Fatigue

On call Image: © thodonal/Getty Images Q. I have been quite fatigued over the past two weeks. How long should I wait before seeing a doctor? A. We all go through periods of low energy. Even a week of feeling more tired than usual is not uncommon. Yet most people can tell when their fatigue feels like something more serious. If that's the case, or your fatigue gets worse or lasts longer than a week or two, it's time to see your doctor. Your fatigue might be related to an underlying illness or infection, especially if it's accompanied by symptoms, such as a low-grade fever, shortness of breath, or loss of appetite. Other reasons to see your doctor about fatigue are if you often wake up exhausted despite sleeping well, do not feel motivated to begin the day, or struggle to do activities that are ordinarily easy. These could be symptoms of a sleep disorder or depression. During your exam, your doctor will try to rule out issues like medication side effects. He or she also may order blood tests to determine if the fatigue is related to a specific problem, such as anemia, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), or liver inflammation (hepatitis). However, don't be surprised if your doctor does not find a cause. I have found that in most cases people bounce back from fatigue after some rest and a good night's sleep. — by Howard LeWine, M.D. Editor in Chief, Harvard Men's Health Watch

Do you feel like you're always What Is Fatigue? Fatigue is a lingering tiredness that is constant and limiting. With In most cases, there's a reason for the fatigue. It might be Allergies, Hay Fever, and Fatigue Symptoms: Fatigue, One way to reduce symptoms of • Nasal • Oral • Nasal antihistamines • Leukotriene modifiers • Mast cell stabilizers Anemia and Fatigue Symptoms: Fatigue, dizziness, feeling cold, crankiness To confirm a diagnosis of anemia, your doctor will give you a blood test. If Depression, Anxiety, and Fatigue Symptoms: Sadness; feeling hopeless, worthless, and helpless; fatigue Sometimes, With depression, you might be in a depressed mood most of the day. You may have little interest in normal activities. Along with feelings of fatigue, you may eat too much or too little, over- or under-sleep, feel hopeless and worthless, and have other serious symptoms. • Agitation • • • Feeling "on alert" most of the time • Feeling of impending doom • Nervousness If you are depressed or have regular Although the specific Viral or Bacterial Infection and Fatigue Symptoms: Fatigue, Fatigue can be a symptom of infections ranging from the flu to HIV. If you have an infection, you'll probably have other symptoms like fever, head or body aches, shortness of breath, or appetite loss. (They'll vary depending on what infection you have.) Infections that may cause fatigue include: • Flu • • COVID-19 • Cytomegalovirus • • • Treating the infection often relieves your fatigue. But some...

You may feel tired in the morning if you’re not getting enough sleep. It may also relate to your mental or physical health. Speak with your to find the cause. In the meantime, making a few lifestyle changes may help you fight morning fatigue. When waking up is hard to do, consider the following strategies. We’ve all had those mornings when we just can’t shake a feeling of sluggishness, even when we’ve technically gotten enough sleep. In an effort to perk up on tired days, many of us load up on cup after cup of coffee. But over-caffeinating can leave us jittery and anxious (not to mention perpetually running to the bathroom). Perhaps there’s a better way to banish morning fatigue and get on with your day with the energy you need. That beloved button on top of your alarm clock may not be so helpful after all. Spending the last half hour or so of nighttime rest in what researchers call “fragmented sleep” Pro-tip: Try the 90-minute sleep cycle hack by setting two alarms — one for 90 minutes before you want to wake up and one for when you actually want to wake up. The theory is that the 90 minutes of sleep you get between snoozes will be after your REM state, instead of during. Share on Pinterest The jury is still out on whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But Food is fuel. Give your body some calories to put it into action at the start of the day. But if you’re working out in the morning, remember to eat after, not before. This will (a) burn more calories,...

‘Tired all the time’ is a popular complaint; tiredness and fatigue are common problems. Often, it is not a medical issue but one that can be reversed by a change of lifestyle. Doctors who are conscious of this take the problem seriously and attempt to determine an underlying cause. There are many reasons people become tired, and, consequently, there are many ways to rectify the situation. • Fatigue is also known as tiredness, reduced energy, physical or mental exhaustion, or lack of motivation. • Causes of fatigue can be psychological, physiological, and physical. • To diagnose the reasons for fatigue, a doctor will ask questions and take a sleep history, and may perform a physical examination and blood and urine tests. • Treatment is focused on the underlying cause of tiredness. Share on Pinterest Fatigue and tiredness are common and can affect everyday life. Simply put, fatigue is the feeling of being tired. It is generally different from the sleepy feeling of drowsiness, or the psychological feeling of apathy, although these might both accompany fatigue. Other terms to describe fatigue include: • reduced or no energy • physical or mental exhaustion • lack of motivation Fatigue is a common experience – all humans become tired. However, this is not usually due to disease. There are numerous medical and non-medical causes of fatigue, including personal dietary and lifestyle habits. The following factors can contribute to fatigue, either alone or in combination: • Psycholog...

Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your muscle fatigue and accompanying symptoms. If you’ve been experiencing muscle fatigue, especially if it’s unrelated to exercise, call your doctor. Your doctor will evaluate your medical history and symptoms to rule out more serious health conditions. In many cases, your muscle fatigue will improve with rest and recovery. Staying Be sure to Other cases of muscle fatigue may require medical attention. Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory or antidepressant medications. If your muscle fatigue is more severe, you doctor may recommend physical therapy to increase your mobility and speed your recovery. Discuss your options with your doctor before pursuing treatment. Muscle fatigue decreases the amount of force you use to perform muscle actions. This symptom is often considered no cause for alarm unless your fatigue doesn’t improve with rest. In more severe cases, muscle fatigue can be an indication of a more serious disorder. Left untreated, this condition can lead to overwork and increase your risk of injury. Do not self-diagnose. If your muscle fatigue is paired with other irregular symptoms or if your condition doesn’t improve after a few days, schedule a visit with your doctor. Last medically reviewed on April 11, 2018 Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You...

Don't accept regular fatigue as part of aging. Image: © seb_ra/Thinkstock Weariness, tiredness, lack of energy. There are many ways to describe those times when you are so fatigued you can't do anything. Often you bounce back after a quick rest or a good night's sleep, but if fatigue is occurring more often and lasting longer, it could be a sign of something more serious. "Men may chalk up fatigue to aging, but there is no reason you should battle ongoing fatigue," says Dr. Suzanne Salamon, a geriatric physician with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "Everyone gets tired sometimes, and your endurance may decline with age — you may not move as fast and sometimes tire quicker — but you should never be too fatigued to enjoy an active lifestyle." The feel of fatigue Fatigue can affect you in several ways. You may have less energy to exercise. You may have trouble concentrating, staying alert, and remembering things. You may anger easily and become more socially isolated. If fatigue appears suddenly or becomes more frequent, it could be related to several common medical conditions or lifestyle changes, according to Dr. Salamon. You should consult your doctor to see if you have any of the following issues. Anemia. This occurs when your blood has too few red blood cells or those cells have too little hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen through the bloodstream. The result is a drop in energy levels. Heart disease. Heart disease can cause the heart t...

You’re only as old as you feel, the saying goes. But what if you feel old, tired, and rundown? Here’s how to refill your tank when your energy levels sputter. 1. Rule out health problems. Many 2. Get moving. The last thing you may feel like doing when you’re tired is “Exercise has consistently been linked to improved vigor and overall quality of life,” says Kerry J. Stewart, professor of medicine and director of clinical and research exercise physiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “People who become active have a greater sense of self-confidence. But exercise also improves the working efficiency of your 3. Strike a pose. Although almost any exercise is good, It’s never too late to try, either. University of Oregon researchers offered yoga instruction to 135 men and women ages 65 to 85. At the end of six months, participants reported an increased sense of well-being and a boost in overall energy. 4. Drink plenty of water. Dehydration has also been shown to decrease alertness and concentration. How to know if you’re drinking enough water? “Urine should be pale yellow or straw colored,” Judelson says. “If it’s darker than that, you need to drink water.” 5. Get to bed early. Lack of When people enrolled in a 2004 Stanford University study were allowed to sleep as long as they wanted, they reported more vigor and less fatigue. If you do fall short on shut-eye, take a brief afternoon nap. Napping restores wakefulness and promotes performance and learning. A 1...

What are fatigue and nausea? Fatigue is a condition that is a combined feeling of being sleepy and drained of energy. It can range from acute to chronic. For some people, fatigue can be a long-term occurrence that affects their ability to carry out daily activities. Nausea occurs when your stomach feels uneasy or queasy. You may not actually vomit, but you may feel as though you could. Like fatigue, nausea can stem from many causes. Nausea and fatigue can result from many factors, ranging from physiological causes to lifestyle habits. Examples of lifestyle habits that can bring on fatigue and nausea include: • • excessive caffeine use • poor eating habits • taking medications, such as amphetamines, to stay awake • too much physical activity or a lack of physical activity • jet lag • lack of sleep Psychological factors can also contribute to nausea and fatigue. These include: • • • • grief Causes involving infections and inflammation include: • • • • • • • E. coli infection • • • • • • • • • • infection • • • Causes involving endocrine and metabolic factors include: • • • • • • • Causes involving neurological factors include: • • • • • • Some other conditions that can lead to nausea and fatigue include: • liver failure • • • • • • • • • • • • • • chronic pain • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Seek immediate medical help if your fatigue and nausea are accompanied by: • difficulty breathing • headache • chest pain • fever • thoughts of harming yourself • yellowing of the eyes or sk...

Here are some tips to help you get your energy back. If you have felt like you are dragging lately, you may be wondering what is going on. Fatigue is a common symptom that can be caused by a whole host of factors, from medical conditions and stress to poor sleep, says Dr. Stephanie Tung, an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an attending psychiatrist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The good news is that in many cases you can make changes that will help bring your energy back, but you need to get to the root of the problem in order to treat it. Fatigue triggers Part of the challenge when it comes to a general symptom like fatigue is that it's so commonplace and can be triggered by so many different things. This makes it hard to pinpoint what's causing the problem. However, there are a few main culprits that often cause fatigue in women, says Dr. Tung. Stress. Some people have reported feeling increasingly fatigued these days. This might be an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic — or more specifically, of the stress it has caused. Changing responsibilities, added work, struggles with child care, financial pressures, and reduced social opportunities are just some of the stressors people now face, says Dr. Tung. And chronic stress can lead to fatigue. When you are under stress, it can cause levels of a hormone called cortisol to rise, which can trigger problems sleeping as well as feelings of anxiety and other symptoms. Hormonal changes. "Hormonal changes can ...