Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness or lack of energy that can affect your daily life. It's a normal response to physical or mental activity, but can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. There are two main types of fatigue:
- Physical fatigue arises due to prolonged physical activity, such as exercise, manual labor, or even just standing on your feet all day. Your muscles tire from overuse, buildup of lactic acid, and depletion of energy stores like glycogen and ATP. This is a normal response, but overtraining and chronic fatigue can become problematic.
- Mental fatigue comes from sustained periods of cognitive activity and stress. Mental tasks requiring focus, memory, decision making, and concentration tire out your brain over time. Common causes include long work hours, multitasking, anxiety, depression, and sleep deprivation.
What causes fatigue?
There are many potential causes of fatigue including:
- Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality
- Physical overexertion and muscle fatigue
- Dehydration or nutritional deficiencies
- Illnesses like anemia, diabetes, thyroid disorders
- Infections like cold, flu, Lyme disease
- Mental health issues like depression, anxiety, stress
- Side effects of medications, chemotherapy
- Excessive alcohol/drug use
- Jet lag, shift work, work stress
How can you manage fatigue? Here are some tips:
- Get 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night
- Exercise regularly, but avoid overtraining
- Eat a balanced, nutritious diet
- Stay hydrated and limit alcohol intake
- Take relaxation breaks during work
- Set boundaries and avoid burnout
- Treat any underlying medical conditions
- Consider supplements like iron, vitamin D, B12
- Consider stress management techniques like yoga, meditation
At The Hormone Hub, we help patients overcome chronic fatigue through customized hormone therapy and lifestyle counseling. Our doctors can diagnose hormone imbalances causing fatigue and create personalized treatment plans. With the right hormones balanced, many patients report increased energy, improved sleep, mental clarity, and better quality of life. Contact us today for a consultation!
I hope this overview on fatigue and its causes was helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.