Fatigue: Difference between revisions

Fatigue
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Tiredness, exhaustion, lack of energy
Complications	Depression, anxiety, reduced quality of life
Onset	Can be acute or chronic
Duration	Varies; can be short-term or long-term
Types	N/A
Causes	Sleep deprivation, stress, medical conditions such as anemia, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome
Risks	Poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, mental health disorders
Diagnosis	Clinical assessment, blood tests, sleep studies
Differential diagnosis	Depression, sleep apnea, anemia, hypothyroidism
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Lifestyle changes, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication
Medication	Antidepressants, stimulants
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	Common
Deaths	Rarely directly fatal

Latest revision as of 16:30, 6 April 2025

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Fatigue[edit]

Fatigue is a common symptom experienced by individuals across various conditions and is characterized by a persistent feeling of tiredness or exhaustion. It can be both a physical and mental state, affecting a person's ability to perform daily activities effectively.

Causes of Fatigue[edit]

Fatigue can result from numerous factors, including:

Sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea.
Chronic illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis.
Mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.
Lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and excessive stress.
Medications that have fatigue as a side effect.

Symptoms[edit]

The primary symptom of fatigue is a persistent feeling of tiredness that does not improve with rest. Other symptoms may include:

Difficulty concentrating or cognitive impairment.
Muscle weakness or soreness.
Headaches.
Dizziness or lightheadedness.
Irritability or mood changes.

Diagnosis[edit]

Diagnosing fatigue involves a comprehensive evaluation to determine the underlying cause. This may include:

A detailed medical history and physical examination.
Blood tests to check for anemia, thyroid function, and other potential causes.
Sleep studies to identify sleep disorders.
Psychological assessments to evaluate mental health conditions.

Management[edit]

Managing fatigue typically involves addressing the underlying cause. General strategies include:

