Fatigue or tiredness which can be extreme

However, it is known to run in families, so it could have a genetic component. So if you have one of these conditions, you might also have the other. A big group of those diagnosed with POTS is young women and teens. This is entirely possible. Given how common POTS symptoms are and how unfamiliar many doctors are with this condition, diagnostic mishaps happen.

POTS is frequently misidentified as chronic fatigue syndrome , fibromyalgia , myofascial pain syndrome, anxiety disorder , ADHD , irritable bowel syndrome , myositis, etc.

It is also possible that you have both POTS and one of these conditions, which may complicate the diagnosis. Although many people recover quickly from COVID, the disease caused by the coronavirus, others who recover may continue to experience symptoms for months. Problems with the autonomic nervous system can be difficult to diagnose. The standard test for POTS is the tilt table test. During the test, you are secured to a table that tilts from being horizontal to almost a degree angle.

Some people with POTS faint during this test, even if they rarely faint standing up. Although the test seems straightforward, many things can interfere with it. This could be a cardiologist, a neuromuscular specialist or another doctor. While there is nothing that can make POTS go away for good, there are ways to address the symptoms.

One treatment option is a diet that involves increasing your salt and water intake. This helps your body retain fluids and increase the blood volume. The other treatment is exercise — even though it may be the last thing on your mind. Pushing through fatigue is difficult, but exercise can help you maintain healthy blood circulation. Exercise should be prescribed and closely monitored by your doctor. It often starts as low-intensity exercise that can be done while you are lying down, and gradually increases as your body is able to tolerate more physical activity, although each person's experience is different.

It also helps you sleep. Quick fix foods, such as chocolate bars or caffeinated drinks, only offer a temporary energy boost that quickly wears off and worsens fatigue.

Individual factors — personal illness or injury, illnesses or injuries in the family, too many commitments for example, working two jobs or financial problems can cause fatigue. Workplace-related causes of fatigue Common workplace issues that can cause fatigue include: Shift work — the human body is designed to sleep during the night. This pattern is set by a small part of the brain known as the circadian clock. A shift worker confuses their circadian clock by working when their body is programmed to be asleep.

These may include long work hours, hard physical labour, irregular working hours such as rotating shifts , a stressful work environment such as excessive noise or temperature extremes , boredom, working alone with little or no interaction with others, or fixed concentration on a repetitive task.

Workplace stress — can be caused by a wide range of factors including job dissatisfaction, heavy workload, conflicts with bosses or colleagues, bullying, constant change, or threats to job security. Burnout — can be described as striving too hard in one area of life while neglecting everything else.

Unemployment — financial pressures, feelings of failure or guilt, and the emotional exhaustion of prolonged job hunting can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue. Psychological causes of fatigue Studies suggest that psychological factors are present in at least 50 per cent of fatigue cases.

These may include: Depression — this illness is characterised by severe and prolonged feelings of sadness, dejection and hopelessness. People who are depressed commonly experience chronic fatigue. Anxiety and stress — a person who is chronically anxious or stressed keeps their body in overdrive. The constant flooding of adrenaline exhausts the body, and fatigue sets in.

Grief — losing a loved one causes a wide range of emotions including shock, guilt, depression, despair and loneliness. Diagnosing fatigue As fatigue can present a vast range of symptoms and be caused by many different factors working in combination, diagnosis can be difficult. Your doctor may diagnose fatigue using a number of tests including: Medical history — recent events such as childbirth, medication, surgery or bereavement may contribute to fatigue.

Physical examination — to check for signs of illness or disease. Your doctor may also ask detailed questions about diet, lifestyle and life events. Tests — such as blood tests, urine tests, x-rays and other investigations.

The idea is to rule out any physical causes, for example anaemia, infection or hormonal problems. Treating fatigue Fatigue is a symptom —something you can feel and describe — not a condition or disease. Where to get help Your doctor. More information here. Fatigue in the workplace, WorkSafe Victoria. Give feedback about this page.

Was this page helpful? Sleep apnoea is a condition where your throat narrows or closes during sleep and repeatedly interrupts your breathing. This results in loud snoring and a drop in your blood's oxygen levels. The difficulty in breathing means you wake up often in the night and feel exhausted the next day.

It's most common in overweight middle-aged men. Drinking alcohol and smoking makes it worse. An underactive thyroid gland means you have too little thyroid hormone thyroxine in your body. This makes you feel tired.

You're also likely to put on weight and have aching muscles and dry skin. It's most common in women and happens more often as you get older. Your GP can diagnose an underactive thyroid by taking a blood test. Read more about having an underactive thyroid hypothyroidism. Gluten is a protein in wheat, barley and rye, and can be found in foods like pasta, bread, cakes and cereals. One in people in the UK are affected, but research suggests many of them don't know they have the condition, according to charity Coeliac UK.

Other symptoms of coeliac disease, apart from tiredness, are diarrhoea, bloating, anaemia and weight loss. Your GP can do a blood test to check if you may have coeliac disease. Chronic fatigue syndrome also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME is a severe and disabling fatigue that goes on for at least 4 months. There may be other symptoms, such as muscle or joint pain.

Read more about chronic fatigue syndrome. Other key symptoms are feeling very thirsty, peeing a lot particularly at night and weight loss. Speak to a GP if you think you might have diabetes symptoms. Glandular fever is a common viral infection that causes fatigue, along with fever, sore throat and swollen glands.

Most cases happen in teenagers and young adults.