Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Fatigue

For patient information, click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M.Umer Tariq [2]

Synonyms and keywords: Lack of energy; TATT; tired all the time

Overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M.Umer Tariq [2]

Overview

The word fatigue is used in everyday living to describe a range of afflictions, varying from a general state of lethargy to a specific work-induced burning sensation within one’s muscles. It can be both physical and mental. Physical fatigue is the inability to continue functioning at the level of one’s normal abilities[1][2][3]. It is ubiquitous in everyday life, but usually becomes particularly noticeable during heavy exercise. Mental fatigue, on the other hand, rather manifests in somnolence.

References

  1. Gandevia SC (1992). “Some central and peripheral factors affecting human motoneuronal output in neuromuscular fatigue”. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.). 13 (2): 93–8. PMID 1561512.
  2. Hagberg M (1981). “Muscular endurance and surface electromyogram in isometric and dynamic exercise”. Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology. 51 (1): 1–7. PMID 7263402.
  3. Hawley JA, Reilly T (1997). “Fatigue revisited”. Journal of sports sciences. 15 (3): 245–6. PMID 9232549.

Template:WH Template:WS

Classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M.Umer Tariq [2]

Overview

Classification

Physical fatigue

Physical fatigue or muscle weakness (or “lack of strength”) is a direct term for the inability to exert force with ones muscles to the degree that would be expected given the individual’s general physical fitness. A test of strength is often used during a diagnosis of a muscular disorder before the etiology can be identified. Such etiology depends on the type of muscle weakness, which can be true or perceived as well as central or peripheral. True weakness is substantial, while perceived rather is a sensation of having to put more effort to do the same task. On the other hand, central muscle weakness is an overall exhaustion of the whole body, while peripheral weakness is an exhaustion of individual muscles.

Mental fatigue

Template:Seealso In addition to physical, fatigue also includes mental fatigue, not necessarily including any muscle fatigue. Such a mental fatigue, in turn, can manifest itself both as somnolence (decreased wakefulness) or just as a general decrease of attention, not necessarily including sleepiness. In any case, this can be dangerous when performing tasks that require constant concentration, such as driving a vehicle. For instance, when a person is sufficiently somnolent, he or she may experience microsleeps. However, objective cognitive testing should be done to differentiate the neurocognitive deficits of brain disease from those attributable to tiredness.

References

Template:WH Template:WS

Pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M.Umer Tariq [2]

Overview

Pathophysiology

The sense of fatigue is believed to originate in the reticular activating system of the lower brain. Musculoskeletal structures may have co-evolved with appropriate brain structures so that the complete unit functions together in a constructive and adaptive fashion.[1] The entire systems of muscles, joints, and proprioceptive and kinesthetic functions plus parts of the brain evolve and function together in a unitary way.[2]

References

  1. Edelman, Gerald Maurice (1989). The remembered present: a biological theory of consciousness. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-06910-X.
  2. Kelso, J. A. Scott (1995). Dynamic patterns: the self-organization of brain and behavior. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-61131-7.

Template:WH Template:WS

Causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M.Umer Tariq [2] Kiran Singh, M.D. [3]

