Side Effect: Malaise (feeling ill)

What is Malaise (feeling ill)?

When a person has a general feeling of being ill it is commonly called malaise. Malaise is a feeling of general discomfort, uneasiness, or weakness often associated with a sense of illness or lack of well-being.

What does Malaise (feeling ill) look like?

The experience of malaise can vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:

Who gets Malaise (feeling ill)?

Malaise can be caused by a variety of factors, including physical and emotional stress, inflammation, and disease. Patients with cancer often experience malaise, particularly during chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as these treatments can cause a range of side effects that can contribute to feelings of weakness and fatigue.

How to prevent Malaise (feeling ill)

To help prevent malaise it’s important to maintain adequate nutrition and hydration, regular physical activity, and good sleep hygiene.

How to treat Malaise (feeling ill)

References

1. Markowitz AJ, Rabow MW. Palliative management of fatigue at the close of life: "it feels like my body is just worn out". JAMA 2007;298(2):217.

2. Molassiotis A, Bardy J, Finnegan-John J, et al. Acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue in patients with breast cancer: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. J Clin Oncol 2012;30(36):4470-4476.

Created: May 18, 2024 Updated: May 18, 2024