Fatigue – Causes and Symptoms

You've been working in your yard all day, mowing, raking, and weeding. When you're finished, all you want to do is collapse on your sofa from exhaustion. That type of fatigue is normal and no reason for concern.But if you're tired all the time, your body is probably trying to tell you something.

You may simply have a vita­min deficiency and need to eat a more balanced diet or take supplements. You may have a viral or bacterial infection, or suffer from energy-draining stress or depression. Numerous medical conditions, including cancer, can cause fatigue. If your fatigue is interfering with your normal daily activities, or if you have other symptoms, don't just take a nap, take a drive to your doctor's office, and get some answers.

1. It's time to see your doctor if you have fatigue and:
2. Excessive thirst
3. Increased appetite
4. Frequent urination
5. Unexplained weight loss

These symptoms may mean you have diabetes.

1. Appetite loss
2. Yellow eyes and skin
3. Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting
4. Low-grade fever (less than 101° F)
5. Pain or discomfort in upper abdomen

Liver problems are a likely source of your symptoms. You may have cirrhosis of the liver, viral hepatitis, or liver cancer. See your doctor immediately.

1. Appetite loss
2. Darkening of skin, freckles, scars, and breast nip­ples
3. Low blood pressure, causing dizziness or faintness when you stand up
4. Vomiting, diarrhea

Your symptoms could add up to Addison's disease, a condition your doctor can control with hormone treatments. If you experience pains, feel faint, have low blood pressure, or a high or low temperature, get help immediately. You may be having an adrenal crisis, which can be fatal if not treated promptly.

1. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, espe­cially when lying down Irregular or rapid heartbeat
2. Cough
3. Swollen stomach, legs, and ankles

Together, these symptoms may indicate congestive heart failure, which is usually a complication of other illnesses such as heart or lung disease.

1. Breathing difficulty
2. Pale skin

These symptoms could mean you have some type of anemia, due to a lack of iron, folic acid, or vita­min B12 in your diet.

1. Unexplained weight loss
2. Anxiety/hyperactivity
3. Rapid, irregular heartbeat
4. Always feel warm or hot
5. Bulging eyes

You may be suffering from hyperthyroidism, also called thyrotoxicosis, toxic goiter, or Graves' disease. This is a relatively common dis­order caused by an overactive thyroid. It can usually be controlled by medication.

1. Chest pain
2. Weight gain or loss
3. Sleepiness or insomnia
4. Depression or poor memory
5. Decreased sweating, appetite, and tolerance for cold

These symptoms might indicate hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid. Although hypothyroidism is generally easy to treat with thyroid replacement drugs, it can cause life-threatening complications in rare cases, so it is important to see your doctor.

1. Sore throat
2. Fever
3. Achy, run-down feeling

If you have these symptoms, you may have mononucleosis, a viral infection spread mostly by saliva (which earned it the nickname "kissing dis­ease"). It is especially common among college stu­dents.

1. Weakness
2. Forgetfulness or confusion
3. Joint or muscle pain
4. Mood swings and/or depression

If your fatigue is persistent, and you have the above symptoms, you may have chronic fatigue syndrome.