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Fatigue

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Fatigue

Reviewed by Dr Stuart Crisp, specialist registrar and Dr John Pillinger, GP

Fatigue as a concept is extremely hard to define, since everybody has their own idea of what being tired means. Everybody is tired once in a while - the most common reason is, of course, lack of sleep.

Fatigue can also be caused by a wide range of illnesses and diseases. In such cases, a person usually finds they suddenly (or even gradually) need more rest and sleep. This may affect their performance at work.

Fatigue is also common when you are feeling down.

How much sleep do you need?

The need for sleep can vary quite a lot between individuals, although it is usual to require less sleep as you get older.

Children Small children often need a lot of sleep. Toddlers, for example, may need between 14 and 16 hours a day.

The need for sleep slowly declines through childhood. Most schoolchildren will need at least 10 to 12 hours of sleep to be at their best during the day.

It does not help children if they are allowed to stay up late and are then hauled out of bed the next morning.

Adults

Most adults need six to eight hours of sleep, but this can differ from one person to another.

A good night's sleep seems to help concentration and improve the immune system, minimising the risk of illness.

What causes fatigue?

There are a number of conditions that cause fatigue - some of the most common are listed below.

Anaemia Anaemia due to a lack of iron is most often seen in women who have prolonged or heavy periods. Blood is lost every month, which means more iron is needed in the diet.

Other conditions that can give rise to anaemia include:

pregnancy.

any cause of bleeding from the stomach or intestines, eg ulcers, polyps or piles .

a lack of folic acid or vitamin B12.

In times of rapid growth in children, iron deficiency anaemia can be caused by certain small-intestinal diseases or syndromes, which lower the amount of nutrition the body is able to absorb, such as gluten-intolerance or Crohn's disease.

Infections

It is quite normal for fatigue to be brought on by various infections. After a bout of flu, for instance, you can feel tired for a couple of weeks.

Sometimes you may only notice a disease or illness because you have fatigue. This can be true of glandular fever, Lyme disease and AIDS.

Causes of fatigue

Lack of sleep.

Iron deficiency anaemia.

Infections such as flu.

Depression.

Cancer.

Low metabolism.

High metabolism.

Diabetes.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Depression

You can easily become tired if you are depressed or experiencing emotional stress. Depression that requires medical help often shows itself through heavy fatigue.

A specific tendency towards fatigue during the winter can be a sign of winter depression (known as seasonal affective disorder), which nowadays can be treated successfully.

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