Medical causes– unrelenting exhaustion may be a sign of an underlying illness or condition (such as flu, glandular fever, chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid disorders, heart disease or diabetes). Lifestyle-related causes – alcohol or drugs or lack of regular exercise can lead to feelings of fatigue.
If the fatigue is associated with chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heart rate, or sense of imminent passing out, these are urgent conditions that warrant immediate medical attention.
Many cases of tiredness are due to stress, not enough sleep, poor diet and other lifestyle factors. Try these self-help tips to restore your energy levels. If you feel you're suffering from fatigue, which is an overwhelming tiredness that isn't relieved by rest and sleep, you may have an underlying medical condition.
If you are struggling to get up in the morning; feeling a total lack of energy or 'fogginess' or not able to perform the tasks you normally do as simply too exhausted it may be that you actually are suffering from fatigue... and it could be a side effect of your diabetes.
To meet the Institute of Medicine's diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, a person would also need to experience at least one of these two symptoms: Difficulties with memory, focus and concentration. Dizziness that worsens with moving from lying down or sitting to standing.
If a medical condition isn't causing your fatigue, lifestyle changes may improve your symptoms. To reduce fatigue, you can: Practice good sleep habits: Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Don't drink caffeine, use electronics or exercise right before bed.
Persistent Depressive Disorder
In addition to depressed mood, symptoms include: Poor appetite or overeating. Insomnia or hypersomnia. Low energy or fatigue.
If you frequently wake up feeling exhausted after sleeping soundly through the night, have difficulty completing simple tasks, or unintentionally fall asleep throughout the day regularly, it is highly likely that you are experiencing an abnormal amount of fatigue, for which you should speak to a doctor about treatment.
Feeling tired is one of the most common complaints doctors hear about. And fatigue is normal if you had a late night and then feel tired the next day. But fatigue (either normal or extreme) can become a concern when it affects your health and safety.
Profound and debilitating fatigue is the most common complaint reported among individuals with autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.
If you or a loved one feel sleepy or fatigued, despite having 7-8 hours of sleep, it could indicate poor sleep quality or be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder. If you have questions or concerns about your sleep health, please speak with your primary care provider.
If you're in menopause, you may have experienced sudden fatigue that grips you with a rush of exhaustion, and even muscle weakness. This is crashing fatigue, and it can shut down your life fast. Crashing fatigue in menopause causes abrupt loss of energy, and intense lethargy that can come on at any time of day.
People with CFS experience symptoms that make it hard to do daily tasks like dressing or bathing. Along with severe fatigue that doesn't get better with rest, CFS symptoms can include problems with sleep, memory and concentrating, pain, dizziness, sore throat, and tender lymph nodes.
In family medicine, some of the most common complaints patients come in with include anxiety, sleep issues, chronic pain, poor digestion, headaches, and fatigue.
If you are struggling to get up in the morning; feeling a total lack of energy or 'fogginess' or not able to perform the tasks you normally do as simply too exhausted it may be that you actually are suffering from fatigue... and it could be a side effect of your diabetes.
Drug Therapies
Antidepressants often prescribed for chronic fatigue include: Tricyclics: amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), notriptyline (Pamelor) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft)
If you have fatigue related to lupus, it may feel like you can't possibly get enough rest. Even if you sleep more than you used to, it may feel like it's never enough. You may find that it's harder to do physical and mental work. The effort needed to do everyday tasks may be overwhelming.
Sjogren's Syndrome patients often complain of mental fatigue or “brain fog.” Brain fog impairs focus, causes fuzzy concentration, and contributes to difficulty in problem-solving. Keep your stress levels low, and give your brain a workout with crosswords, puzzles, reading, adult coloring books, or online brain games.