Many of our readers have been asking about fatigue issues. That’s why we’re doing this series of articles and posts about chronic fatigue.
Now that we know what chronic fatigue is we’ll talk about the causes of it.
Causes of fatigue:
Fatigue is a symptom of many health conditions.
1) Mental health issues
It can result from stress, bereavement and grief, eating disorders, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, anxiety, moving home, boredom, and divorce.
2) Endocrine and metabolic reasons
Conditions such as Cushing’s disease, kidney disease, electrolyte problems, diabetes, hypothyroidism, anemia, kidney disease, and liver disease can all lead to fatigue.
3) Drugs and medications
Some antidepressants, BP medications, cholesterol medications, steroids, allergy medications, medication withdrawal, sleep medications and anxiety medications can cause drowsiness.
4) Heart and lung conditions
Pneumonia, arrhythmias, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and various heart problems can cause fatigue.
5) Sleep problems
Working late, shift work, jet lag, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, and acid reflux can lead to a lack of sleep and fatigue.
6) Chemicals and substances
Vitamin deficiencies, mineral deficiencies, poisoning, and consuming too many caffeinated or alcoholic beverages may make it harder to get to sleep, or stay asleep, especially if these are consumed too close to bedtime.
7) Various diseases, conditions, states, and treatments
Cancer, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, massive blood loss, and weakened immune systems can all cause fatigue.
Fatigue can also be a sign of infection. Some infections that cause tiredness include malaria, tuberculosis (TB), infectious mononucleosis, also known as glandular fever, cytomegalovirus, HIVinfection, flu, and hepatitis, among others.
8) Chronic pain
Patients with chronic pain often wake up tired, even after sleeping for a long time, especially if pain disrupts their sleep.
9) Being overweight or underweight
Being overweight increases the risk of fatigue, for various reasons. These include having to carry more weight and being more likely to have a condition where fatigue is a common symptom, such as diabetes and sleep apnea.
A person who is underweight may tire easily because they have less muscle strength.
10) Too much or too little activity
A person who feels tired may not exercise, and lack of exercise can cause further fatigue. Lack of exercise may eventually make it harder and more tiring to perform a physical chore.
Fatigue can also affect healthy individuals after intense mental or physical activity. Working or staying awake for long hours without a break, and especially driving, increases the risk of accidents.