FATIGUE IS A COMMON complaint made to primary care providers by both the general population and by individuals with certain chronic conditions including chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease

It is important to distinguish between everyday tiredness, that can be managed, and fatigue that can have a serious and continuing impact on an individual’s quality of life.

Everyday tiredness is short-term and generally resolves with extra exercise, rest, and/or sleep. It can be caused by lack of, or excessive exercise, lack of sleep, excess caffeine or alcohol intake, colds or flu.                                                                                 Fatigue is more serious, complex and completely different.  It has been characterized as long-term mental and/or physical exhaustion that occurs without any great physical exertion. Patients may describe fatigue as feeling “exhausted”, “listless”, “washed out” or “cranky” and may also associate it with diminished performance at work or increased difficulty in performing routine daily tasks. Someone suffering from fatigue will not be able to concentrate, have low stamina levels and may have difficulties in sleeping. Often they will simply not partake in social activities that they once enjoyed. Fatigue, unlike tiredness, cannot be cleared up with a rest.

Exhaustion is a more serious situation and is characterised by confusion, delirium, difficulty to stay awake and sleep and often results in a complete withdrawal from others. Anyone experiencing these symptoms needs to consult their Doctor as there may be a deeper problem.

We all tend to blame fatigue on a too-busy lifestyle. And much of the time we’re right. But if you feel tired all the time or you’re always asking yourself “why am I so tired?”, don’t blow it off. Give yourself about 2 to 3 weeks to make some lifestyle changes: Get more sleep, trim your social calendar, eat more wholesome foods, drink more fluids, take a multivitamin, and cut back on caffeine and alcohol. If you’re still feeling the symptoms of fatigue after those changes, then you need professional help. Excess exhaustion could be the sign of a more serious medical condition that can be treated.                                                                 Here are the  most common problems you need to know that could cause fatigue.

1. Anemia

The fatigue caused by anemia is the result of a lack of red blood cells, which bring oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and cells. Anemia may be caused by an iron or vitamin deficiency, blood loss, internal bleeding, or a chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or kidney failure.

There are several different types of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is much more common in menstruating women than in men or menopausal women. The elderly are at higher risk for developing all forms of anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia can result from blood loss (from menstruation, trauma, surgery, or illness),Increased iron requirement for growth during infancy, adolescence, pregnancy, or lactation,Inadequate diet,Inadequate absorption, usually due to gastrointestinal conditions.

Megaloblastic anemia occurs because of deficiency of either folic acid or vitamin B 12.  

The main causal factor of this deficiency is the loss of the ability of the stomach to produce a protein called intrinsic factor which binds with vitamin B-12 and allows it’s absorption in the intestine.

All forms of anemia result in rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and headache (especially with exercise), difficulty concentrating, dizziness, pale skin, leg cramps, and insomnia.  Feeling tired all the time is a major one. Others include extreme weakness and chest pains.

2. Thyroid Disease

Too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), and metabolism speeds up. Too little (hypothyroidism), and metabolism slows down.

Hyperthyroidism causes muscle fatigue and weakness, which you may notice first in the thighs. Exercises such as riding a bike or climbing stairs become more difficult. Other symptoms include unexplained weight loss, feeling warm all the time, increased heart rate, shorter and less frequent menstrual flows, increased thirst, excessive sweating, Increased bowel movements, irritability and anxiety.

 Hypothyroidism causes fatigue, an inability to concentrate, and muscle soreness, even with minor activity. Other symptoms include weight gain due to water retention, feeling cold all the time (even in warmer weather), heavier and more frequent menstrual flows, and constipation.

3. Diabetes Mellitus.

Without enough energy to keep the body running smoothly, people with diabetes often notice fatigue as one of the first warning signs.

Aside from feeling tired all the time , other signs include excessive thirst, frequent urination, hunger, weight loss, irritability, yeast infections, and blurred vision.

4. Depression

This is a major illness that affects the way we sleep, eat, and feel about ourselves and others. Without treatment, the symptoms of depression may last for weeks, months, or even years.

5. Rheumatoid Arthritis

This autoimmune disease is not always easy to diagnose early, but there are some subtle clues to look for. Rheumatoid arthritis happens when your immune system turns against itself and attacks healthy joint tissue, sometimes resulting in irreversible damage to bone and cartilage.

Many symptoms (such as fatigue, low energy, loss of appetite, and joint pain) are shared by other health conditions, including other forms of arthritis such as fibromyalgia and lupus

6. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This  is  a perplexing disease. While its hallmark persistent exhaustion and flu-like symptoms can be debilitating, many with the condition suffer for years without a diagnosis.

7. Sleep Apnea and a Narcolepsy

Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. In the most common type, obstructive sleep apnea, your upper airway actually closes or collapses for a few seconds, which, in turn, alerts your brain to wake you up to begin breathing again. Someone with obstructive sleep apnea may stop breathing dozens or even hundreds of times a night.. Symptoms of sleep apnea, besides daytime fatigue, include: waking up with a sore or dry throat, forgetfulness, mood changes, decreased libido, abrupt awakening accompanied by gasping for air, morning headache.

Sleep apnea is often signaled by snoring and is generally followed by tiredness the next day. Because sleep apnea can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke, it’s important to be tested.

Narcolepsy has different forms as well. A person with narcolepsy falls asleep during the day and during normal activity.

8. Fibromyalgia

Similar to chronic fatigue syndrome, the symptoms of fibromyalgia vary widely among sufferers. The most common symptoms, besides exhaustion, include: widespread and chronic pain, Insomnia, numbness and tingling  sensations. Others are coordination problems, headaches, memory and concentration problems. Diagnosis is based on the presence of tender points in all four quadrants of the body.                                                                                                                             

9. Glandular fever

Glandular fever is a common viral infection that causes fatigue, along with fever, sore throat and swollen glands.

Most cases happen in teenagers and young adults. Symptoms usually clear up within four to six weeks, but the fatigue can linger for several more months.

10. Restless legs

This is when you get uncomfortable sensations in your legs, which keep you awake at night.You might have an overwhelming urge tokeep moving your legs, a deep ache in your legs, or your legs might jerk spontaneously through the night.

Whatever your symptoms, your sleep will be disrupted and of poor quality, so you’ll feel very tired throughout the day.

11.Anxiety

Feeling anxious is sometimes perfectly normal. But some people have constant uncontrollable feelings of anxiety, which are so strong they affect their daily life.                                                                                                         

“Tiredness is a state of mind , which sometimes overpower even the hyper active and energetic people due to perpetual criticism, heedless attitude, hurting animosity and insensitive behavior by nearby fellow beings. The solution lies in power of meditation and lowering the need of expectations...” - Aisha Raheel

“Tiredness turns any place into your own bed!” - Mehmet Murat ildan