Fatigue: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

OVERVIEW

Nearly everyone experiences overtiredness or overwork from time to time. These cases of temporary fatigue are usually accompanied by a clear cause and a likely solution.

However, unrelenting exhaustion is more severe, more persistent, and doesn’t respond well to rest. This is a state of fatigue that can be almost constant and causes a decrease in energy, motivation, and concentration. This level of fatigue can also impact your psychological and emotional well-being.

Causes

Fatigue can often be traced back to your routines or habits, especially if you are not getting enough exercise. Depression is also a common cause. Sometimes, fatigue can be a sign of other conditions that need medical attention.

Lifestyle factors

Sometimes, the first step to relief is taking an honest inventory of what might be causing your fatigue. Fatigue could be caused by:

1. Use of alcohol or drugs
2. Excessive physical activity
3. Jet lag disorder
4. Inactivity
5. Antihistamines and cough medicine are some of the medications available.
6. Insufficient sleep
7. Unhealthy eating habits

Conditions

It could be a sign that you have a condition or a side effect of drugs or therapies.

1. Acute liver disease
2. Anemia
3. Anxiety disorders
4. Cancer
5. Chronic fatigue syndrome
6. Chronic infection or inflammation
7. Chronic kidney disease
8. Concussion
9. COPD – Exacerbation – Worsening of Symptoms
10. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
11. Major Depressive Disorder (major depression)
12. Diabetes
13. Emphysema
14. Fibromyalgia
15. Grief
16. Heart disease
17. Hyperthyroidism
18. Hypothyroidism
19. IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)
20. Treatments and medications, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and heart drugs, as well as pain medication and antidepressants, are available.
21. Multiple Sclerosis
22. Obesity
23. Persistent pain
24. Sleep Apnea
25. Stress
26. Traumatic brain injury

When should you see a doctor?

Contact your emergency number

If your fatigue is caused by a mental illness or if you have other symptoms, seek emergency medical attention.

• Suicide or thoughts of harming oneself
• Beware of the possibility that you could cause harm to someone else

If fatigue is associated with any of these conditions, you should seek emergency treatment.

• Chest pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Feeling like you could pass out
• Grave abdominal, pelvic, or back pain

Get immediate medical attention

If fatigue is caused by:

• Normal bleeding includes bleeding from the rectum or vomiting blood
• Grave headaches

Make an appointment to see a doctor

If fatigue persists for more than two weeks, even if you have made efforts to reduce stress, eat a healthy diet, and drink lots of fluids, call your doctor.