Fatigue

Causes

Taking a quick inventory of the things that might be responsible for your fatigue is the first step toward relief. In general, most cases of fatigue may be attributed to three areas: lifestyle factors, medical conditions or psychological problems.

Lifestyle Factors

Feelings of fatigue often have an obvious cause, such as:

Alcohol use or abuse
Caffeine use
Excessive physical activity
Inactivity
Lack of sleep
Medications, such as antihistamines, cough medicines and cold remedies
Unhealthy eating habits

Psychological Conditions

Fatigue is a common symptom of mental health problems, such as:

Anxiety
Depression
Grief
Stress

Medical Conditions

Unrelenting exhaustion may be a sign of a medical condition or underlying illness, such as:

Acute liver failure
Anemia
Cancer
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (Chronic Obstructed Pulmonary Disease)
Emphysema
Heart disease
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Hypothyroidism (a thyroid disorder)
Medications, such as prescription pain medications, heart medications, blood pressure medications and some antidepressants
Obesity
Restless legs syndrome
Sleep apnea
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes