Fatigue during the day can drain you and make it difficult to get through even the simplest of tasks. Recurrent fatigue can affect your job or personal life. Most cases of fatigue are temporary and are caused from the body trying to slow down and rejuvenate itself. The solutions for fatigue are generally straightforward, but consult with your doctor to determine whether it is an indication of a more serious condition.
Symptoms
Just before you go to bed, your body will signal signs of fatigue to your brain to let you know you should rest. During the day, this could be a signal that you should take a nap to rejuvenate yourself. Feelings of tiredness, low energy and exhaustion are triggers that you should get some rest. You may feel completely worn down and your muscles will begin to relax or weaken. Lethargy may also be a symptom. Lethargy occurs when you are over tired or exhausted. You can act sluggish and have difficulty concentrating on the task at hand. It may be difficult to stay awake, focus and engage in certain tasks.
Causes
Most fatigue is a normal human response to needing more rest. In some cases it could be caused by illness. Mononucleosis or the Epstein Barr Virus can cause fatigue during the day, explains MayoClinic.com. Fatigue is one of its main symptoms along with sore throat, weakness, fever and enlarged spleen. Fatigue during the day may also be an indication of chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition in which tiredness and weakness is so overwhelming, it is almost impossible for you to complete daily tasks. In rare cases, certain forms of cancer can cause extreme fatigue during the day, even after hours of rest.
Tips and Solution
Fight back daytime fatigue by getting plenty of rest at night. Helpguide suggests that adults over the age of 18 should get between 7.5 and 9 hours of sleep nightly. If you find yourself unable to sleep at night, you can substitute with small naps during the day -- especially if you are experiencing day time fatigue. Bering tired during the day may also be from not drinking enough water. Make sure you drink up to eight 8-oz. glasses of a water per day to prevent dehydration and fatigue. Regular exercise can also help with daytime fatigue. Try to get in 30 minute of exercise each day at least 5 days a week.
Precaution
If you are experiencing fatigue on a frequent basis and it is affecting your day to day living, you may want to see your medical doctor to rule out an underlying medical condition. Sometimes extreme fatigue can be an indication of cardiovascular problems or a problem with your endocrine system, such as an under-active thyroid, explains The Hormone Foundation. Never drive or operate machinery if you are extremely tired; the effects can be devastating and put you and others in danger.
