The team at
MyDoc Urgent Care provides New York residents of all ages the highest quality
immediate care services available from locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Forest Hills, and East Meadow. Read what they say about chronic fatigue, what causes it, and the treatments that can help.
Understanding chronic fatigue
Fatigue is more than the drowsiness you may experience before your first cup of coffee. Instead, fatigue is an extreme sense of weariness that can make it difficult to get out of bed at all.
Many people with fatigue also experience:
- Depression
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Muscle weakness and pain
- Anxiety
- Malaise (overall sense of ill health)
- Lack of motivation
- Joint stiffness
Fatigue may be temporary or, if it lasts six months or longer, become a chronic condition that severely disrupts your daily life.
What causes chronic fatigue?
Causes of fatigue include:
Lifestyle habits
Poor nutrition, stressful work or home life, excessive alcohol or drug use, and lack of physical activity can all cause or contribute to fatigue.
Medical conditions
Numerous chronic diseases and vitamin or mineral deficiencies can cause fatigue, including:
- Anemia
- Heart failure
- Kidney disease
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune disorders
- Hormonal imbalances such as hypothyroidism
- Poorly managed allergies
Certain medications, such as those used to treat hypertension, can also cause fatigue. Many viruses also trigger fatigue that may persist for several weeks following the illness.
Sleep disorders
Sleep apnea and insomnia are common sleep disorders that can cause long-term or chronic fatigue.
What is chronic fatigue syndrome?
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex disorder causing extreme fatigue lasting for six months or longer that isn’t related to an underlying condition. Symptoms accompanying CFS can vary daily and may include headaches, sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes, and dizziness.
The causes of CFS are unclear, but many
researchers suspect depression, viral infections, or other undiagnosed chronic conditions may play a role.
How do you treat chronic fatigue?
Treatment for chronic fatigue depends on the cause. Your MyDoc Urgent Care provider starts with a comprehensive evaluation that includes a careful review of your medical history, discussion of your symptoms, medication assessment, and physical exam.
Depending on those results, you may need diagnostic lab studies such as urinalysis and blood work to check for hidden infections or deficiencies that indicate a problem with your nutrition or overall health status. For your convenience, our MyDoc Urgent Care facilities offer comprehensive lab services.
You may also benefit from a sleep study, allergy testing, or referral to a cardiologist or other specialist.
Don’t ignore fatigue that’s making it hard to get through your day. Instead, take advantage of the walk-in services or
same-day doctor visits available at MyDoc Urgent Care. We are here to help.
