Tiredness is usually the result of lack of sleep. Then you sleep in and the problem is usually solved. Tiredness can be a sign that the body is lacking something, such as sleep or exercise.
Or it can indicate that the body is currently highly active and resists germs, which means that increased fatigue is often a sign of a cold. In this case, persistent fatigue is a symptom of an underlying disease, such as the common cold. Causes of pathological chronic fatigue are numerous, so it is important to clarify them and above all to identify treatable diseases. The treatment of the underlying disease then usually also leads to a decrease in fatigue. If no cause is found, an independent clinical picture, the chronic fatigue syndrome, can also be the underlying cause.
Causes
The various causes that can lead to chronic fatigue are numerous. This makes it all the more important to clarify chronic fatigue and to identify treatable causes early on. The diseases leading to chronic fatigue can be assigned to many different disciplines, with internal diseases being the most common.
- For example, anaemia, which is often caused by iron deficiency, can manifest itself as chronic fatigue. In addition, paleness of the skin and mucous membranes, dizziness and a general weakness in performance are often noticeable. – Low blood pressure is often accompanied by pronounced fatigue, and many heart diseases can also make the affected person feel weak and tired.
If a heart failure is present, however, it is usually manifested mainly by breathing difficulties during exertion or swelling of the legs. Inflammation of the heart muscle can have various causes and courses: Almost any form is possible, from those without symptoms to life-threatening forms. Typical symptoms of myocarditis caused by an infection are chronic fatigue, shortness of breath and general weakness, cardiac arrhythmia and chest pain.
- Infections such as shingles and glandular fever are also usually accompanied by fatigue during the course of the disease, which often lasts for a long time. – Chronic inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis or the intestinal diseases Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis also often cause pronounced fatigue. – Chronic fatigue can occur as the first symptom of a tumor disease, for example of the hematopoietic system, and even during the treatment of cancer, primarily during chemotherapy and radiation, the affected patients often suffer from agonizing chronic fatigue.
- Numerous autoimmune diseases are also often accompanied by pronounced fatigue. These are diseases in which the body’s own defence system mistakenly targets the body’s own cells. This leads to massive inflammatory reactions, which is very stressful for the body and can thus lead to chronic fatigue.
Typical autoimmune diseases accompanied by fatigue include systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. – In the presence of disturbances of general well-being, such as unknown chronic fatigue, hormone disorders should always be considered, as hormones have an important control function in the body. For example, the thyroid gland controls the body’s overall activity level.
If it is overactive, the body is too active – for example, restlessness and palpitations occur. If the thyroid gland is not active enough, the affected person often feels weak, listless and suffers from chronic fatigue. – Another organ that should always be clarified in cases of chronic fatigue is the liver.
It plays a central role in metabolism, produces some hormones and bile and is responsible for the disposal of harmful substances. If the liver is damaged, for example by viral diseases or alcohol, it often initially manifests itself in the less specific symptoms of chronic fatigue, lack of drive and poor appetite. In the further course of time, nausea, a feeling of pressure, changes in the colour of stool and urine as well as jaundice of the skin can indicate liver diseases.
The kidney is also important for the disposal of harmful substances. – Diseases of the kidney, such as inflammation or chronic kidney weakness can also initially be noticed through chronic fatigue. Other typical complaints are changes in the urine and fluid accumulations, for example on the feet, face and eyes.
Various neurological infections also often lead to chronic fatigue. – For example, about 80% of patients with multiple sclerosis have a permanent fatigue known as “fatigue”, and myasthenia gravis and the various muscular dystrophies are often associated with it. – Fibromyalgia is a disease characterized by chronic muscle pain lasting at least three months.
Characteristic are so-called tender points, i.e. points at which pain can be triggered by pressure. The cause of the disease is largely unknown, stress is considered a causative component. In addition to pain, chronic fatigue is also typical of fibromyalgia, often paradoxically accompanied by pronounced sleep disorders.
Anxiety and depression can also occur in the context of fibromyalgia. – The presence of chronic fatigue can also indicate the clinical picture of depression. The main symptoms are a depressed mood, reduced drive and loss of interest.
Other complaints can include sleep disorders, pain or concentration problems. – It is important to recognise lead poisoning as a cause of chronic fatigue. Nowadays, this occurs mainly as a result of contaminated drugs or as a consequence of accidents at work.
If, in addition to chronic fatigue, a greyish-yellow skin colour, intestinal colics and paralysis or headaches occur, the suspicion should be investigated. The diagnosis is usually based on an examination of the blood. If the suspicion is confirmed, the affected person must receive treatment immediately.
If all other possible causes are excluded, the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome can be made. The exact cause is unclear, but previous infections, a disturbance of the immune system, allergic and psychological causes and also genetic factors are discussed. – Chronic fatigue is also associated with multiple chemical sensitivity, abbreviated MCS.
In this type of complaint, low concentrations of numerous substances which normally do not cause symptoms lead to problems. Those affected suffer massively from various complaints, such as sensory irritation, hypersensitivity or symptoms of the nervous system. If MCS is suspected, it is important above all to rule out other treatable diseases.
- If a child suffers from chronic fatigue, it should first be clarified whether he or she is sleeping sufficiently according to age. Children need considerably more sleep than adults, up to 16 hours in the first years. At school age, children need about ten to twelve hours of sleep.
If a child is chronically tired despite sufficient sleep, this should be clarified by a paediatrician. It is not uncommon for children to have an underactive thyroid gland or an iron deficiency, for example, which leads to chronic fatigue. These deficiency diseases of hormones or vitamins can be treated without complications.
- A serious cause of chronic fatigue is the presence of leukaemia, i.e. blood cancer. Fever and frequent infections as well as weight loss and leg pain often occur. An increased tendency to bleed and swelling of the lymph nodes can also indicate the presence of leukaemia.
- In old age, many people complain of chronic fatigue. In older people, too, attention should always be paid to the presence of other symptoms so that no treatable cause is overlooked. It should be noted, however, that chronic fatigue in old age often has no disease value, but should rather be considered a normal condition. Increased fatigue in old age can also simply indicate that resources are not as inexhaustible as they were at a younger age.
