Chronic tiredness causes: what to know

Feeling tired for a long time is different from needing extra rest after a busy day. Common contributors include irregular sleep, interrupted breathing at night, low mood, ongoing stress, alcohol use, and recovery from an infection such as COVID-19. Health conditions such as Anaemia, Coeliac Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can also cause low energy. A clinician may ask about sleep, appetite, weight change, bleeding, thirst, medicines, and daily function before deciding whether tests are useful.

Keep a brief diary of sleep, energy, meals, drinks, symptoms, and activity. Aim for a regular sleep and wake time, gentle daytime movement, balanced meals, and enough fluids unless a clinician has told you to restrict them. Avoid using alcohol as a sleep aid, and review any new medicine or supplement with a pharmacist or doctor. Arrange a GP Consultation if tiredness continues, limits work or self-care, or comes with other symptoms.

Seek urgent help for tiredness with severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, sudden weakness, or heavy bleeding. Arrange prompt medical assessment for persistent fever, unexplained weight loss, black or bloody stools, marked thirst with very little urine, or rapidly worsening weakness. These features need evaluation for a potentially serious cause rather than self-care alone.

Ask which causes fit your pattern, whether your sleep or medicines could contribute, and which examination or blood tests may help. Take your symptom diary and a list of medicines, supplements, and recent illnesses.