What You Should Know About Chronic Fatigue

Fatigue often follows a period of mental or physical activity. Poor physical health, lack of rest, obesity, poor nutrition, stress, and emotional problems can cause a person to be weak, tired, or lethargic. Being weary, sleepy, and irritable are also signs of fatigue.

Other physical problems such as diseases, infections, respiratory disorders, anemia, cancer, alcoholism, and drug side effects can cause fatigue. So can psychological problems like depression and panic attacks.

Chronic fatigue syndrome may last for months or years. Symptoms include weakness that interferes with daily living, problems concentrating, muscle aches and pains, excessive sleeping, despair, and in some cases, fever, sore throat, and tender lymph nodes. Insomnia and depression may also occur. Confusion, poor concentration, and being forgetful are among the most disabling signs of chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Centers for Disease Control estimate there are 17 cases of chronic fatigue syndrome per 100,000 adults in the U.S., most cases occur in white women. No specific diagnostic tests are available; some tests are simply used to make sure that there are no other causes of fatigue. Diagnosis is based on the patient's history of illness and eliminating other possibilities. Treatment for the chronic fatigue syndrome depends on the findings by history, physical findings, and laboratory examinations. If there are no abnormal findings, treatment simply relieves symptoms.

If you always feel tired and do not know why, seek medical attention. The cause of most fatigue can be found and treated. Even if a cause cannot be found, your healthcare provider can recommend strategies to help keep up your strength.

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