While everyone gets tired now and then, chronic or excessive daytime fatigue may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. In some cases, it my be your only warning sign. If you are experiencing fatigue that interrupts your ability to work and do daily tasks, or puts you at risk for an accident, talk to your doctor to help determine the cause of your daytime fatigue. Your doctor can help you form a treatment plan to manage your symptoms.
Insomnia
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) states that the definition of insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. You may often wake up not feeling refreshed. If this lasts for longer than a month, your insomnia is considered chronic. Chronic insomnia can occur due to stress, changes in personal or work schedules, or an underlying disease. If you have allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a heart condition, thyroid problems, restless leg syndrome, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or depression, you may also develop insomnia. Many medications can also inhibit your ability to sleep.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of daytime fatigue, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Sleep apnea is a condition where you temporarily stop breathing during the night. Either soft tissue in the back of the throat blocks your airways, or your brain fails to signal you to take a breath while you are sleeping. This can happen once or hundreds of times each night. Your sleep is disrupted because your brain sends signals to wake you up so you start breathing again. If no one else witnesses your sleep apnea, you may be completely unaware that it is happening to you. Persistent daytime fatigue may lead your physician to test you for sleep apnea, which can be done through a simple sleep study.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if you have unexplained profound fatigue for at least six months, you may have chronic fatigue syndrome. To date (2010), there is no known cause or cure for this condition and no specific laboratory tests that can help to diagnose it. Much more research is needed to understand why and how this condition occurs. Your physician will look for symptoms such as incapacitating fatigue, weakness, memory problems, general muscle aches, cold- or flu-like symptoms, and the inability to get a refreshing night's sleep. Along with taking a history of your symptoms, your physician will need to run tests to rule out other possible causes for your symptoms, and will then work with you to develop a treatment plan.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy happens when your brain cannot control your sleep and wake cycles properly. This condition can cause you to abruptly fall asleep for seconds or minutes at various times during the day. Narcolepsy causes excessive daytime sleepiness, a temporary loss of muscle tone or paralysis, feeling strong emotions, and having vivid dreams or hallucinations right before or right after falling asleep. There is currently no known cause or cure for this condition; however, there are medications that may help. Since a history of symptoms and a sleep study are the only ways to properly diagnose this condition, you may go for years without a proper diagnosis.
