When Nighttime Zzs are Not Enough
When does a few consecutive sleepy days turn into a more general malaise and fatigue that could be indicative of a larger problem? The average adult needs seven and a half to nine hours of sleep per night. Whether you are meeting your nighttime sleep goals or not, if you are consistently experiencing an overwhelming fatigue that is impacting your lifestyle, talk to your doctor. You may be able to improve your snooze with a few lifestyle changes, or you may need to treat an underlying health condition.
What Does Chronic Fatigue Feel Like?
Everyone has experienced sleepiness at some point, but chronic fatigue is a much more overwhelming and debilitating condition. It is a lingering tiredness that is constant and limiting.
What Causes Feelings of Fatigue?
The following factors could be causing your consistent sleepy sensations:
- Not enough hours of sleep per night
- An unhealthy diet
- Regular use of alcohol
- Regular use of recreational drugs
- A rigorous daily exercise routine or a physically demanding job
- Stress
- Obesity
- Insufficient daily physical activity
- Jet lag
- Medications that cause drowsiness, such as antihistamines
- A recent concussion
- Grief
- Medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy
If you are experiencing feelings of unrelenting exhaustion, and if you believe it is not related to any of the factors on the list above, talk to your doctor. He or she may test you for one of the following more complex health conditions that has been known to cause fatigue:
- Cancer
- Major depressive disorder
- Diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease
- Sleep apnea
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- Acute liver failure
- Anemia
- Anxiety
- Chronic infection or inflammation
- Emphysema
- Heart disease
- Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid)
- Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Multiple sclerosis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
An additional potential cause of persistent feelings of fatigue is a condition that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), impacts over one million people in the United States. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a physical condition marked by overwhelming fatigue and weakness that makes it difficult to perform daily tasks. Those who suffer from CFS often report difficulty getting out of bed, dressing, and eating. No amount of sleep or rest can eliminate the feelings of exhaustion experienced by CFS sufferers.
While the cause of CFS is not known, it is believed that the condition may be caused by a dysfunction of the immune and central nervous syndrome. If CFS is the cause of your fatigue, your doctor will be able to diagnose the condition and prescribe a treatment plan.