Overview

Life threatening causes of fatigue include cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure, and myocardial infarction. Other common causes of fatigue include allergic rhinitis, anxiety, and depression.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular Amyloidosis, angina pectoris, aortic stenosis, asymmetric septal hypertrophy, atrial fibrillation, atrial myxoma, Austrian syndrome, bacterial endocarditis, Barth syndrome, calcium deficiency, cardiac amyloidosis, cardiac malformation, cardiogenic shock, central sleep apnea, cerebrovascular arteriosclerosis, cholesterol pericarditis, congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, constrictive pericarditis, constrictive pericarditis, coronary artery disease, coronary artery disease, coronary artery fistula, coronary artery fistula, decreased oxygen saturation, dilated cardiomyopathy, double outlet right ventricle, Dressler syndrome, Ebstein’s anomaly, endocarditis, giant cell arteritis, heart block , hypertensive heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypotension, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, infective endocarditis, mitral stenosis, mitral valve prolapse, myocardial infarction, pericardial constriction, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, sick sinus syndrome, subacute bacterial endocarditis, tricuspid regurgitation, trifascicular block, ventricular septal defect, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Chemical / poisoning 1,3-Dichloropropene, amidithion, antifreeze, azinfosethyl, azinophos-methyl, azothoate, bifenthrin, bioallethrin, biphenyl, brodifacoum, bromadiolone, bromophos, cadmium, cadusafos, carbon monoxide poisoning, carbophenothion, chemical pneumonia, chlorfenvinphos, chlorinated naphthalene, chloromethane, chlorophacinone rodenticide poisoning, chloropyrifos, ciguatera, ciguatera, coumachlor rodenticide poisoning, coumafuryl rodenticide poisoning, coumatetralyl rodenticide poisoning, cyanthoate , cyclohexanone, cyclohexylamine, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, demeton, difenacoum rodenticide poisoning, demeton-methyl, difethialone rodenticide poisoning, dimethoate, endothion, ethion, ethoate-methyl, ethoprophos, ethyl-guthion, ethylbenzene, ethylene, etrimfos, fenchlorphos, fenitrothion, fenthion, fenvalerate, finale rodenticide poisoning, flocoumafen rodenticide poisoning , folgorat rodenticide poisoning , fonophos, formothion, foxglove poisoning, guthion (ethyl), havoc rodenticide poisoning, heavy metal poisoning, lead, monocrotophos, naphthalene, silicosis
Dermatologic Dermatomyositis, erysipelas, erythema chronicum migrans, essential thrombocytopenia, pityriasis rosea
Drug Side Effect Acetaminophen, aciclovir, adderall, aldesleukin, alprazolam, altretamine, amikacin Sulfate Injection, amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide, amiton, amlodipine and benazepril, aprepitant, auranofin, azelastine, barbiturate, betablockers, bezafibrate, botulinum toxin, bromopride, busulfan, carboplatin, carfilzomib, carmustine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, carboplatin, caspofungin acetate, cerivastatin, chlorambucil, chloropyramine, citalopram, citrulline, cladribine, clobenzorex, clomipramine, clonidine, crizotinib, cyclobenzaprine, cytarabine , dacarbazine, dantrolene oral, daunorubicin, delavirdine, denileukin diftitox, depo-provera, desloratadine, desmopressin, dexedrine overdose , dextromethorphan hydrobromide, diborane, diflunisal, dobutamine hydrochloride Injection, docetaxel, doxepin, doxorubicin, duloxetine, ecallantide, efavirenz, emtricitabine, eliglustat, eslicarbazepine acetate, etoposide, exemestane, ezetimibe/simvastatin, febuxostat, fenofibrate, floxuridine, fluconazole Injection, eltrombopag, enzalutamide, eribulin, fludarabine phosphate, fluorouracil, gemcitabine Hydrochloride, gentamicin Sulfate Injection, grifulvin V, griseofulvin, guanfacine, antihistamine, histrelin, Ibrutinib, Idarubicin, Ifosfamide, Imiglucerase, Imiquimod, Indapamide, Interferon alfa-2a and alfa-2b Injection, Interferon alfa 2b, Interferon-gamma, Interferon Gamma-1b Injection, Ipilimumab, Itraconazole, Ivermectin, Ixabepilone, labetalol, lamivudine, lamotrigine, lapatinib, lenalidomide, letrozole, levetiracetam, levocetirizine, levonorgestrel, levothyroxine, leuprolide, lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide, lorcaserin, lomustine, loperamide, loratadine, maprotiline, mechlorethamine, medroxyprogesterone, melatonin, meloxicam, mercaptopurine, meropenem Injection, mesna, methotrexate Injection, metoclopramide hydrochloride Injection, mifepristone, mitomycin, molybdenum, moxonidine, mycophenolic acid, nadolol, natalizumab, nebivolol, nitrazepam, oprelvekin, Oxaliplatin, Oxcarbazepine, Paclitaxel, Palbociclib, Panitumumab, Pantothenic acid, Pasireotide, pazopanib hydrochloride, Pegaspargase, pegylated interferon alfa-2a, pentamidine Inhalation, pentostatin, perampanel, perindopril, pertuzumab, phenelzine, pilocarpine, pirfenidone, plerixafor, plicamycin, praziquantel, procarbazine, progesterone, promethazine, potassium Iodide, quazepam, quinapril, quinidine oral, radafaxine, ramelteon, reserpine, rifabutin, rilmenidine,rilpivirine, ritonavir, rizatriptan, romiplostim, rufinamide, sargramostim Injection, sipuleucel-T, streptozocin, sumatriptan, sunitinib, temozolomide, teniposide, terazosin, thalidomide, thiabendazole, thiazide, thioguanine, thiotepa, tinidazole, tobramycin sulfate Injection, topiramate, topotecan hydrochloride, torsemide Injection, torsemide oral, tralomethrin, trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide, trandolapril, trastuzumab, trazodone, trepanation, trestolone, triazolam, trimetrexate glucuronate, trovafloxacin, valaciclovir, valproic Acid, venlafaxine, vandetanib, vicodin, vigabatrin, vinblastine, vinorelbine Tartrate, vorinostat, zalcitabine, zidovudine Injection, zileuton, zoledronate, zopiclone
