Doctor, I am sleeping well and eating well but always feeling tired, Help Me:
Fatemeh Aghanasiri
MD, G.P. ;M.C.C
MD, MCC (Canada)
Obesity and Weight Management specialist
Lifestyle medicine student
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common cause of chronic fatigue;
Fatigue occurs most often as part of a symptom complex, but even when it is the sole or main presenting symptom, fatigue is one of the most common symptoms. Fatigue is difficulty initiating and sustaining activity due to a lack of energy and accompanied by a desire to rest. Fatigue is normal after physical exertion, prolonged stress, and sleep deprivation.
Fatigue is a desire to rest that reflects exhaustion. It differs from weakness, inability to move, and reluctance to move because of pain with movement. Fatigue may reflect activity of a systemic inflammatory disorder.
The most common disorders manifesting predominantly as recent fatigue (lasting lest than 1 month) are
- * Drug adverse effects
- * Anemia
- * Stress and/or depression
The most common causes manifesting predominantly as prolonged fatigue (lasting 1 to 6 months) are
- * Diabetes
- * Hypothyroidism
- * Sleep disturbances (eg, sleep apnea)
- * Cancer
The most common causes manifesting predominantly as chronic fatigue (lasting more than 6 months) are
- – Chronic fatigue syndrome
- – Mood changes (eg, depression)
- – Drugs
- – Chronic weight loss
- – Chronic fever or night sweating
- – Generalized lymphadenopathy
- – Muscle weakness or pain
- Serious non-fatigue symptoms (blood loss, Sever breathing problem, liver diseases , change of level of conciousness, suicidal ideation)
- Involvement of more than 1 organ system (eg, skin rashes plus joints pain)
- New or different headache or loss of vision, particularly with muscle pains, in an older adult
- Older age (eg, > 65 yr)