Friday, March 22, 2024

What Are Some Causes Of Fatigue

Must Read

The Difference Between Counseling And Psychotherapy

The 9 Most Common Causes of Fatigue

Although the terms counseling and therapy are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between psychotherapy and psychological counseling. Counseling focuses on specific issues and is designed to help a person address a particular problem, such as addiction or stress management. The focus may be on problem solving or on learning specific techniques for coping with or avoiding problem areas. Counseling is also usually more short-term than therapy.

Psychotherapy is more long-term than counseling and focuses on a broader range of issues. The underlying principle is that a person’s patterns of thinking and behavior affect the way that person interacts with the world. Depending on the specific type of psychotherapy that is being used, the goal is to help people feel better equipped to manage stress, understand patterns in their behavior that may interfere with reaching personal goals, have more satisfying relationships, and better regulate their thinking and emotional responses to stressful situations. If someone has a form of mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or an anxiety disorder, psychotherapy also addresses ways in which the illnesses affects their daily life, focuses on how to best understand the illness and manage its symptoms and follow medical recommendations.

Not Getting Enough High

Not getting enough sleep is one of the more obvious causes of fatigue.

Your body does many things while you sleep, including store memory and release hormones that regulate your metabolism and energy levels .

After a night of high-quality sleep, you typically wake up feeling refreshed, alert and energized.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society, adults need an average of seven hours of sleep per night for optimal health .

Importantly, sleep should be restful and uninterrupted in order to allow your brain to go through all five stages of each sleep cycle .

In addition to getting enough sleep, maintaining a regular sleep routine also seems to help prevent tiredness.

In one study, adolescents who went to bed at the same time on weekdays and weekends reported less fatigue and less difficulty falling asleep than those who stayed up later and slept fewer hours on the weekends .

Being physically active during the day may help you get more restorative sleep at night. One study in older people found that exercising helped improve their sleep quality and reduce levels of fatigue .

Furthermore, napping may help boost energy levels. Taking naps has been shown to decrease tiredness in pilots, who often experience fatigue due to long working hours and jet lag .

To improve the amount and quality of your sleep, go to bed at roughly the same time every night, relax before sleeping and get plenty of activity during the day.

What Is The Treatment For Tiredness

There is no specific treatment for tiredness. The days of doctors prescribing a “tonic” are over, as there is nothing which really works. The secret is to try to narrow down the cause and then do something about that.

If the cause is a medical condition then often treatment of the condition will resolve the tiredness. For example, if you have anaemia then iron supplements can treat this and the tiredness resolves as your blood count improves. It is thought that even supplementing low-range-of-normal iron levels helps with tiredness. If you are found to have an underactive thyroid gland then a pill which replaces the thyroid hormone you are missing is usually very effective and you will find you have more energy.

If you are found to have chronic fatigue syndrome, you may be referred to a specialist in this illness for help through psychological therapy, graded exercise therapy, or medication.

If you have anxiety or depression, this can be helped by talking therapy , cognitive behavioural therapy , medication or various other possible treatments.

It may seem bizarre, but physical exercise can actually be remarkably effective for treating tiredness. Any moderate exercise, such as walking, swimming or cycling, can help you feel less tired. Regular exercise is also an excellent way to stay healthy.

Don’t Miss: Does Skin Cancer Cause Fatigue

What Is The Long

Most causes for fatigue are lifestyle-based and can be easily remedied. In cases where there is an underlying medical condition to blame, with proper treatment, you can restore energy levels and health.

Fatigue can be caused by a range of factors or health conditions, and effective treatment will depend on early diagnosis. If fatigue is persistent after lifestyle issues have been addressed, then speak with your doctor so you can start treating the cause before more serious complications develop.

In This Article

Which Of The Following Is Often A Symptom Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Fatigue

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is a term used to describe a group of symptoms, with fatigue being the most prominent. Other key symptoms include muscle and joint pain, sleep disturbances, headaches, sore throat, and tender lymph nodes. These symptoms can be as disabling as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, end-stage renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , and similar chronic conditions.

Fatigue also is frequently a symptom of conditions that are distinct from chronic fatigue syndrome but are often associated with it — including some autoimmune disorders and fibromyalgia.

Also Check: Fatigue Ringing In Ears Dizziness

Where To Get Help

  • Your doctor
  • Wilson J, Morgan S, Magin P, et al. 2014, Fatigue a rational approach to investigation, Australian Family Physician, vol. 43, no. 7, pp. 457-461, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. More information here.
  • Fatigue, 2013, MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. More information here.
  • Fatigue, Mayo Clinic, USA. More information here.
  • Fatigue in the workplace, WorkSafe Victoria. More information here.

Causes Of Fatigue In Arthritis

Inflammation, pain, inactivity and lifestyle factors can cause extreme tiredness when living with arthritis.

Everyone gets worn out from time to time. But exhaustion that disrupts your daily life and doesnt get better after a good nights sleep has its own medical term: fatigue. Fatigue significantly affects the quality of life for people with many forms of arthritis-related diseases, includingrheumatoid arthritis,psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia andosteoarthritis. Your lack of energy may be caused by your inflammatory disease and other health conditions you have, as well asmedications side effectsand lifestyle habits.

