It’s easy to blame exhaustion on a packed schedule, late nights, or a stressful week at work. But when tiredness becomes your default setting and starts getting in the way of everyday life, it may be time to look closer. As reported by The Independent, clinicians say the key is figuring out whether you’re dealing with ordinary fatigue or something that deserves medical attention. The difference often comes down to how long it lasts, how intense it feels, and what other symptoms show up alongside it.
Dr. Angela Rai, a GP at The London General Practice, notes that fatigue is one of the most common complaints in routine care. Feeling worn out now and then is part of life, yet it can also signal an underlying issue. She points to basics like poor sleep, dehydration, and ongoing stress, but she also emphasizes that medical causes are common and worth ruling out. A doctor visit can help you sort through what’s normal for you and what isn’t.
One important distinction is between everyday tiredness and chronic fatigue linked to myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as ME or chronic fatigue syndrome. Rai explains that ME tends to be longer lasting and comes with additional problems, not just low energy. People may struggle with insomnia and find it harder to think clearly, concentrate, or remember things. Some also experience flu-like symptoms, fever, headaches, and muscle or joint pain, which can make the condition difficult to ignore and tricky to diagnose.
To get to the bottom of persistent fatigue, Rai says it’s crucial to run appropriate tests, and a simple blood test can identify many common causes. Iron deficiency anemia is one of the big ones, especially for women with heavy periods, and it can often be confirmed quickly and treated with iron. Another frequent culprit is an underactive thyroid, when the body produces too little thyroid hormone and metabolism slows down, leading to fatigue along with symptoms like weight gain, constipation, and feeling unusually cold.
Blood sugar issues can also be part of the picture. Rai describes diabetes as a metabolic condition where blood sugar stays high over time, which can bring fatigue along with increased thirst and more frequent urination. Viral illnesses can linger too, including infectious mononucleosis, often called glandular fever, where initial symptoms may pass in a few weeks but tiredness can hang around for much longer. Sleep matters as well, and obstructive sleep apnea is a breathing problem during sleep that may show up as loud snoring, gasping awakenings, pauses in breathing noticed by others, and daytime sleepiness.
Finally, don’t overlook nutrient deficiencies and mental health. Low vitamin B12 or folate can cause extreme fatigue and neurological symptoms like tingling, and Rai stresses that diagnosing and treating these early is important. Depression and anxiety can disrupt sleep and drain energy, and approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy may help when a mood disorder is part of the problem. If you’ve been running on empty for weeks or months, especially with new symptoms, it’s worth getting checked rather than pushing through.
Have you ever traced your fatigue back to a surprising cause, or are you still trying to figure it out? Share your experience and what helped in the comments.
