Fatigue
Fatigue
About fatigue
Fatigue is a feeling of constant exhaustion, burnout or lack of energy. It can be physical, mental or a combination of both. Fatigue can affect anyone – most adults experience it at some time in their life.
Each year, many Australians see their doctor about fatigue. Fatigue is a symptom, not a condition.
For many people, fatigue is caused by a combination of lifestyle, social, psychological and general
wellbeing
issues rather than an underlying medical condition.
Although fatigue is sometimes described as
tiredness
, it is more severe than being tired at the end of a long day or from hard physical exercise. Everyone can feel tired at times, but this is usually resolved with a nap or a few nights of good sleep.
If you are
getting enough sleep
,
eating healthily
and
exercising regularly
but struggle with motivation, concentration and going about your daily activities, you may be experiencing fatigue that needs further investigation.
Sometimes fatigue can be more serious – it may indicate an underlying medical condition or it can put people at risk of a workplace or
motor vehicle accident
.
If fatigue is having a negative effect on how you live your life, or causing you distress, it is important to
speak with your general practitioner (GP)
.
Symptoms of fatigue
Fatigue symptoms can be physical, mental and emotional and may include:
chronic tiredness,
sleepiness
or lack of energy
headache
dizziness
sore or aching muscles
muscle weakness
slowed reflexes and responses
impaired decision-making and judgement
moodiness
(such as irritability)
impaired hand-to-eye coordination
appetite loss
reduced
immune system
function
blurry vision
short-term memory problems
poor concentration
hallucinations
low motivation.
Causes of fatigue
The wide range of causes that can trigger fatigue include:
Medical causes
– unrelenting exhaustion may be a sign of an underlying illness or condition (such as
flu
,
glandular fever
,
chronic fatigue syndrome
,
thyroid disorders
,
heart disease
or
diabetes
).
Lifestyle-related causes – alcohol or drugs or lack of regular exercise can lead to feelings of fatigue.
Workplace-related causes –
workplace stress
can lead to feelings of fatigue.
Psychological causes – fatigue is a common symptom of
mental health
problems (such as
depression
and
grief
), and may be accompanied by other signs and symptoms (including irritability and lack of motivation).
Fatigue can also be caused by a number of factors working in combination.
Medical causes of fatigue
It is often hard to work out the exact cause of fatigue because can be a symptom of many medical conditions (such as
anaemia
,
multiple sclerosis
and
cancer
).
See your doctor if you experience prolonged bouts of fatigue. They will look at both medical and non-medical areas of your life to determine the cause and may ask how fatigue is impacting your life.
Difference between chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
Ongoing unexplained fatigue (or chronic fatigue) is distinct from
myalgic encephalomyelitis (known as chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS
) in the following way:
post-exertional malaise (PEM) – symptoms get worse after exercise or general exertion
there may be a delay between the exertion and increase in symptoms, often by 24 hours or more.
If you’ve have ongoing, unexplained fatigue for more than 6 months and feel worse after activity, you might have ME/CFS. See your doctor for advice.
Lifestyle-related causes of fatigue
Common lifestyle factors that can cause fatigue include:
S
leep
problems
– too little sleep, poor quality sleep or too much sleep can all cause fatigue. Disturbed sleep may occur for a number of reasons (for example, noisy neighbours, young children who wake in the night, a
snoring
partner, or an uncomfortable sleeping environment such as a stuffy bedroom). There are also medical causes of poor sleep such as
sleep apnoea
.
Alcoho
l
and
drugs
– alcohol is a depressant drug that slows the nervous system and disturbs normal sleep patterns. Other drugs (such as cigarettes and
caffeine
), stimulate the nervous system and can cause
insomnia
.
Lack of regular exercise and sedentary behaviour
– physical activity is known to improve fitness, health and wellbeing, reduce stress, and boost energy levels for most people. It also helps you sleep. However, too much or the wrong sort of exercise for your body may also lead to fatigue.
Poor diet
– low kilojoule diets, low carbohydrate diets or high energy foods that are nutritionally poor don’t provide the body with enough fuel or nutrients to function at its best. Quick fix foods (such as chocolate bars or drinks with caffeine or a lot of sugar), only give a short-term energy boost that quickly wears off and may contribute or cause fatigue.
Individual factors
– personal illness or injury, illnesses or injuries in the family, too many commitments (for example, working two jobs) or financial problems.
Workplace-related causes of fatigue
Common workplace issues that may contribute to fatigue include:
Shift work
– the human body is designed to sleep during the night. This pattern is set by a small part of the brain known as the circadian clock. Shift work confuses your circadian clock by working when your body expects to be asleep.
Poor workplace practices
– long work hours, hard physical labour, irregular working hours (such as rotating shifts), a stressful work environment (such as excessive noise or temperature extremes), boredom, working alone with little or no interaction with others, or fixed concentration on a repetitive task.
Workplace stress
– job dissatisfaction, heavy workload, conflicts with bosses or colleagues, bullying, constant change, or threats to job security.
Burnout – is usually related to problems with the workplace and is a state of being exhausted, overwhelmed, and struggling to cope and has many causes. It can be described as striving too hard in one area of life while neglecting everything else. Fatigue is often one component of burnout.
Unemployment – financial pressures, feelings of failure or guilt, and the emotional exhaustion of prolonged job hunting can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue.
Psychological causes of fatigue
Psychological factors are a common cause of fatigue. These may include:
Depression
– prolonged feelings of sadness, dejection and hopelessness may mean you are experiencing depression.
Anxiety
– feelings of worry, stress or being scared or tense can be a normal response to a situation (such as speaking in public). However, if these feelings happen a lot of the time or don’t have a clear cause, you may be experiencing anxiety.
Grief
– losing a loved one causes a range of emotions including shock, guilt, depression, despair and loneliness.
Diagnosing fatigue
Your doctor may:
Take your medical history – including childbirth, medication, surgery, weight loss or gain.
Do a physical examination to check for signs of illness or disease. They may also ask detailed questions about diet, lifestyle and significant life events (such as loss of a job or loved one).
Order tests to check if your fatigue may be due to an undiagnosed medical issue (for example,
anaemia
or
thyroid dysfunction
).
Treating fatigue
Your healthcare provider will work with you to make changes to reduce your fatigue. These might include lifestyle changes or medical interventions such as:
appropriate exercise for you
changing drinking, drug or smoking habits
dietary changes
psychological support (such as seeing a psychologist or
psychiatrist
)
medications (if required).
Fortunately for most people, fatigue will get better over time on its own or with some simple and practical lifestyle changes.
Where to get help
Your
GP (doctor)
A
psychologist
or mental health practitioner
Allied health practitioner (such as a
physiotherapist
or
occupational therapist
)