Fatigue

Fatigue is a feeling of lack of energy, exhaustion or fatigue.

Alternative Names

Tiredness, Exhaustion, Exhaustion, Lethargy

General considerations:

Fatigue is different from drowsiness. In general, drowsiness is feeling the need to sleep, while fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation. Drowsiness and apathy (a feeling of indifference or not caring what happens) can be symptoms of fatigue.

Fatigue can be a normal and important response to physical exertion, emotional stress, boredom or lack of sleep. However, it can also be a nonspecific sign of a psychological or physiological disorder worse. The fatigue is not relieved by enough to sleep well, eat well or have a low-stress environment should be evaluated by a physician. Because fatigue is a common complaint, sometimes you can overlook a potentially serious cause.

The pattern of fatigue may help your doctor determine its underlying cause. For example, if you wake up in the morning rested but rapidly develop fatigue with activity, may have an ongoing physical condition like an underactive thyroid. On the other hand, if a person wakes up with a low level of energy and have fatigue that lasts all day, you may be depressed.

Common Causes

There are many possible physical and psychological causes of fatigue. Some of the most common are:

An allergy that leads to hay fever or asthma
Anemia (including iron deficiency anemia)
Depression or grief
Persistent pain
Sleep disorders such as ongoing insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea or narcolepsy
Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
Consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs like cocaine, especially if used frequently
Fatigue can also accompany the following illnesses:

Addison’s Disease
Anorexia and other eating disorders
Arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Autoimmune diseases such as lupus
cancer
Chronic liver or kidney disease
Congestive heart failure
Diabetes
Infection, especially one that takes a long time to recover or treat such as bacterial endocarditis (infection of the muscles or the heart valves), parasitic infections, AIDS, tuberculosis and mononucleosis
Malnutrition
Some medicines can cause drowsiness or fatigue, including antihistamines for allergies, blood pressure medicines, sleeping pills, steroids and diuretics.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition that starts with flu-like symptoms and lasts about six months or more. Discard All other possible causes of fatigue before the diagnosis. Little relieves CFS, including rest.

Home Care

Here are some tips for reducing fatigue:

Sleep every night of adequate, regular, and the same amount of hours.
Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Exercise regularly.
Learn better ways to relax. Try yoga or meditation.
Sticking to a schedule of reasonable work and personal.
If possible, change stressful situations. For example, switch jobs, take vacations and make adjustments in the relationship.
Take a multivitamin. Talk to your doctor about what is best.
Avoid alcohol, nicotine and drugs.
If you have chronic pain or depression, treating either often helps the problem. fatigue. However, some antidepressant medications can cause or worsen fatigue. It is also possible that medications to be adjusted to avoid this problem. DO NOT change or stop taking any medication without first talking to your doctor.

Stimulants (including caffeine) are NOT effective treatments for fatigue, and can actually worsen the problem when it is discontinued. Sedatives also tend to eventually worsen fatigue.

Call your doctor if

Call your doctor right away if:

Are confused or dizzy.
You have blurred vision.
It has very little urine or no urine, or recent swelling and weight gain.
Call your doctor if:

Continued weakness or fatigue, unexplained, especially if accompanied by fever or unintentional weight loss.
You have constipation, dry skin, weight gain or cold intolerance.
Wake up and fall back to sleep multiple times during the night.
He suffers from headaches.
Are you taking any medication, whether prescribed or not, or using drugs that can cause fatigue or drowsiness.
Feeling sad or depressed.
You have insomnia.
What to Expect at Your Office

The doctor will take your medical history and perform a complete physical examination with special attention to the heart, lymph nodes and thyroid gland. The person performing the exam may ask questions about lifestyle, habits, and feelings of the patient.

Some questions may be:

How long have you had fatigue? Have you recently or long ago?
In the past you had fatigue? If so, does it occur in regular cycles?
How many hours sleep each night? “From when until when? Do you wake up feeling rested or fatigued? Do you awake at night? Do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you snore or does someone who sleeps nearby tell you that you snore?
Do you feel fatigued or tired throughout the day? “The fatigue gets worse as day goes on or the same?
Do you feel bored, stressed, unhappy or disappointed?
How are your relationships?
Have you recently passed away?
Have you had more activity (mental or physical) lately?
What is your diet?
Do you exercise regularly?
Do you have other symptoms like pain, headache or nausea?
Have you had any change in appetite (up or down) or weight (up or down)?
Do you fall asleep during the day without it can be controlled?
Do you take prescription drugs or not? What?
Diagnostic tests that can be carried out include:

Blood tests for anemia, thyroid function and possible infection
Urinalysis

Psychiatry Consultation
Psychology Consultation