The virus stays there and duplicates. after 2 it duplicates again. 4 8 16 32 etc. Once your body recognizes it, The virus has spread into billions. Then your body attacks the virus.
The first thing it can do is send callcium and other protiens to try to kill the virus. That time your body is surching for the right genes in your DNA that can stop the virus. There are billions of combinations so it takes days to find the right DNA. If your body can't find it, you die unless you take pills or liquid medication. It is really rare to die. So after your body gets the right Genes from your DNA, the genes duplicate like the virus to kill the billions of viruses. Now your body is ready to battle.
Your body first uses most of the energy to duplicate your genes. The rest is used to heat up your body and try to kill the virus. If the virus doesn't die then you attack with your genes. your genes stick to the virus http://www.sciencemusings.com/blog/uploaded_images/Virus-740227.jpg
and kill it.
That's why your body gets tired during a flu.
2007-09-02 10:46:49 · answer #3 · answered by ???????? ????? 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They say that different parts of your brain are responsible for moving certain parts of the body. I don't know about you but I feel like my head gets clogged up and my nose feels kind of soupy when I have the flu. I believe that the brain gets clogged up enough that it starts sending out signals telling the body to rest. I don't know about you but I also can't think too well when I am sick and this is even when I'm not taking any medicine.
2007-09-02 10:59:00 · answer #4 · answered by Merilee L 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Specifically, I saw on a nature documentary that your body releases a certain chemical when you are sick. This chemical makes you feel tired and sore, which apparently makes you want to rest.
It is your own body which makes you feel tired and sore when you are sick, and not the disease itself, because your body is trying to get you to rest and conserve energy that it needs to fight the flu.
2007-09-04 08:00:37 · answer #5 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