Are you just tired or is it chronic fatigue syndrome? Doctor shares 5 warning signs to know

Feeling tired after a hectic day or a poor night’s sleep is completely normal. But when it's all the time, overwhelming and even begins to disrupt your daily life after sufficient sleep, it might be a more serious problem than a plain case of tiredness.

Constant fatigue is a sign that often shows the body that there is a problem, a physical or psychological problem that needs to be addressed, health experts say. Often chronic exhaustion becomes more and more apparent and is associated with a range of chronic stress, inflammation, hormonal imbalance, poor sleep quality, nutritional deficiencies, immune dysfunction, or medical conditions including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) (also referred to as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS)).

The key symptoms you need to note

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a long-term and complex disorder which affects both physical and mental functioning and unlike normal tiredness does not get better when you rest. It may take a significant toll on a person's capacity to engage in everyday tasks and could leave them feeling exhausted with little exertion. One of the earliest and most significant warning signs is a failure to improve after a good night's rest, according to the experts.

Those with chronic fatigue may find that they can not always fall asleep for several hours and wake up feeling tired. The body remains weak, heavy and drained all day long and not able to perform normally. Many patients have reported that the fatigue is “debilitating” and that the body seems to be running on empty all the time.Another key warning sign is the reduced endurance in regular activities. Small activities that were previously easy will now seem physically demanding.

Walking around, carrying groceries, meeting, or doing housework can start to become a challenge. With CFS, anything that places additional strain on the system can cause a dramatic exacerbation of symptoms, called Post-exertional malaise. This would indicate that following the physical exertion, any mental work and/or emotional stress, the body could take hours or even days to recover.

This slow recovery is one of the hallmarks of chronic fatigue disorders and needs to be taken seriously, experts say.Constant fatigue also impacts the mind's ability to function and think clearly. The “brain fog” is a common symptom of chronic fatigue. This can involve problems with concentration, memory loss, slower thinking, poor focus, confusion or processing information. Tasks like reading, processing emails, participating in conversations or making decisions can start to become overwhelming. Experts say this mental fatigue can be as troublesome as the physical symptoms, and impact work productivity, academic performance and emotional and social wellbeing.Many people experience flu-like symptoms as well as mental fatigue and concentration problems, and physical symptoms like body aches, headaches, muscle pain, and flu-like symptoms. These symptoms are thought to be caused by continuous inflammation and immune system abnormalities. Others get a continuous feeling of heaviness throughout their bodies, stiff joints, a sore throat, tender lymph glands or a recurrent headache with no apparent cause.

Sometimes chronic fatigue can be confused with or coexist with other chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid conditions, viral infections, and other autoimmune disorders, so it is important to get a medical evaluation if symptoms last longer than 6 months.Doctors also warn against dismissing a persistent fatigue after weeks or months. However, if you are still feeling exhausted after more than six weeks since you made those changes, this could be a sign of a medical problem.

Constant tiredness may occur because of iron-deficiency anemia, thyroid hormone level changes, diabetes mellitus, vitamin deficiency, sleep disorders, chronic infections and other autoimmune diseases, depression, anxiety.

Sometimes the symptoms are not as severe right after the initial attack and will get worse over time without treatment.Another important factor contributing to chronic exhaustion is long-term stress.

When the body constantly experiences stress for a long period of time from chronic stress, emotional stress, burnout, or even anxiety, such an ongoing “fight or flight” environment causes the body to produce these stress hormones for long periods of time. This can lead to an imbalance in sleep patterns, inflammation, lowered immunity, a compromised digestive system, hormone imbalance and fatigue.

With time, chronic stress can be a significant cause of chronic fatigue and symptoms associated with burnout.Treatment varies depending upon the underlying cause but some lifestyle adjustments may be beneficial in supporting recovery and enhancing wellbeing, according to experts. Routine sleep habits, a balanced anti-inflammatory diet, plenty of water, meditation and deep breathing, mild exercise and exposure to sunlight can all help to boost energy levels naturally. Decreased screen time, processed foods, caffeine, and stress can also alleviate the strain on the body.Fatigue is not a lack of motivation or laziness, but rather a medical condition that can be caused by many factors, particularly when it is persistent and is starting to impact on quality of life, health experts say. In most instances, ongoing fatigue is a body indicator that something deeper needs to be addressed. Early detection of the signs and symptoms and seeking medical advice early can lead to earlier identification of underlying health problems, better recovery and a reduction in long-term complications.Dr. Pooja Belani, Rheumatologist, Bhailal Amin General Hospital, Vadodara