Everyone feels tired now and then. It might come from reduced sleep time, over-loaded work or too much stress. But, after a good night’s sleep, most people feel refreshed and ready to face a new day. On the contrary, if you continue to feel tired for weeks, it’s time to see your doctor. Because there might some health problems that cause your tiredness and knowing the causes can help you to relieve it.
Causes – Lifestyle
- Use of alcohol or drugs
- Excess physical activity
- Jet lag disorder
- Lack of physical activity
- Lack of sleep
- Medications, such as antihistamines, cough medicines
- Unhealthy eating habits
Causes – Conditions
- Acute liver failure
- Anemia
- Anxiety
- Cancer
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Chronic infection or inflammation
- Chronic kidney disease
- Concussion
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Depression (major depressive disorder)
- Diabetes
- Emphysema
- Fibromyalgia
- Grief
- Heart disease
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Medications and treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, pain drugs, heart drugs and antidepressants
- Multiple sclerosis
- Obesity
- Pain that’s persistent
- Sleep apnea
- Stress
- Traumatic brain injury
Fatigue accompanied by any of the following symptoms need immediate medical attention.
- Thoughts of harming yourself or of suicide
- Concern that you may harm someone else
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular or fast heartbeat
- Feeling that you might pass out
- Severe abdominal, pelvic or back pain
- Abnormal bleeding, including bleeding from your rectum or vomiting blood
- Severe headache