Ear Nose Throat Acute viral nasopharyngitis (common cold), sinusitis, Cogan syndrome, deafness , decompression sickness
Endocrine Acromegaly , Addison’s disease, adrenal cancer, adrenal crisis, adrenal gland hyperfunction, adrenal gland hypofunction, adrenal incidentaloma, adrenal insufficiency , adrenal metastases, adrenocortical insufficiency, amyloidosis, andropause, anorexia nervosa, calcium deficiency, conn’s syndrome, cushing’s disease, Depo-Provera, diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, emergency contraception, empty sella syndrome, glucocorticoid resistance, Graves’ Disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypogonadism, hypopituitarism, hypothyroidism
Environmental No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic Accessory pancreas, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, anorexia nervosa, ascites, autoimmune hepatitis, Baber’s syndrome, biliary cirrhosis, blastocystosis, brainerd diarrhea, carnitine palmitoyl transferase deficiency , celiac disease, cholestasis, cholestasis disease of pregnancy, chronic liver disease, chronic pancreatitis, cirrhosis, collagenous colitis, colorectal cancer, colorectal polyps, crohn’s disease, diarrhea, dientamoebiasis, diverticular disease, duodenal ulcer, food allergy, gastric dumping syndrome, gastric lymphoma, gastric ulcer, gastrinoma, gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, glycogen storage disease, hepatitis , hepatitis A, hepatitis C, Inflammatory bowel disease, Irritable bowel syndrome, pseudomembranous colitis, ulcerative colitis
Genetic Adrenoleukodystrophy , Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, Bare lymphocyte syndrome , Barth syndrome, Becker’s muscular dystrophy, calcification of basal ganglia, cancer syndrome, cardiac malformation, carnitine palmitoyl transferase deficiency , celiac disease, connective tissue disease, crohn’s disease, Down’s syndrome , Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome,Engelmann syndrome, epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica, epiphyseal dysplasia, multiple, Fabry’s disease, Fairbanks disease, Fanconi’s anemia,Friedreich ataxia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, Marfan syndrome, myoadenylate deaminase deficiency
Hematologic Acute erythroleukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, anemia, angiofollicular ganglionic hyperplasia, aplastic anemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, B12 deficiency, blast crisis, blood transfusion, chloroma, chronic myelogenous leukemia, chronic neutrophilic leukemia, cyclic neutropenia, erythroblastopenia, essential thrombocytopenia, extramedullary myeloid tumor, Fanconi’s anemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, hairy cell leukemia, hemochromatosis, hemolytic anemia, hemolytic uremic syndrome, hereditary elliptocytosis, hereditary spherocytosis, leukemia, megaloblastic anemia, methemoglobinemia, polycythemia vera, sickle-cell disease
Iatrogenic Blood transfusion, radiation poisoning
Infectious Disease Acute viral nasopharyngitis (common cold), African trypanosomiasis, AIDS, anthrax, arenavirus , babesiosis , bacterial endocarditis bacterial pneumonia, blastocystosis, blastomycosis, botulism, brain abscess, brucellosis, chemical pneumonia,cladosporium,coccidioidomycosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, croup, cyclosporiasis, cytomegalic inclusion body disease, cytomegalovirus, diarrhea, dientamoebiasis, diphtheria, ebola hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis, encephalitis lethargica, endocarditis, entamoeba histolytica, enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, erythema chronicum migrans , flea-borne diseases, flu, food poisoning , Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Helicobacter pylori infection, helminthiasis , Hemophilus influenzae b, hepatitis, hepatitis A, hepatitis C, herpes simplex virus, HIV, hookworm, Infectious mononucleosis, Influenza, Kikuchi disease, lassa fever, Lyme disease, Marburg hemorrhagic fever, mycobacterium avium complex infection, Neisseria meningitidis,phlegmon, post-polio syndrome, post-viral fatigue syndrome, rhinovirus, schistosomiasis, syphillis, tuberculosis, tularemia, viral hemorrhagic fever
Musculoskeletal / Ortho Acrocephaly, ankylosing spondylitis, Barth syndrome, Becker’s muscular dystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Engelmann syndrome, Fairbanks disease, osteitis fibrosa cystica, osteomalacia, osteomyelitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, Still’s disease
