Increased fatigue: what to know

Fatigue can feel like low energy, heaviness, reduced concentration, or a need for more rest. Recent illness, disrupted sleep, emotional strain, alcohol use, and not drinking enough fluids can all contribute. Anaemia may cause tiredness with breathlessness or paleness. Coeliac Disease can affect energy through digestive symptoms and reduced nutrient absorption. Chronic Kidney Disease may cause fatigue alongside swelling or changes in urination. COVID-19 can leave tiredness during or after infection, while Chronic Fatigue Syndrome involves persistent, disabling fatigue with other characteristic symptoms. Burnout can appear with exhaustion and reduced ability to cope. One symptom cannot establish the cause.

Keep a regular sleep and wake routine, drink fluids regularly, eat balanced meals, and use gentle activity within your energy limits. Avoid relying on alcohol or excessive caffeine to manage tiredness. Note when fatigue began, how it changes through the day, sleep quality, mood, fever, pain, bowel symptoms, breathlessness, and medicines. Book a clinician review if it continues, worsens, or affects work, study, mobility, or self-care; an examination and selected tests may clarify the cause.

Seek urgent help for fatigue with chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, new confusion, one-sided weakness, or heavy bleeding. Prompt assessment is also needed for marked dehydration, inability to keep fluids down, or rapidly worsening weakness. Contact a clinician soon if fatigue comes with unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, swollen legs, blood in the stool, or major mood changes.

Ask which causes fit your pattern and whether blood, urine, or other tests are useful. Mention sleep, diet, alcohol, mood, recent infections, menstrual or other bleeding, digestive symptoms, and every medicine or supplement you take.