Fatigue is described as an overall feeling of tiredness or lack of energy. It differs from merely feeling sleepy or drowsy. Fatigue makes you experience exhaustion and lack of motivation. Sleepiness is a common symptom of fatigue, but it is not the same thing.
Numerous medical conditions, ranging in severity from moderate to serious, frequently exhibit fatigue as a symptom. It also happens naturally as a result of some lifestyle decisions, including not exercising or eating poorly.
Unknown fatigue often happens when you can’t tell the exact cause. More often, most individuals can determine if their fatigue is serious or not, particularly if it is unexplained or persists for longer than two weeks.
Fatigue has a variety of causes which are divided into three broad groups:
Lifestyle factors
The following lifestyle activities can cause fatigue:
Physical health conditions
Examples of medical conditions that cause fatigue include:
Mental Health Issues
Fatigue can result from issues with mental health as well. For instance, fatigue is a typical sign of anxiety, sadness, and seasonal affective disorder.
An individual may need to seek medical attention should he/she experience unexplained fatigue due to the following factors:
The course of treatment that your doctor advises will depend on what is causing your fatigue. During diagnosis, the doctor will inquire about the following:
Your doctor can request some tests such as blood or urine tests, should he/she suspect you have an underlying medical disease that is the root of your fatigue.