Neurologic Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, African trypanosomiasis, aging brain syndrome, air embolism, airsickness, altitude sickness, alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Arnold-Chiari malformation, Austrian syndrome, autonomic dysfunction, B12 deficiency, benign fasciculation syndrome,Berry aneurysm,brain abscess, brain injury, brain tumor, brain stem glioma,botulism, calcification of basal ganglia,chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, chronic mountain sickness, chronic wasting disease, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, decompression sickness, dementia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy,encephalomyelitis,empty sella syndrome, encephalitis lethargica, encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, Friedreich ataxia, migraine, multiple sclerosis, neuroglycopenia, neuromuscular weakness, Parkinson’s disease, post-concussion syndrome, Hemophilus influenzae b, motion sickness
Nutritional / Metabolic B12 Deficiency, Gaucher’s disease, low-carbohydrate diet, milk-alkali syndrome, mushroom poisoning, pernicious anemia, pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, short bowel syndrome, vitamin C megadosage, adrenoleukodystrophy, Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy, celiac disease, chronic vitamin A toxicity, dehydration, food poisoning, glycogen storage disease, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia
Obstetric/Gynecologic Cervical cancer, cholestasis disease of pregnancy , depo provera, eclampsia, emergency contraception, gestational diabetes, endometriosis, ovarian cancer, ovarian cyst, perimenopause, Sheehan’s Syndrome
Oncologic Adrenal metastases, acute erythroleukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, acute non lymphoblastic leukemia, adiposis dolorosa, adrenal cancer, adrenal incidentaloma, adrenal metastases, cancer Syndrome, angiosarcoma , Hodgkin’s lymphoma, mesothelioma, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic Syndrome, myleofibrosis, neuroblastoma
Opthalmologic Cogan syndrome, Tolosa-Hunt syndrome
Overdose / Toxicity Barbiturate, hydrogen sulfide, hypervitaminosis D, satratoxin-H
Psychiatric Addiction , anorexia Nervosa, anxiety disorder, bulimia nervosa, conversion disorder, Da Costa’s syndrome, diabulimia, dysthymia , emotional disorders , emotional exhaustion, excessive daytime sleepiness, excessive dieting , grief , major depression, postnatal depression, psychosomatic illness, sick building syndrome, sleep disorder
Pulmonary Acute viral nasopharyngitis (common cold), acute bronchitis, air embolism, allergic rhinitis, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, altitude sickness, alveolitis, asthma, Austrian syndrome, bacterial pneumonia, bagassosis, bird flu, bronchiolitis, bronchiolitis obliterans , bronchitis, bronchogenic carcinoma, central sleep apnea, chemical pneumonia, chemical worker’s lung, chronic berylliosis, chronic bronchitis, chronic mountain sickness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, croup, decompression sickness, decreased oxygen saturation, emphysema, emphysema, exercise-induced asthma, exogenous lipoid pneumonia, fibrosing alveolitis, hemophilus influenzae b, hemosiderosis, lower respiratory tract infection, lung cancer, pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension, respiratory acidosis, upper airway resistance syndrome
Renal / Electrolyte Analgesic nephropathy syndrome, azotemia, Baber’s syndrome, Bright’s disease, Burnett’s milk drinker’s syndrome, Calcium deficiency,chronic pyelonephritis, chronic renal failure, Cope’s syndrome, dehydration, diabetes insipidus, dilutional hyponatremia, Gitelman syndrome, glomerulonephritis, Goodpasture syndrome, hemolytic uremic syndrome, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, Interstitial nephritis, polycystic kidney disease, urinary tract infection
Rheum / Immune / Allergy AIDS, allergic rhinitis, amyloidosis, angiofollicular ganglionic hyperplasia, ankylosing spondylitis, autoimmune disease, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, autoimmune hepatitis, Bare lymphocyte syndrome, chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, crohn’s disease, dermatomyositis , eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, Evans syndrome, Felty’s syndrome, food allergy, Goodpasture syndrome, hay fever,myasthenia gravis, myofascial pain syndrome, panniculitis, polyarteritis nodosa, polymyositis, primary biliary cirrhosis, sarcoidosis, Sjogren’s Syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, Takayasu’s arteritis, Wegener’s granulomatosis
Sexual Acute prostatitis, andropause
Trauma Brain injury
Urologic Bladder cancer
Miscellaneous Fever, hangover, hypermobility, sleep deprivation, SSRI discontinuation syndrome, chronic pain, deconditioning, glaze , heat exhaustion

Causes in Alphabetical Order

The unnamed parameter 2= is no longer supported. Please see the documentation for {{columns-list}}.
4

References

Template:WH Template:WS

Risk Factors

Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.

References

Template:WH Template:WS

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Laboratory Findings | Electrocardiogram | Chest X Ray | Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Treatment

Medical Therapy | Surgery | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case Studies

Case #1

Related Chapters

Template:WH Template:WS

Looking for the patient version?

Back to the patient-friendly article

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH