What does it mean?

It’s easy to find a reason for feeling exhausted and drained of energy. Blame it on a high-stress job, a killer schedule, poor sleeping habits, or perhaps eating lots of sugar-rich foods. But fatigue that goes deeper or lasts longer than ordinary tiredness could be the sign of a medical problem and should prompt a visit to the doctor for evaluation.

The life you lead

Hearing that someone is tired poses a challenge for healthcare providers because it’s hard to interpret. They first look to lifestyle factors. In addition to those mentioned above, an individual may feel rundown from either too much or too little exercise, from eating a rich diet or a strict low-calorie one. Sometimes medications play a role. Anti-anxiety drugs, antihistamines, and some heart and blood pressure drugs (e.g., beta blockers) can bring on fatigue. Pain and cold relievers that contain caffeine and other stimulants can upset sleep.

The doctor is in

If several weeks of increased rest don’t help, your doctor will likely want to do a physical examination and take a medical history. He or she will ask you to describe your fatigue: How long have you felt it? Did it come on suddenly or gradually? Is it present every day, all day, or does it come and go? Are there other troublesome symptoms? Your doctor may suggest blood work and perform organ-function tests.

Common medical causes

Some of the underlying medical conditions a healthcare provider will consider to explain your fatigue are diabetes, a thyroid problem (either under- or over-production of thyroid hormones), an infection (e.g., hepatitis), a sleep disorder (e.g., apnea), depression, anemia, or, possibly, cancer. Lethargy is also associated with fibromyalgia, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle diseases, obesity, and liver, lung, kidney, and heart disease. (According to a recent study, many women experience unusual fatigue shortly before a heart attack.) And of course fatigue is the hallmark of chronic fatigue syndrome, which can include a host of other symptoms.

Steps toward health

If a doctor rules out a medical problem, you can probably reclaim your normal vigor by reforming bad habits. Resolve to be more active, manage stress, avoid alcohol, eat well, and improve your sleep patterns.

From the Mayo Clinic Health Letter