You May Like: Is There A Test For Chronic Fatigue

Magnesium: Loss Of Appetite Nausea Fatigue And More

Magnesium helps support bone health and assists in energy production, and adults need between 310 and 420 mg, depending on sex and age, according to the NIH. Although deficiency is fairly uncommon in otherwise healthy people, certain medications and health conditions can limit the absorption of magnesium or increase the loss of this nutrient from the body.

Magnesium deficiency can cause loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and weakness, according to the Cleveland Clinic. In more severe cases, it may also lead to numbness and tingling, muscle cramps or contractions, seizures, irregular heart rhythms, personality changes, or coronary spasms.

To help your levels return to normal, eat more magnesium-rich foods, such as almonds, cashews, peanuts, spinach, black beans, and edamame, Patton says.

Lifestyle Causes Of Tiredness

What are the causes of fatigue after cancer treatment?

In today’s 24/7 “always on” world, we often try to cram too much into our daily lives.

And to try to stay on top of things, we sometimes consume too much alcohol or caffeine, or eat sugary and high-fat snacks on the go rather than sitting down for a proper meal.

The main lifestyle causes of tiredness include:

Read Also: Can Low Iron Cause Fatigue

Other Causes Your Gp Might Investigate

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the many medical causes of tiredness.

Your doctor will ask you questions about the symptoms accompanying your tiredness and may carry out tests.

These include inflammatory conditions such as coeliac disease, in which your immune system reacts to a protein in gluten.

Other considerations include sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea, in which you wake on numerous occasions during the night because your breathing stops and starts. This symptom is often related to obesity, so if you suffer from that and/or experience a lot of daytime sleepiness, ask your doctor about sleep apnoea.

Your tiredness could also be down to mental fatigue. its worth discussing this with your doctor, as a psychological option such as a course of talking therapy might help you to recover.

In some cases, unexplained tiredness might be a symptom of something more serious. Thats why its better to talk to your doctor about it, rather than ignore the issue. Its what were here for.

Reviewed by: Dr Harriet Bradley, Livi Medical Director

A Vitamin Or Nutrient Deficiency

A vitamin deficiency, such as not getting enough vitamin D or vitamin B12, could cause you to feel severely tired, per the Cleveland Clinic. Dehydration can have the same effect.

You could also feel suddenly exhausted if you’ve recently started a high-protein diet. It’s not the protein itself making you tired, but the lack of carbohydrates. Severely restricting carbs causes your body to enter ketosis, where it breaks down fat for energy, per the Mayo Clinic. The side effects of ketosis include fatigue as well as headache, weakness and bad breath.

These side effects are usually temporary, but if ketosis is causing your sudden energy crash, you may want to add more fiber-rich, complex carbohydrates to your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend carbs make up 45 to 65 percent of your total daily calories.

Similarly, skipping meals or following a very low-calorie diet could sap your energy. Keep in mind that people assigned female at birth should avoid eating fewer than 1,200 calories per day, and people assigned male at birth should eat at least 1,500 calories per day, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Don’t Miss: Lower Back Pain Dizziness Fatigue

Hypothyroidism Tends To Make People Feel Sluggish

Hypothyroidism tends to make people feel tired, sluggish, and depressed.

It is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. Inflammation of the thyroid gland is the most common cause. Other symptoms may include hair loss, depression, heavier menstrual periods, weakness, unintentional weight gain and being more sensitive to cold.

Heart Disease And Fatigue

Excessive Fatigue

Symptoms: Fatigue from an activity that should be easy

If youre exhausted after an activity that used to be easy — for example, walking up the steps — it may be time to talk to your doctor about the possibility of heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. If your fatigue is related to your heart, medication or treatments can usually help correct the problem, cut the fatigue, and restore your energy.

Read Also: Can Thyroid Cause Extreme Fatigue

What Does Your Diet Have To Do With Getting Enough Vitamin D

Vitamin D doesnt occur naturally in many foods. Thats why certain foods have added vitamin D. In fact, newer food nutrition labels show the amount of vitamin D contained in a particular food item.

It may be difficult, especially for vegans or people who are lactose-intolerant, to get enough vitamin D from their diets, which is why some people may choose to take supplements. It is always important to eat a variety of healthy foods from all food groups. The vitamin content of various foods is shown in the following table.

Vitamin D content of various foods

Food
Cheese, Swiss, 1 ounce 6

It is important to check product labels, as the amount of added vitamin D varies when it is artificially added to products such as orange juice, yogurt and margarine.

Dont Miss:Diet For Fatigue And Tiredness

What Is The Prognosis For Fatigue

I find that most underlying causes of fatigue can be identified when the patient and I make a good effort to uncover the clues that lead to discovering the underlying cause of their fatigue. Treatment of fatigue is based on the treatment of the underlying cause, but that’s another long story. Consequently, the answer to the person who asks “Why am I so tired?” is given when the underlying cause is identified, usually done with you answering the tough questions accurately and the diligence in pursuing clues by your doctor.

