When we talk about fatigue in this article, we do not mean feeling weak, exhausted and tired after a long and hard activity or a feeling of drowsiness. Instead, it refers to a type of lethargy and exhaustion that has lasted more than six weeks and it does not go away by resting and sleeping.

In chronic fatigue, which is described below, feeling fatigue can prevent a patient from doing at least fifty percent of his or her daily activities. What you will read next:

What causes fatigue?

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

When to see a doctor?

What causes fatigue?

Fatigue, constant tiredness and exhaustion can be due to many reasons including:

• Anemia (especially iron deficiency anemia)
• Low red blood cell count
• Hemoglobin diseases
• Inappropriate eating habits
• Sleep apnea
• Inadequate sleep due to sleep disorders
• Chronic and untreated urinary tract infections
• Hypothyroidism
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Addison's disease
• Accumulation of toxins
• Diabetes
• Viral infections
• Depression
• High caffeine intake
• Having a night job
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic use of some drugs

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by having at least six of the following ten criteria:

• Low fever (less than 38.5 degrees Celsius oral) or chills (shiver)
• Painful and tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpits
• Sore throat (without inflammation)
• Feeling of discomfort and muscle pain
• Muscle weakness
• Pain and discomfort in more than one (without inflammation, swelling and redness)
• Symptoms such as forgetfulness, irritability, decreased concentration
• Sleep disorders (sleep deprivation or oversleeping)
• Prolonged fatigue (at least twenty-four hours) and diffuse after physical activity and mobility that the patient has previously done without fatigue.
• Onset of fatigue and other symptoms within a few hours or days

When to see a doctor?

If you also suffer from excessive and prolonged fatigue, the doctor will make a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment by the thorough review of patient's history and his or her examination. The doctor may also be using the results of laboratory data that may include the following:

• Zinc and magnesium deficiency
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Consumption of cocaine and its derivatives
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Autoimmune diseases such as arthritis
• Rheumatoid.