Improving sleep hygiene and ensuring adequate rest.
Engaging in regular physical activity tailored to the individual's capabilities.
Managing stress through relaxation techniques and counseling.
Adjusting medications if they contribute to fatigue.
Nutritional support and dietary changes.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Fatigue, pronounced as (fuh-TEEG), is a common symptom characterized by a pervasive sense of weariness, decreased energy, and a diminished capacity to perform mental or physical tasks. This sensation can manifest in both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) forms and can impact an individual's daily activities and overall quality of life.
+{{SI}}
+{{Infobox medical condition
-=== Definition and Overview ===
+| name            = Fatigue
+| image           = [[File:Cfs_woman_sketch.jpg|250px]]
-Fatigue is more than just feeling drowsy or sleepy. It's an overwhelming and sustained sense of exhaustion that doesn't get relieved by rest. This diminished energy can limit a person's ability to engage in routine tasks, work, or recreational activities.
+| caption         = Sketch of a woman experiencing fatigue
+| field           = [[Internal medicine]]
-=== Causes of Fatigue ===
+| symptoms        = [[Tiredness]], [[exhaustion]], [[lack of energy]]
+| complications   = [[Depression (mood)|Depression]], [[anxiety]], [[reduced quality of life]]
-The feeling of fatigue can result from numerous causes, ranging from lifestyle factors to severe medical conditions.
+| onset           = Can be [[acute (medicine)|acute]] or [[chronic (medicine)|chronic]]
+| duration        = Varies; can be [[short-term]] or [[long-term]]
-==== Lifestyle Causes ====
+| causes          = [[Sleep deprivation]], [[stress (biology)|stress]], [[medical conditions]] such as [[anemia]], [[hypothyroidism]], [[chronic fatigue syndrome]]
+| risks           = [[Poor diet]], [[sedentary lifestyle]], [[mental health disorders]]
-* Lack of sleep
+| diagnosis       = [[Clinical assessment]], [[blood tests]], [[sleep studies]]
-* Excessive physical activity or lack thereof
+| differential    = [[Depression (mood)|Depression]], [[sleep apnea]], [[anemia]], [[hypothyroidism]]
-* Unhealthy eating habits
+| treatment       = [[Lifestyle changes]], [[cognitive behavioral therapy]], [[medication]]
-* Medications and treatments
+| medication      = [[Antidepressants]], [[stimulants]]
-* Consumption of alcohol or drugs
+| frequency       = Common
-* Excessive stress
+| deaths          = Rarely directly fatal
+}}
-==== Medical Causes ====
+== Fatigue ==
+[[File:Timeframe_of_PEM_from_daily_activities.jpg|left|thumb|Diagram illustrating the timeframe of post-exertional malaise from daily activities.]]
-* [[Anemia]]
+'''Fatigue''' is a common symptom experienced by individuals across various conditions and is characterized by a persistent feeling of tiredness or exhaustion. It can be both a physical and mental state, affecting a person's ability to perform daily activities effectively.
-* [[Hypothyroidism]]
+== Causes of Fatigue ==
-* [[Diabetes]]
+Fatigue can result from numerous factors, including:
-* Chronic pain conditions
+* [[Sleep disorders]] such as [[insomnia]] or [[sleep apnea]].
-* [[Sleep disorders]] like [[sleep apnea]]
+* [[Chronic illnesses]] like [[chronic fatigue syndrome]] (CFS), [[fibromyalgia]], and [[multiple sclerosis]].
-* [[Heart disease]]
+* [[Mental health]] issues, including [[depression]] and [[anxiety]].
-* [[Cancer]]
+* [[Lifestyle factors]] such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and excessive stress.
-* Chronic infections
+* [[Medications]] that have fatigue as a side effect.
+== Symptoms ==
-=== Acute vs. Chronic Fatigue ===
+The primary symptom of fatigue is a persistent feeling of tiredness that does not improve with rest. Other symptoms may include:
+* Difficulty concentrating or [[cognitive impairment]].
-While both forms of fatigue result in a decreased ability to function, their durations and sometimes causes can be different.
+* [[Muscle weakness]] or soreness.
+* [[Headaches]].
-==== Acute Fatigue ====
+* [[Dizziness]] or lightheadedness.
+* Irritability or mood changes.
-* Typically lasts a short period (days to weeks).
+== Diagnosis ==
-* Often a result of lifestyle factors like lack of sleep, jet lag, or a significant increase in physical activity.
+Diagnosing fatigue involves a comprehensive evaluation to determine the underlying cause. This may include:
-* Usually alleviated by addressing the root cause, such as getting more sleep or managing stress.
+* A detailed medical history and physical examination.
+* [[Blood tests]] to check for [[anemia]], [[thyroid function]], and other potential causes.
-==== Chronic Fatigue ====
+* [[Sleep studies]] to identify sleep disorders.
+* [[Psychological assessments]] to evaluate mental health conditions.
-* Persistent and lasts for several months or longer.
+== Management ==
-* May arise without an apparent cause or can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition.
+Managing fatigue typically involves addressing the underlying cause. General strategies include:
-* Can be associated with [[Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)]], a complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that can't be improved by bed rest.
+* Improving [[sleep hygiene]] and ensuring adequate rest.
+* Engaging in regular [[physical activity]] tailored to the individual's capabilities.
-=== Diagnosis ===
+* Managing stress through [[relaxation techniques]] and [[counseling]].
+* Adjusting medications if they contribute to fatigue.
-Diagnosing fatigue involves a comprehensive approach. Healthcare providers will:
+* Nutritional support and [[dietary changes]].
+== See also ==
-* Take a detailed medical history.
+* [[Chronic fatigue syndrome]]
-* Ask about sleep patterns, daily activities, diet, and medications.
-* Conduct physical examinations.
-* Recommend blood tests or other diagnostic tests, depending on suspected underlying conditions.
-=== Treatment and Management ===
-Treatment for fatigue depends on its cause. Approaches may include:
-* Lifestyle changes such as improved diet, exercise routines, and sleep habits.
-* Psychological counseling or therapies for stress or mental health-related fatigue.
-* Medications to treat underlying medical conditions.
-* Physical therapies or alternative treatments.
-== See Also ==
 * [[Sleep disorders]]
-* [[Mental health]]
+* [[Depression]]
-* [[Chronic Fatigue Syndrome]] (CFS)
+* [[Fibromyalgia]]
-* [[Stress management]]
+{{Medical symptoms}}
-{{General symptoms and signs}}
-{{Common Cold}}
-{{Mental processes}}
-[[Category:Exercise physiology]]
 [[Category:Symptoms]]
-[[Category:Subjective experience]]
-[[Category:Medical Symptoms]]
-[[Category:Neurology]]
-[[Category:Well-being]]
-{{stub}}

Fatigue

Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Tiredness, exhaustion, lack of energy
Complications	Depression, anxiety, reduced quality of life
Onset	Can be acute or chronic
Duration	Varies; can be short-term or long-term
Types	N/A
Causes	Sleep deprivation, stress, medical conditions such as anemia, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome
Risks	Poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, mental health disorders
Diagnosis	Clinical assessment, blood tests, sleep studies
Differential diagnosis	Depression, sleep apnea, anemia, hypothyroidism
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Lifestyle changes, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication
Medication	Antidepressants, stimulants
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	Common
Deaths	Rarely directly fatal