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If that's the case, or your fatigue gets worse or lasts longer than a week or two, it's time to see your doctor. Your fatigue might be related to an underlying illness or infection, especially if it's accompanied by symptoms, such as a low-grade fever, shortness of breath, or loss of appetite.
Some causes of lethargy can be serious, including head injuries, brain bleeds, or blood sugar problems. Tell your doctor if you have unexplained tiredness or trouble thinking clearly.
People with prolonged, unexplained fatigue should see a doctor. Fatigue affects up to three-quarters of older adults with chronic conditions. Some causes are obvious, while others are more obscure, such as anemia, poor diet, or thyroid problems.
The fatigue is probably hundreds of times worse than your worst flu. People with POTS may also have trouble concentrating and thinking straight. Doing simple tasks may feel like you’ve just run a marathon.
Fatigue can be a sign of a serious health condition. You should seek immediate medical attention if you have fatigue along with other symptoms, such as: Shortness of breath or pain in your chest, arm or upper back. Heartbeat that’s unusually fast (tachycardia) or slow (bradycardia).
Most of the time fatigue can be traced to one or more lifestyle issues, such as poor sleep habits or lack of exercise. Fatigue can be caused by a medicine or linked to depression. Sometimes fatigue is a symptom of an illness that needs treatment.
Fatigue can occur with many different mental and physical health conditions. Some causes can be serious. You may be able to relieve fatigue with lifestyle changes to exercise, diet, and sleep.
The prognosis for fatigue is generally good, because many of the causes are easy to treat. While you can manage fatigue, you probably cannot prevent its many causes. Therefore, it is important to recognize when fatigue is a problem in order to seek appropriate medical care and a prompt diagnosis.
Fatigue can happen to any of us, but it is not usually a long-term problem. If it becomes long-term, it may indicate a more serious problem that can affect your health and quality of life.
Find out about some of the common causes of tiredness and fatigue, treatments and things you can do to help, plus when to get medical advice.