What causes fatigue?
Many conditions, disorders, medications and lifestyle factors can cause fatigue. Fatigue can be temporary, or it can be a chronic condition (lasting six months or more). You may be able to quickly fix fatigue by changing your diet, medications, exercise or sleep habits. If an underlying medical condition is causing your fatigue, a healthcare provider can usually treat the condition or help you manage it. Fatigue causes include:
Lifestyle habits
Certain lifestyle factors can contribute to fatigue. These factors may include:
- Poor diet.
- Excessive alcohol use.
- Illegal drug use.
- Stress.
- Burnout.
- Inactive (sedentary) lifestyle.
- Jet lag.
Sleep disorders
Certain sleep disorders can cause long-term exhaustion and extreme fatigue. These may include:
Prescription medications and treatments
Certain prescription medications can cause fatigue, including:
- Benzodiazepines.
- Sedative-hypnotics.
- Antipsychotics.
- Anxiolytics.
- Opioids.
- Anticonvulsants.
- Beta-blockers.
Other medications and treatments
Certain other medications and treatments can cause fatigue, including:
- Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, including antihistamines.
- Bone marrow transplants.
- Chemotherapy.
What medical conditions cause fatigue?
Fatigue is a symptom of a wide range of diseases, disorders and deficiencies affecting various parts of your body. Hundreds of conditions and disorders can lead to fatigue. Some of the most common causes of fatigue include:
Infections
Many infections can cause fatigue, including:
Heart and lung problems
Fatigue is a common symptom of cardiovascular and lung conditions such as:
- Heart disease.
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Emphysema.
- Congestive heart failure.
Mental health conditions
Fatigue due to certain mental health conditions may make it difficult or impossible to perform daily activities. These conditions may include:
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Autoimmune disorders
Fatigue is a symptom of many autoimmune diseases, including:
- Type 1 diabetes.
- Lupus.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Myasthenia gravis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Sjögren’s syndrome.
Hormonal imbalances
Problems with your endocrine system (the glands in your body that make hormones) can lead to exhaustion. Hypothyroidism is a common cause of fatigue.
Other chronic conditions
Certain chronic conditions can cause severe, long-lasting fatigue. These include:
- Cancer.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (also called CFS or myalgic encephalomyelitis).
- Fibromyalgia.
- Kidney disease.
- Type 2 diabetes.
Deficiencies
Anemia and other vitamin deficiencies (such as vitamin D or vitamin B12) are often responsible for fatigue. Dehydration can cause fatigue because the body needs plenty of fluids to function.
Weight issues and eating disorders
Certain weight issues and eating disorders can lead to fatigue and a range of other symptoms. These may include:
