What is fatigue?
Fatigue is different from sleepiness. While you may feel tired after a period of poor rest or extreme physical activity, sleepiness is usually short-term.
Fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion that doesn’t go away after resting or sleeping. Unlike sleepiness, fatigue is more likely to be an ongoing problem that can prevent you from carrying out daily tasks like going to work, taking showers, and preparing meals.
Depending on the type and cause of fatigue, you may also experience the following symptoms:
- Muscle aches and pains
- Lack of motivation
- Headache
- Irritability and mood changes
- Difficulty concentrating
- Slowed response time
- Vision problems
- Daytime drowsiness
Fatigue can become a public health issue if it causes safety concerns, like difficulty focusing on driving.
What causes fatigue?
A broad range of things can cause fatigue, including physical and mental health conditions and lifestyle factors like diet and exercise habits. The team at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine evaluates and treats many causes of fatigue, including:
- Being overweight or underweight
- Medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure
- Certain forms of arthritis, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
- Chronic pain, including fibromyalgia
- Too much or too little activity
- Hormonal imbalances, including thyroid disorders and pregnancy
- Certain medications, including antidepressants and anxiety medications
- Sleep problems, such as insomnia and jet lag
- Mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, and depression
- Heart and lung conditions, such as asthma and coronary heart disease
- Nutritional issues, including vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Consuming alcohol or caffeine
Fatigue can also be its own chronic condition, known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
How is fatigue diagnosed and treated?
First, the team at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine conducts a thorough physical exam and reviews your symptoms and medical history. They may take a variety of diagnostic tests to determine the specific cause of your fatigue, such as:
- Blood and urine tests
- Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or X-ray
- Mental health questionnaires
If they suspect a sleep disorder, they may refer you to a specialist to get a sleep study.
After they diagnose the cause of your fatigue, the team creates a customized treatment plan. Depending on your needs, treatment for fatigue may include one or more of the following:
- Changes to sleep habits
- Changes to eating and drinking habits
- Hormone treatments
- Getting regular physical activity
- Alternative therapies like yoga and mindfulness meditation
If your fatigue is due to an underlying medical issue, such as fibromyalgia or high blood pressure, treatment may begin with addressing that condition.
For expert care in treating fatigue, call the nearest Performance Pain and Sports Medicine office today.
