Condition

What is it?

Fatigue is a symptom of many health conditions that range from mild to serious and comes in many forms, including physical, mental, and emotional. Most people experience fatigue at some point in their lives and diagnosing this common symptom can be challenging. We must consider the timing, quality and severity of this vague symptom and, at times, do extensive testing to reveal the true cause of fatigue in many patients.

Key points:

• Often a multi factorial symptom related to emotional challenges, hormonal problems, nutritional deficiencies, pharmaceutical side effects, and lifestyle choices
• Numerous health conditions can cause fatigue including anemia, low thyroid function, acute illness, sleep disorders, autoimmune diseases, heart conditions, diabetes and many others.
• Anxiety, depression, stress and seasonal affective disorder are some of the most common causes of fatigue.
• It is important to consult a physician if your body temperature is too high or too low, you cannot explain your fatigue, you experience unintended weight loss or weight gain, or you are having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
• You should go to the hospital if you are also experiencing rectal bleeding, vomiting blood, severe headaches, pain in your chest, faintness, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or severe pain.