GeezerVison is showing medlineplus.gov — Fatigue: MedlinePlus

Fatigue

Also called: Tiredness, Weariness

On this page

Basics

Summary
Start Here

Learn More

Related Issues
Specifics
Genetics

See, Play and Learn

No links available

Research

Clinical Trials
Journal Articles

Resources

No links available

For You

Older Adults
Patient Handouts

Summary

What is fatigue?

Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy. It can interfere with your usual daily activities. Fatigue can be a normal response to physical activity, emotional stress, boredom, or lack of sleep. But sometimes it can be a sign of a mental or physical condition. If you have been feeling tired for weeks, contact your health care provider. They can help you find out what's causing your fatigue and recommend ways to relieve it.

What causes fatigue?

Fatigue itself is not a disease; it's a symptom. It can have many different causes, including pregnancy and various medical problems, treatments, and lifestyle habits such as:

Medical problems:
- Chronic (long-lasting) diseases such as diabetes, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and heart, liver, kidney and thyroid diseases
- Untreated pain and diseases like fibromyalgia
- Anemia
- Infections
- Parkinson's disease
- Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders
- Recent stroke
- Mental disorders such as depression and anxiety
Treatments:
- Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow transplants
- Recovering from major surgery
- Taking certain medicines, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, and medicines for nausea and pain
Lifestyle habits:
- Not getting enough sleep
- Staying up too late
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Substance use
- Having too much caffeine (which can keep you from getting a good night's sleep)
- Getting too little or too much exercise

Overwhelming fatigue is part of a disorder called myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The fatigue caused by this disorder is different from a tired feeling that goes away after you rest. Instead, the fatigue in ME/CFS lasts a long time, does not get better with rest, and limits your ability to do ordinary daily activities.

What can I do to manage fatigue?

If you've had fatigue that does not get better after several weeks, call your provider. They will ask questions about your sleep, daily activities, appetite, and exercise. They will likely do a physical exam and order lab tests. Once they decide on a diagnosis, they can tell you what treatments might help.

You can also make some lifestyle changes to feel less tired:

Get regular physical activity
Improve your sleep habits
Stop smoking (if you smoke), since smoking is linked to many diseases that can cause fatigue
Manage stress
Eat a healthy diet and avoid alcohol

It also may be helpful for you to keep a fatigue diary. This can help you find patterns throughout the day, such as when you feel more tired and when you have more energy. It can also help you plan for activities that may give you more energy.

NIH: National Institute on Aging

Start Here

Fatigue (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Feeling Fatigued? Finding Possible Causes (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

IBD and Fatigue (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America)

Specifics

Cancer Fatigue (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Cancer Fatigue: Why It Occurs and How to Cope (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Fatigue and Multiple Sclerosis (National Multiple Sclerosis Society)

Genetics

Corticosteroid-binding globulin deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Fatigue (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Older Adults

Fatigue in Older Adults (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Coping with cancer - managing fatigue (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Fatigue (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Fatigue

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.