fatigue

Fatigue is a condition in which a person becomes weary or exhausted. It is usually caused by overdoing some physical activity. It can also occur after a long period of mental stress. In some cases, it may occur for no clear reason.

 

Most people have had fatigue at some point. The causes of fatigue range from working out or studying too hard to cancer. Sometimes no cause can be found.

 

A healthcare professional may want to know several things when a person complains of fatigue, such as:

 

The professional may also want to know about any fever, weight loss or pain. Questions about depression, menstrual periods in women and other symptoms may help in figuring out the cause of the fatigue. Hard bowel movements, dry skin and hair and always being cold could point to a low thyroid hormone in the blood.

 

Almost any sudden illness and many long-term illnesses can cause fatigue.

Prevention is related to the cause of the fatigue. For example, avoiding stress and overexertion, getting enough sleep, and eating a healthy diet can prevent many cases of fatigue.

Sometimes, the cause of the fatigue is clear to the healthcare professional after a thorough history and physical exam. In other cases, further tests may be needed, depending on what is suspected. The complete blood count (CBC) is the most common of these, because it can confirm anemia, one of the most frequent causes of fatigue. Sometimes an extended workup stretched over several visits is needed. A chest X-ray is helpful if lung disease is suspected.