By Feeling tired every time or sleeping all day ? Or feeling mentally exhausted that does not go away even with rest ? Then maybe it’s time to be cautious, as you may be struggling with fatigue issues.
Fatigue is a persistent state of being physically or mentally exhausted which does not go away even after rest or good sleep. It interferes with your daily life and affects your ability to work, concentrate or even carry out simple tasks.
According to medical professionals, fatigue is often a result of lifestyle, psychological or medical factors, or a combination of all the three. So let’s understand its symptoms, causes, and treatment of fatigue in detail.
Some Common Symptoms of Fatigue
Fatigue happens differently for different people. Therefore, it is important to understand the symptoms of fatigue to head for its proper diagnosis and treatment. Further, are the most common signs to watch out for:
Mental and Emotional Symptoms of Fatigue
- Reoccurring memory issues
- Lack of motivation to do anything
- Lack of concentration
- Always remain irritated or mood swings changes a lot
- Feeling low or depressed most of the times
- Suffering from anxiety
Physical Symptoms
- Headaches or dizziness
- Slow reflexes
- Poor coordination
- Involving oneself in physical activities may seem like a big task
- Have to deal with muscle soreness or weakness
- Feel drowsy or remain in the state of regular tiredness.
Sleep Related Symptoms
- Not feeling refreshed even after sleeping the whole night
- Sleep apnea or disturbed sleep patterns
- Facing problems with falling or staying sleep.
Some Common Causes of Fatigue in Your Life
Fatigue issues cannot be caused by one or two reasons, as it depends on a variety of factors. Let’s breakdown the main causes of fatigue into three categories: medical, psychological, and lifestyle related:
Lifestyle Causes
- Unhealthy diet : Yes, underlying the ongoing diet trend, those who indulge in skipping meals often end up feeling sluggish throughout the day. Not only this consuming excessive sugar and not taking enough nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and magnesium can also lead to low energy levels.
- Poor Sleep Habits : Lack of quality sleep is one of the biggest contributors to fatigue. Irregular sleep schedules, screen time before bed, or irregular work shifts can stress the natural circadian rhythm of the body.
- Dehydration: Yes, lack of adequate water content in the body can also lead to fatigue, dizziness, and even headaches. Hence, consume a minimum of 8 to 10 glasses of water everyday.
- Lack of Exercise : The more you move, the more active you feel, although the statement seems a little counterintuitive, but it’s true. Being not physically active throughout the day can make you feel more tired. Regular movement can boost circulation and energy in the body.
- Overuse of Caffeine or Alcohol : Consuming too much alcohol or even caffeine can make you feel tired. Excess of both things can disrupt sleep cycles and dehydrate the body, leading to energy crashes during the day.
Psychological Causes of Fatigue
- Depression : Fatigue is commonly noticed in people suffering from problems like depression. It can even be the primary symptom of problems like these, accompanied by a lack of interest and emotional numbness.
- Anxiety : Constantly worrying about different aspects can lead to poor sleep, racing thoughts, and physical tension as well. All these factors further contribute to problems like fatigue.
- Stress: Chronic Stress also leads to problems like fatigue and regular burnout as well.
Medical Causes of Fatigue
If your fatigue becomes persistent despite several lifestyle changes, then there is definitely an underlying health condition causing that fatigue. Let’s understand which can be those causes:
- Diabetes: Diabetes can be another big reason behind fatigue. Diabetes often brings numerous fluctuations in blood which can cause regular fatigue problems and lead to a lack of concentration as well.
- Thyroid disorders: Some health problems like an underactive thyroid, can greatly impact your activity scale and may make you feel sluggish and cold through out the day.
- Anemia: Your red blood cells genuinely affect your activity through the day, low levels of red blood cells reduce oxygen delivery to tissues, causing more weakness and fatigue.
- Chronic Fatigue Symptoms: CFS is a complex disorder which is characterized by unexplained reasons, causes severe fatigue which does not improve even with rest.
- Sleep Apnea: Breathing disruptions may interrupt sleep frequently which me reduce the sleep quality and result in tiredness through out the day.
- Heart disease: If you are feeling sluggish, lazy, or tired through out the day, then it may also be an early sign of a heart problem. Accompanied by shortness of breath and chest discomfort, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
When to See a Doctor for Fatigue
Although occasional tiredness is very normal, but under some circumstances, like persistent fatigue, you need to seek medical attention. Persistent fatigue involves feeling tired for more than two weeks or is accompanied by symptoms such as :
- Sudden weight loss
- Chest pain
- Persistent sadness
- High fever
- Difficulty in breathing
Best Methods to Fight Fatigue
Home Remedies for Treating Fatigue
- If you feel restless all the time, try incorporating short naps of 10 to 20 minutes in your daily routine.
- Say a BIG no to any kind of caffeine intake after 2 pm.
- Start making exercise a priority by practicing yoga or deep breathing exercises to reduce stress.
- Include herbal teas in your diet, like chamomile or ashwagandha.
Lifestyle Tips to Reduce Fatigue Problems
- Make sure you fulfill your hydration level requirement by drinking adequate water.
- Always follow a sleep schedule which should be consistent and proper.
- Eat a balanced meal enriched with lots of iron, potassium, and magnesium as they help you to stay active and fresh.
- Make exercise part of your routine by doing it regularly. Try to do a brisk walk at least 15-20 minutes every day.
- Reduce screen time before going to bed to have a relaxed and sound sleep.
Treating Fatigue Through Medicines
If you suffer from persistent fatigue then go check for problems like anemia, or thyroid disorder in your body. Hence, treating the root cause of such problems may help alleviate fatigue. You will be required to consume prescribed medications, therapy, and supplements depending upon the diagnosis.
Do not Ignore the Warning Signs of Fatigue
Fatigue is a direct or indirect way of signaling that something is out of balance in the body. The reasons could be mental, emotional, or physical, but we should not ignore the symptoms of fatigue under certain circumstances. Secondly, we should also understand the causes of such conditions and try to take appropriate steps to restore energy and well being in the body.
Therefore, start listening to your body and respect its limits. Make self care a priority by adopting healthier habits, addressing a medical condition properly, or seeking therapy for mental health.
