Fatigue can serve as an indicator of your health status. Sometimes, an underlying medical condition acts as the cause of fatigue symptoms, which explains why your body seems so tired all the time.
Fatigue can have negative mental health implications and this can further exacerbate the existing fatigue in a cyclical way. If you find yourself struggling with mental health issues that cannot be resolved, try reading some self-help articles or seeking professional help. Your mental health is extremely important and should be treated as a top priority.
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What is Fatigue?
Fatigue is described as the constant feeling of tiredness that limits energy and leads to a lack of motivation. Living with fatigue can leave you with unrelenting exhaustion that may seem inexplicable.
The feelings associated with fatigue are often likened to that of the flu or another viral infection, where your body is fighting a foreign invader, leaving you feeling tired. Fatigue, when chronic, can leave people exhausted, nonfunctional, and weak. Often, people will neglect personal affairs due to uninterest and lack of energy.
For most people, the reason for their fatigue can be explained. The remainder of this article will be dedicated to exploring some of the common causes of fatigue.
Allergies Can Cause Fatigue
Allergies can cause people to experience headaches, congestion, itchiness, and fatigue. Allergic rhinitis (the nose’s allergic reaction to foreign substances) is often associated with chronic fatigue. Once a physician or other health professional determines the type of allergy you have, it may be easier to avoid these triggers and reduce your level of fatigue.
Avoiding or treating allergies can reduce levels of fatigue. Additionally, some allergies can continue affecting you while you sleep. Closing your windows at night if you are allergic to pollen or buying pillow protectors to keep dust away from your head may also help. Ask your doctor or allergist for more advice specific to the allergy.
Anemia Can Cause Fatigue
Anemia, or having too few healthy red blood cells (RBCs), may cause dizziness, irritability, and fatigue while also making you feel cold. This condition is the most common blood condition in the United States; more than 5.6% of Americans are impacted by anemia. Anemia is closely linked to feelings of fatigue, especially among women who are of childbearing age.
In order to diagnose anemia, physicians order blood tests and then analyze the results. Anemia may be caused by iron deficiency, folic acid deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic bleeding (hemorrhoids or other stomach issues), diabetes, and kidney disease.
Anemia is almost always a quite treatable condition. Consult your doctor or another health professional if you are experiencing symptoms of anemia. The doctor will be able to advise you of possible treatment courses to take, and once the body adjusts to them, your feelings of fatigue can decrease.
Other Common Causes of Fatigue
Among the conditions listed above, there are many other illnesses that may cause fatigue. Depression and anxiety can lead to feelings of sadness and reduced energy, which can serve as root causes of fatigue. Anxiety symptoms may include agitation, difficulty sleeping, excessive worry, feeling on-edge, and nervousness. Each of these symptoms can exacerbate feelings of fatigue.
For people struggling with their mental health, therapy may be a good course of action to manage symptoms and help with fatigue. Therapy benefits many people, not only those with a diagnosed mental illness.
Additionally, fibromyalgia (widespread musculoskeletal pain), rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition that causes joint pain/damage), sleep apnea, diabetes, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), cancer, heart disease, and other heart conditions serve as common causes of fatigue.
Do not let fatigue control your life. Trying to determine the causes of your fatigue may help you work to confront these causes, regain control of your life, and live with more energy.