Art and science are forever changing in general diagnostic methods and how doctors use them often enhance patient care. However, many times our patients and we doctors don’t think of the cumulative effects of lifestyle, minor changes in health, medication effects, and aging on one’s overall health we focus on a specific symptom and assume a single cause ant treatment. Functional medicine, a relatively new way to approach diagnosis and treatments may offer methods and treatments that are designed for each individual patient by identifying multiple causes that contribute to the problem and then trying multiple treatments to reduce or cure the problem. Chronic problems like fatigue, inflammation, and others may be solved or maximally reduced by the approach.

Recommended Reading: Bed Bath And Beyond Anti Fatigue Mat

Vitamins B3 And B5 Iron Magnesium And Zinc Are Important For Neurotransmission

Through NAD, niacin is involved in the control of intracellular calcium release. Calcium signalling is strongly integrated with nucleotide metabolism and the energy status of the cell, which are both dependent on NAD. Knowing the role of calcium in generating action potential in neurons, this is of high relevance regarding the role of niacin in cerebral functions .

Pantothenic acid-dependent palmitoylation of certain neuronal proteins is needed for release of neurotransmitters in the synapse, and is thus mandatory for transduction of information in the brain .

Iron is thought to be important for synaptic function as iron deficiency has been shown in a large set of preclinical studies to induce alterations in the electrophysiological properties of neural circuitry and neurotransmitter systems . Furthermore, recent findings suggest that a limited and controlled amount of reactive oxygen species in hippocampal neurons, including those generated by iron through the Fenton reaction, may stimulate calcium release, and thus allow calcium signals to activate the signalling cascades that lead to the transcription of genes known to participate in synaptic plasticity .

What Should I Know About Fatigue

What are some Common Adrenal Fatigue Causes

What is the Definition of Fatigue?

Fatigue is generally defined as a feeling of lack of energy and motivation that can be physical, mental or both. Fatigue is not the same as drowsiness, but the desire to sleep may accompany fatigue. Apathy is a feeling of indifference that may accompany fatigue or exist independently. In addition, individuals often describe fatigue using a variety of terms including weary, tired, exhausted, malaise, listless, lack of energy and feeling run down.

How Common is Fatigue?

Fatigue is common. About 20% of Americans claim to have fatigue intense enough to interfere with living a normal life. A physical cause has been estimated to be responsible 20% to 60% of the time, while emotional or mental causes comprise the other 40% to 80% of cases of fatigue. Unfortunately, fatigue can occur in normal individuals that experience intense physical or mental activity .

However, in contrast to fatigue that occurs with some diseases and syndromes, normal fatigue in healthy individuals is quickly relieved in a few hours to about a day when the physical or mental activity is reduced. Also, people occasionally experience fatigue after eating , which can be a normal response to food, especially after large meals and this may last about 30 minutes to several hours.

1. Have severe chronic fatigue for at least six months or longer with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis and

Recommended Reading: Extreme Fatigue And Heart Disease

The Doctor May Examine You

The doctor may check your weight and height, if it seems relevant. You may not be examined, as it may depend on your answers to some of the questions above however, the doctor may think it relevant to:

  • Check your lymph glands to see if they are enlarged.
  • Check your thyroid gland to see if it is enlarged.
  • Look at your eyes to see if you might be anaemic.
  • Listen to your chest and feel your tummy and the organs in your tummy.
  • Check your joints for swelling or inflammation.
  • Check the strength of your arms and/or legs.
  • Ask you for a sample of your urine to check for sugar or infection.

Exercise Can Help Counter The Effects Of Fatigue

Exercise can often help relieve the effects of fatigue, especially more short-lived, acute forms of fatigue. Remaining physically active is important for patients with CFS, however, the approach to exercise must be individualized since exercise can cause the symptoms to become worse for some people. Other things that may help: better hydration, better diet, relaxation, and, of course, more rest and better sleep.

Caffeine and other stimulants may help fight fatigue in the short term, but longer-term, they may actually contribute to the problem.

Also Check: Fibromyalgia And Fatigue Center Of Boston

When To See Your Doctor

If fatigue is interfering with your daily life, and you have addressed possible lifestyle causes, it is time to speak with your doctor. You also need to talk to your doctor if you notice fatigue and any of these situations:

Having a higher than normal body temperature Unexplained weight loss Feeling sensitive to cold temperatures Regularly having trouble sleeping

It is also important to seek medical attention if you notice any of these symptoms, along with fatigue:

Severe headache or migraines Severe pain in the abdomen, back, or pelvis Suicidal thoughts or severe depression

Do I Need To See A Doctor

Morning Fatigue: Causes and 7 Steps to Enhance Energy

If you can figure out the reason for feeling tired yourself, and do something about it, then no. If the tiredness is getting in the way of your life, or making you feel unhappy, or you feel unwell, then yes, you should visit your doctor.

You should definitely see a doctor if you feel tired and have lost weight without trying to. Also see a doctor if you have other symptoms as well as being tired, such as coughing up blood, a change in the way your guts are working, heavy periods or a lump somewhere it shouldn’t be.

Don’t Miss: What Kind Of Doctor Diagnoses Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

More articles

Popular Articles