Possible Causes
More and more we are hearing these expressions indicating underlying fatigue: “Tired So Tired” , “Why am I so Tired?”, “Tired of Being Tired” “Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired” so much so that books were written with those titles.
What is Fatigue?
- Fatigue is a medical term that is used by those in the health care profession when they write their report about patients who are complaining of tiredness, weariness; exhaustion or lethargy.
- Fatigue is different form drowsiness, which essentially means feeling the need to sleep. It is also different from apathy ( a feeling of indifference or not caring about what happens). Drowsiness and apathy are symptoms which may or may not be present in the same person complaining of fatigue.
- Fatigue can be a normal and important response to physical exertion, emotional stress, boredom, or lack of sleep. However, fatigue can also be a symptom or manifestation of any one of hundreds of medical conditions or illnesses. It can be a nonspecific sign of a more serious psychological or physical disorder. When fatigue is not relieved by enough sleep, good nutrition, or a low-stress environment, it should be evaluated by your doctor. Because fatigue is a common complaint, sometimes a potentially serious cause may be overlooked
- The pattern of fatigue may help your doctor determine its underlying cause. For example, if you wake up in the morning rested but rapidly develop fatigue with activity, you may have an ongoing physical condition like an underactive thyroid. On the other hand, if you wake up with a low level of energy and have fatigue that lasts throughout the day, you may be depressed.
- Just how common is fatigue? We have been dubbed as an “obese nation” or nation of workaholics with unhealthy lifestyle and diet and not to mention aging “baby boomers”; so it will not be exaggerating to say that fatigue is a fairly common symptom among Americans. It is probably too common that people tend to ignore it or just decide to live with it. To ignore fatigue is not a good thing. Because in some cases it may be your body’s trying to warn you of something that needs medical attention and in some instances it can be serious. Keep reading.
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What are some of the possible causes of Fatigue?
There are hundreds of possible physical and psychological causes of fatigue. Some of the more common ones are:
- An allergy that leads to hay fever or asthma
- Anemia (including iron deficiency anemia)
- Depression or grief
- Persistent pain
- Sleep disorders such as ongoing insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, or narcolepsy
- Underactive thyroid or overactive thyroid
- Use of alcohol or illegal drugs like cocaine, especially with regular use
- Aging, Nutritional or Environmental factors
- Candida or Yeast connection
Fatigue can also accompany the following not so common illnesses. Some are potentially serious or life threatening
- Addison’s disease
- Anorexia or other eating disorders
- Arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
- Autoimmune diseases such as lupus
- Congestive heart failure
- Diabetes
- Infection, especially one that takes a long time to recover from or treat such as bacterial endocarditis (infection of the heart muscle or valves), parasitic infections, AIDS, tuberculosis, and Infectious Mononucleosis or Mono
- Malnutrition
Certain medications may also cause drowsiness or fatigue, including antihistamines for allergies, blood pressure medicines, sleeping pills, steroids, and diuretics.
Click here to read at which point fatigue can be considered “chronic” and what are the possible causes
Click here to read about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)