Fatigue Causes, Treatment, Types & More You Should Know!

• Written by Sejal Singhania

  Reviewed by Munmi Sharma

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You wake up feeling exhausted, starting your day slowly. Your body feels so heavy, your mind fuzzy, and your smile? It's there, but only for the world to see, not because you're truly okay.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking."

"Maybe it's just work stress."

"Maybe I'm just being lazy."

We often overlook tiredness as usual, thinking it’s no big deal. But have you ever considered that your body could be trying to tell you something you've ignored for too long?

This blog isn't just about fatigue—it's about understanding tiredness that rest can't fix. Let's explore what is fatigue, what causes it, and what it might reveal about your health. Remember, paying attention to these signals is essential, as they can serve as valuable warnings. Let's explore and understand what causes fatigue and weakness.

Fatigue Meaning: It’s Beyond Tiredness!

Everyone experiences fatigue occasionally, which is normal after physical activity, stress, boredom, or insufficient sleep. But when fatigue becomes extreme, it can feel overwhelming and make it hard to get out of bed, go to work, or do your daily activities.

Fatigue is a constant feeling of exhaustion, burnout, or low energy, which can be physical, mental, or both. You might desire to sleep constantly, yet resting may not relieve your symptoms. Fatigue is a standard indicator of various medical conditions, ranging from mild to serious. It can also result from lifestyle factors like insufficient exercise or poor diet. Chronic fatigue could sometimes point to a more serious health issue. Remember, it's essential to seek help if you experience this frequently.

Fatigue vs Tiredness: Is there a Difference?

• Situation 1: After a long day, you finally crash onto your bed, and when morning comes, you wake up feeling refreshed. That's what Tiredness is all about!
• Situation 2: You sleep for 8 hours, eat well, and try to avoid stress, but still wake up feeling like you've been hit by a truck every morning. That's just Fatigue messing with you!

Fatigue is a persistent and overwhelming physical, mental, or both exhaustion that rest cannot relieve.

Types of Fatigue

Fatigue can show up differently for each person. Before you point to sleep, stress, or screen time as the cause, let's explore the various fatigue types.

Physical Fatigue

Physical fatigue refers to the inability to apply force with your muscles at the level you might expect. It can be a general tiredness affecting your entire body or limited to specific muscle groups. This fatigue is most often caused by physical activity or lack of sleep.

Mental Fatigue

Mental fatigue is a state of mental tiredness that occurs after long periods of engaging in challenging activities that require a lot of thinking. It can make us less efficient in what we're trying to do, affecting our mental sharpness and focus.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a serious, long-lasting condition, often making it challenging for people to go about their daily activities. It can be difficult to manage physical and mental exertion, with common symptoms like trouble thinking, feeling extremely tired, and more. There is no known cause or cure, but understanding and support can make a difference.

Fatigue Symptoms: It's More than Feeling Tired

Feeling tired can easily go unnoticed until daily tasks suddenly feel much more challenging. It's common not to realise how fatigue affects us until it starts taking a toll on our day. Here are some of the symptoms of fatigue that you need to notice:

• Chronic tiredness, sleepiness or lack of energy
• Trouble concentrating or focusing
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Sore or aching muscles
• Muscle weakness
• Slowed reflexes and responses.
• Impaired decision-making and judgement
• Nervousness, anxiety and irritability
• Impaired hand-to-eye coordination
• Reduced immune system function
• Poor concentration
• Hallucinations
• Low motivation

What Causes Fatigue? The Real Reasons for Fatigue

Fatigue can be temporary or chronic (lasting six months or more). You might quickly fix fatigue by changing diet, medications, exercise, or sleep. If a medical condition causes fatigue, a healthcare provider can treat or manage it. Fatigue causes include:

Lifestyle habits

Some lifestyle choices might lead to fatigue. These can include:

• Poor diet
• Excessive alcohol use.
• Illegal drug use
• Stress
• Burnout
• Inactive lifestyle
• Sleep Issues

Physical Health Conditions

Fatigue can also result from numerous medical conditions, such as:

• Anaemia and arthritis
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Infections, such as cold and flu
• Emphysema
• Addison’s disease, a disorder that can affect your hormone levels.
• Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid
• Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid
• Sleep disorders, such as insomnia
• Congestive heart failure
• Eating disorders, such as anorexia.
• Autoimmune disorders
• Cancer
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Drugs and Medications

Certain prescription medications can cause fatigue, including:

• Benzodiazepines
• Sedative-hypnotics
• Antipsychotics
• Anxiolytics
• Steroids
• Anticonvulsants
• Antihistamines

What Medical Conditions Cause Fatigue?

Fatigue can be a sign of many different health issues, affecting various parts of your body. Hundreds of conditions and disorders might cause tiredness. Some of the most common reasons people feel fatigued include:

• Infections - Many infections, such as Mononucleosis, HIV, COVID-19, Influenza, Pneumonia, and Lyme disease, can lead to fatigue.
• Heart and lung problems - Fatigue is common in many cardiovascular and lung conditions, such as Heart disease, POTS, COPD, Emphysema, and Congestive heart failure. Understanding this helps in grasping these health issues.
• Mental health conditions - Fatigue from mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and others can hinder daily activities.
• Autoimmune disorders - Fatigue is a symptom of many autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes, Lupus, Multiple sclerosis (MS), Myasthenia gravis, Rheumatoid arthritis, and more.
• Hormonal imbalances - Endocrine problems, like hypothyroidism, can cause exhaustion and fatigue.

Fatigue Treatments: Not a One-Pill Solution

Your healthcare provider will help you make changes to minimise your fatigue. You might explore various options, including lifestyle or medical modifications like:

• Practice good sleep habits
• Avoid alcohol and substance use
• Eat a healthy diet
• Manage stress
• Exercise often
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight
• Walk at least 10 minutes daily

When to Call a Doctor?

You can consult your healthcare professional if you're noticing fatigue that-

• Lasts more than 2 weeks despite lifestyle changes.
• You’re having a hard time going to work or performing daily activities.
• You’re over the age of 65.
• You’ve also been losing weight.
• Heartbeat that’s unusually fast and slow.
• Visible muscle weakness.

When you experience all these symptoms, it's time to consult a healthcare professional. Sometimes, what prevents us from seeing a doctor is the worry about medical costs. That is where medical insurance provides your safety net. Health insurance that covers diagnostic tests and free e-consultations is the best support system to help you act before things worsen. It's not just about medical bills; it's about early detection, wisely managing fatigue, and proactive health control.

If you don't have a plan, explore our affordable and flexible individual or family health insurance options that support wellness.

Fatigue isn't a Laziness - It's a Signal You Need to Hear!

Fatigue is more than just feeling tired; it's your body's saying, "I need care." Whether you feel physically weak or mentally drained, the best approach is to pause, pay attention, and recover. Small daily changes or consulting a healthcare professional when necessary can significantly help. Your energy is valuable, and you deserve to feel your best.

So, take that first step. Rest, recharge, and don't hesitate to reach out. Remember, your life isn't meant to be lived on low battery; it’s time to nurture yourself and shine.

Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.