Fatiga

Consideraciones clave

• Fatigue is a feeling of extreme exhaustion or tiredness.
• You can feel physical, mental or emotional fatigue. Each type affects you in different ways.
• Lifestyle factors can cause fatigue, or it could be a sign of an illness.
• Healthy lifestyle changes and treating any medical cause can help with fatigue.

Resumen

¿Qué es la fatiga?

Fatigue is when you feel tired all the time even when you get plenty of rest and sleep. Everyone feels tired sometimes, but fatigue is an extreme tiredness that does not go away. Fatigue can make it difficult to get out of bed, do your daily activities and perform well at work. Some people with fatigue want to sleep during the day, but often sleep does not get rid of their tiredness.

Other names for fatigue

Exhaustion, lethargy, tiredness

What are the different types of fatigue?

There are different types of fatigue based on how and what you are feeling. Some common types of fatigue include:

• Physical — Physical fatigue is when your body is exhausted. You can struggle doing physical tasks such as walking up stairs. With physical fatigue, you can experience muscle stiffness or tired limbs.
• Mental — Mental fatigue makes thinking tasks difficult. You may have trouble concentrating or processing information.
• Emotional — Emotional fatigue is feeling emotionally drained or exhausted. This is often due to stressful life events.

The symptoms of mental and emotional fatigue can overlap. Some people have physical, emotional and mental fatigue together.

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Posibles causas

What can cause fatigue?

Fatigue can be caused by lack of sleep, an unhealthy diet or drinking too much alcohol. Sometimes you know the reason for feeling exhausted, such as a stressful event, while other times your fatigue may be caused by an undiagnosed health condition.

Some common causes of fatigue can be related to your mental health or other health conditions.

Mental health-related causes

Some of these mental health conditions can cause fatigue:

• Depresión
• Ansiedad
• Estrés
• Bereavement and grief
• Trastornos alimenticios
• Emotional exhaustion or burnout
• Life events, such as moving or getting a divorce

Other causes

Fatigue can also be a symptom of some of these health conditions:

• Diabetes
• Metabolic myopathies
• Trastorno del sueño
• Autoimmune disorders such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
• Thyroid conditions
• Embarazo

Some medications can also cause fatigue. Tell your provider if you think your medication is causing fatigue. They can help you manage your symptoms.

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Tratamiento y control

How can fatigue be treated?

You can improve acute (short-term) fatigue with some of the following lifestyle changes:

• Eat a healthy diet
• Try to get at least 7 - 9 hours of sleep a night
• Manage stress
• Exercise routinely
• Work with a provider to treat any underlying health conditions causing your fatigue

Chronic fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome is when you have fatigue for many months. It is important to work with a health care provider to determine the cause of your fatigue so that it can be treated appropriately. MinuteClinic ofrece una variedad de servicios que pueden ayudar con el diagnóstico y tratamiento.

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Cuándo buscar atención médica

Go to the hospital or call 911 if you have fatigue and:

• Dolor de pecho.
• Falta de aliento.
• A pounding, irregular or fast heartbeat.
• You feel faint or experience fainting.
• Severe pain in your pelvis, stomach or back.
• Thoughts of harming yourself or others.

Llame a su proveedor si:

• Your fatigue lasts longer than a few days.
• Your fatigue feels sudden or if the cause is unclear.
• You have sudden weight loss or weight gain.
• You are 65 years old or older.
• You are struggling to work or perform daily tasks.

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Este material es solo para consulta y no debe usarse para determinar el tratamiento de afecciones específicas.

Visite un proveedor de atención médica por evaluación, diagnóstico y tratamiento de cualquier síntoma que pueda tener. Si tiene una emergencia médica, marque el 911 o visite su Departamento de Emergencia local.

Referencias usadas como fuentes para esta página

1. What causes fatigue, and how can I treat it? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248002. Via Medical News Today. (Accessed March 2023).
2. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20360490. via Mayo Clinic. (Accessed on March 2023).
3. Fatigue https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21206-fatigue. via Cleveland Clinic. (Accessed on March 2023).

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