Fatigue is often described as a lack of energy and motivationboth physical and emotional.
It is different than sleepiness or drowsiness, which describes the need for sleep.
Fatigue is also a response to physical and mental activities.
Verywell / Lara Antal
Normally, fatigue can be resolved with rest or reducing activity.
Fatigue is a common complaint related to health issues.
Notably, it is a symptom and not a specific disease or health condition.
Many illnesses cause fatigue, and the symptoms can be physical, psychological, or a combination of both.
This article discusses the symptoms of fatigue, as well as potential causes and treatments.
Men and women will describe fatigue differently.
People with fatigue experience one or more of three primary complaints.
Most people who experience fatigue may not be aware early on how much energy they are losing.
Don’t ignore fatigue or delay seeking out medical care to determine the source of your fatigue.
Your healthcare provider can help you pinpoint the cause and improve your quality of life.
Regardless of the cause, chronic fatigue will impact a persons day-to-day functioning and quality of life.
They can come on gradually or suddenly.
Causes
There are numerous potential causes of fatigue.
For the majority of medical illness, fatigue is a possible symptom.
Normal fatiguethat is, fatigue that occurs from mental or physical exertionis not unusual.
However, normal fatigue can become abnormal if it becomes chronic (long-lasting) or severe.
Medical
Medical causes of fatigue may cause unrelenting exhaustion with additional symptoms.
There are a number of diseases that trigger fatigue.
The medical causes of fatigue can be classified under broad disease categories.
Workplace-Related Fatigue
People who work night shifts may experience daytime fatigue.
That makes finding a diagnosis more difficult.
Physical exam: A physical exam will help your practitioner check for signs of disease.
Your medical professional may also ask about your current diet and lifestyle.
Testing: Tests can include blood work, urine screens, X-rays, and other imaging.
Your healthcare provider will want to rule out physical causes.
Fortunately, many of the causes of fatigue are treatable.
These include:
You should also check with your healthcare provider for mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Left untreated, fatigue can negatively affect your physical and mental health.
Summary
Fatigue is characterized by a feeling of constant tiredness or lack of energy.
The prognosis for fatigue is generally good, because many of the causes are easy to treat.
While it’s possible for you to manage fatigue, you probably cannot prevent its many causes.
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Hui Ho D, Zheng R.Approach to fatigue in primary care.Singapore Med J.
