What is fatigue? Fatigue is more than just tiredness. It makes it challenging to get out of bed early and prevents you from completing your day-to-day tasks. Physical and mental tiredness are different but are often co-occur. In some cases, physical exhaustion can lead to mental fatigue. 

Lack of sleep for an extended period can lead to chronic tiredness. Psychologists recommend adults get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Some people physiologically need more hours of sleep than others, up to 10 hours. Getting tired of physical work or a mentally exhausting job is natural, and you need to listen to your body carefully to prevent any health consequences such as chronic fatigue syndrome. 

The most simple advice is to have a healthy diet plan and exercise regularly. It can reduce any burnout. In addition, therapy and analysis of the causes of tiredness and exhaustion with your doctor should help the best. 

As if the fact of the impact on safety is a public health problem. People with extreme fatigue can work the same way as those under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

This writing will look at the types of tiredness, some of the root causes, and treatment options.

Types of fatigue

There are two main types of tiredness: 

• Physical 
• Mental

For physically tired people, it can be challenging to keep doing what they were usually doing, for example, going up a flight of stairs. Symptoms: muscle weakness, sickness, nausea. 

In the case of mental fatigue, it may be challenging to focus on the little things and process the intellectual work you used to do before. Symptoms: drowsiness, headache, sleepiness.

Causes

Fatigue also leads to many different illnesses.

Mental health issues as causes of tiredness

Fatigue is also a common symptom of clinical depression caused by severe depression, by itself, or related problems like insomnia.

The fatigue can result from the following mental health issues:

• Bereavement & grief
• Stress
• Life events
• Emotional exhaustion or burnout
• Eating disorders
• Anxiety
• Boredom

Endocrine & metabolic reasons

Health conditions & other factors that affect hormones that can cause fatigue. They consist of:

• Cushing’s syndrome
• Kidney disease
• Electrolyte problems
• Diabetes
• Thyroid conditions
• Pregnancy
• Hormonal contraception, including birth control pills & the implant

Drugs and medications

Certain drugs and medications can cause fatigue. These include:

• Some antidepressants
• Anxiety medications
• Antihypertensives
• Steroids
• Antihistamines
• Sedatives

Heart plus lung conditions

Heart, including lung conditions, can affect blood flow in the body or cause inflammation & may lead to fatigue. These include:

• Coronary heart disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Arrhythmias
• Asthma
• Pneumonia
• Valvular heart disease

Sleep problems

The following sleep circumstances can also lead to fatigue:

• Sleep apnea
• Narcolepsy
• Insomnia
• Reflux esophagitis
• Working schedule or overwork
• Jet lag

Chemicals and substances

Vitamin deficiencies, mineral deficiencies, including poisoning, can all affect sleep & cause fatigue.

Consuming caffeinated and alcoholic beverages can also disrupt normal sleep, incredibly close to bedtime. Likewise, using products consist of nicotine can disturb sleep.

Medical conditions

Several medical conditions can cause fatigue, including:

• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Anemia
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Fibromyalgia
• Systemic lupus
• Weakened immune system function
• Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Massive blood loss
• Cancer and cancer treatment.

Few infections that cause extreme tiredness include:

• HIV
• Flu
• Hepatitis
• Tuberculosis
• Malaria
• Infectious mononucleosis
• Cytomegalovirus

Chronic pain

For people with chronic pain often wakes up at night. But, unfortunately, they may also wake up tired and ill-equipped, not getting a whole night’s sleep. 

The combination of chronic pain, along with a lack of sleep, can lead to constant fatigue.

Half of the individuals with fibromyalgia had sleep apnea, which contributes to fatigue.

Being overweight or underweight

Being overweight increases the risk of tiredness and fatigue, increasing the risk of developing disorders in which fatigue is a common symptom, such as diabetes or sleeplessness. Carrying more weight and experiencing joint or muscle pain can lead to or exacerbate fatigue. Similarly, people underweight may get tired quickly, depending on the cause of their condition. 

Too much or too little activity

A person with fatigue may not exercise thus a lack of exercise can cause feeling tired during the day. It is scientifically proven that exercise reduces stress and improves emotional well-being. Try to spent time for physical activity daily and you’ll notice how it helps to improve your mood and relax during the day.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis can be difficult, as the causes and symptoms of fatigue are varied and nonspecific.

The doctor may ask a few questions related to:

• Qualities of the exhaustion
• Patterns of fatigue and the times of day when the symptoms worsen
• The quality of the person’s sleep
• The person’s emotional state & stress levels

Sleep

Getting a night of quality sleep is an essential part of managing fatigue.

To practice good sleep habits:

• Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day
• Set the living room temperature at a comfort level or a bit lower. The cooler may be better. The best temperature for sleep is approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 degrees Celsius).

Eating & drinking habits

Diet can affect how tired or energetic a person feels. 

Following are a few tips and tricks to try:

• Eat smaller portions, but more frequently during the day (better not three times a day but around five-eight times)
• Try snacks that are low on sugar
• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables
• Avoid caffeine in the afternoon & evening

Physical activity:

Getting good physical activity can help reduce exhaustion and improve the quality of your sleep.

Conclusion

We hope this article helped you to discover some causes and symptoms of tiredness and fatigue. Remember to have a good sleeping schedule, eat healthy food and have proper rest during the day when you’re tired. Try sleeping about twenty-thirty minutes on a break to recharge faster.

Health is an essential part of your life. Take care of yourself and enjoy life to the fullest!