How is fatigue treated?

Low energy can follow poor sleep, stress, infection, reduced activity, low mood, or an unbalanced routine. It can also occur with influenza, glandular fever, hypothyroidism, heart failure, hepatitis, HIV infection, or insomnia. A clinician may ask about sleep, mood, appetite, bleeding, pain, breathlessness, medicines, and daily function, then choose an examination or tests.

Keep regular sleep and wake times, eat nourishing meals, drink enough fluids, and build activity gradually rather than pushing through a sudden energy drop. Plan demanding tasks around your energy and include rest breaks. Treating an infection, thyroid problem, sleep disorder, or another identified condition may improve fatigue. Review sedating medicines with a clinician instead of changing them yourself.

Arrange an appointment if fatigue lasts, worsens, limits work or self-care, or comes with fever, night sweats, mood changes, persistent pain, weight change, or disrupted sleep. Seek urgent help for chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, new confusion, one-sided weakness, or thoughts of harming yourself.

Ask which symptoms may point to a sleep, thyroid, infection, heart, liver, or mental health problem, whether medicines need review, and what level of activity is sensible while you recover.