Everyone feels tired at different points, either out of exhaustion or stress. But fatigue is a term that describes a person feeling severely overtired. Extreme fatigue makes it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, go to work, or do your usual activities and make it through your day. Fatigue makes you feel like you have an overwhelming urge to sleep, but you still may not feel refreshed after you rest or sleep.
Fatigue often occurs along with other symptoms, such as:
- Depression and lack of desire to do the activities you once enjoyed
- Very low energy and motivation
- Trouble concentrating or focusing
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Nervousness, anxiety and irritability
Other symptoms of fatigue:
- Tired legs
- Tired eyes
- Stiff shoulders
- Whole body tiredness
- Boredom
- Malaise (discomfort/uneasiness)
- Impatience
Causes of fatigue
Fatigue can be traced to many health conditions, disorders, medications, and lifestyle factors. Fatigue can be temporary, or can appear to be a more chronic condition and last for six months or more. There are several ways to fix fatigue, one of which is by changing your diet, medications, exercise, sleep habits and other lifestyle changes. If an underlying medical condition is causing your fatigue, your healthcare provider can usually treat the condition or help you manage it. Some of the causes of fatigue include: