🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 142 (from laksa077)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa142.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue","crawl_time":1777163853,"first_indexed_time":1552311786,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"info,patient!\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue s443","src_root_hash":"3361025486351115142","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Tiredness (Fatigue): Causes, Tests, and Treatment","meta_descriptions":["Tiredness, or fatigue, means having less energy than usual. People feel exhausted: mentally, physically or both. Written by a GP."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Everyone experiences tiredness (fatigue) from time to time. Tiredness that drags on for no apparent reason can be very difficult and it's an extremely common symptom.\nOne UK survey of over 15,000 people found that 10-18% reported tiredness that lasted for one month or longer, and a study looking at GP databases found that 1.5 in 100 people see their doctor about new tiredness every year. It's so common that doctors have an acronym for it - TATT which means \"tired all the time\".\nPhysical causes of tiredness\nTiredness may be due to a wide range of physical illnesses. Examples include:\nA low iron level (\nanaemia\n).\nAn underactive thyroid gland (\nhypothyroidism\n).\nDiabetes\nthat is not well controlled.\nHeart failure\n.\nCancer\nChest illnesses (including\nasthma\nand\nchronic obstructive pulmonary disease\n).\nAddison's disease\n.\nProblems with absorbing nutrients (for example,\ncoeliac disease\n).\nVitamin D deficiency\n.\nPregnancy\n.\nGlandular fever\n.\nChronic fatigue syndrome.\nConditions affecting the quality of sleep, such as pain, obstructive sleep apnoea, menopausal hot flushes, anxiety or an enlarged prostate resulting in needing to get up to pass urine multiple times a night.\nSide-effects of some medicines (for example,\nbeta-blockers\n,  some painkillers, some antidepressants).\nMost physical causes of tiredness will also cause other symptoms, such as weight loss or gain, or shortness of breath, but some causes of tiredness may not cause any other symptoms.\nPsychological causes of tiredness\nTiredness that cannot be explained by any physical problem is much more common than tiredness that can. Both\nanxiety\nand\ndepression\ncan cause significant tiredness.\nEating disorders\ncan also cause tiredness. Any cause of a\nsleep problem\nwill also cause tiredness during the day.\nStress\nis a common cause of tiredness, either because it interferes with sleep or because of the effect of having constant high levels of stress and worry. Causes of stress may include bereavement, stress at work and relationship problems including domestic violence.\nBoredom may also cause tiredness.\nLifestyle causes of tiredness\nTiredness is often caused by lifestyle. Lifestyle causes of tiredness include:\nDrinking too much alcohol\n.\nHaving an unhealthy, unbalanced diet\n, including eating too many ultra-processed foods.\nWorking very hard with little down-time.\nHaving young children.\nTaking\nrecreational drugs\n.\nExcessive exercise or total lack of exercise.\nWorking night shifts, which may lead to a poor sleep pattern and result in tiredness.\nBig life events such as getting married or moving house.\nIn most cases no specific cause for tiredness is found.\nIf tiredness is persisting or if it is associated with other symptoms, medical advice should be sought in order to see if there is an underlying cause. The clinician will need to ask some questions and may arrange an examination and some blood tests.\nQuestions you may be asked\nThese are to help give some clues about the cause of the tiredness, and may include:\nDo you have any other symptoms?\nSleep: Do you sleep well? Is your sleep interrupted? Do you snore? Has your partner noticed any changes to your breathing at night?\nMood: Do you feel low, or more worried than usual? Are you under any stress? You may be asked to complete a specific questionnaire about your mood.\nHas your weight changed?\nDo you have heavy periods?\nHow much alcohol do you drink?\nAre you on any medication?\nDo you eat a healthy diet?\nCan you remember when this started? Did it start suddenly and can you date it from a particular date, event, holiday or illness? Or did it come on more gradually?\nHow is the tiredness affecting you in your everyday life?\nThe doctor may examine you\nThe clinician may check weight and height, if it seems relevant. Depending on the answers to the questions, they may think it relevant to:\nCheck\nlymph glands\nto see if they are enlarged.\nCheck the thyroid gland to see if it is enlarged.\nLook at the eyes to see if there is evidence of anaemia.\nListen to the chest and feel the abdomen.\nCheck the joints for swelling or inflammation.\nCheck the strength of arms and\/or legs.\nAsk for a sample of urine to check for sugar (for diabetes), protein or infection.\nBlood tests for tiredness\nBlood tests are often suggested to rule out physical causes of the tiredness. In most cases these turn out to be normal. This might include tests to rule out:\nLow iron levels (anaemia).\nLow thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)\n.\nDiabetes.\nVitamin deficiencies such as\nB12,\nfolate or vitamin D.\nCoeliac disease.\nAny inflammation.\nAny problems with the function of the liver or kidneys.\nSpecific infections, such as glandular fever.\nOther tests\nUsually no other tests are needed but, if specific medical conditions are suspected, other tests such as a\nchest X-ray\nmight be necessary.\nThere is no need to seek medical advice if the cause of the tiredness is obvious but if it persists, despite making appropriate lifestyle changes, then it is sensible to request a medical opinion.\nSymptoms which make it more important to seek medical advice include tiredness in addition to:\nWeight loss, without trying to lose weight.\nA change in bowel habit.\nA new persistent cough (lasting more than 3 weeks) or coughing up blood.\nHeavy periods.\nNight sweats.\nUnexplained or excessive bruising.\nPersistent tummy bloating.\nUnexplained lumps.\nNew unexplained pain.\nThere is no specific treatment for tiredness. The secret is to try to narrow down the cause and then do something about that.\nExercise as a treatment\nIt may seem bizarre, but exercise or physical activity can actually be remarkably effective for treating tiredness. Any moderate exercise, such as walking, swimming or cycling, can help reduce tiredness.\nRegular exercise\nis also an excellent way to stay healthy.\nTry to improve your sleep\nIf you are not sleeping well at night, it is tempting to try to \"make up for this\" by taking naps during the day. This does not help and often results in sleeping less well at night due to the body clock being out of sync. There are lots of ways you can try to improve your sleep when suffering from\ninsomnia\nand this should improve symptoms of tiredness.\nTreatments for medical conditions that cause tiredness\nMedical conditions causing tiredness can usually be treated and this often resolves the tiredness.\nFor example, in anaemia with low iron levels,\niron supplements\ncan be used to treat this and the tiredness will resolve as the blood count increases. However, any underlying cause for the anaemia would need to be found and treated. For example, if it is due to heavy periods, then using medicines to make the periods lighter will help. If there is a suspicion that the anaemia might be due to a serious condition, such as\nbowel cancer\n, then further tests and referral to a specialist would be needed.\nTreatments for medications that cause tiredness\nIf the cause is a side-effect of medication, it may be that this can be changed to something without this side effect.\nTreatments for tiredness caused by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)\nIf symptoms are thought to be due to\nCFS\nthen a referral to a specialist team is sometimes made. This team can make the diagnosis and then help with psychological therapy and medication. This service is not always available everywhere.\nTreatments for tiredness caused by anxiety or depression\nAnxiety or depression can be helped by talking therapy (counselling),\ncognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)\nor medication.\nTreatments for tiredness caused by stress\nIf stress is the cause, it is worth taking the time to think and talk about possible ways to reduce this. Is there something which can be changed? It may be that some things need to be re-prioritised.\nIf work is the stressful problem, it might be possible to change roles, change hours or discuss ways to reduce stress with a manager. If there isn't anything that can be done to change the situation then it might be possible to find things to balance out the stress and improve quality of life. There are a variety of ways to de-stress, such as:\nRegular \"me\" time.\nScheduling some fun events.\nBooking a holiday.\nRegular exercise, ideally something fun such as dancing lessons or a weekly walk with a friend, etc.\nTaking up an enjoyable hobby eg, baking or going to a book club.\nSpending time outdoors eg, going for a walk, gardening, or even just sitting outside.\nThere is no single answer for treatment of tiredness. Even if no cause is found, in most people it settles on its own with time.\nArticle history\nThe information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.\nNext review due: 17 Feb 2028\n18 Feb 2025\n| Latest version\nLast updated by\nPeer reviewed by\nDr Caroline Wiggins, MRCGP\n17 Apr 2014\n| Originally published\nAuthored by:\nDr Rachel Hudson, MRCGP","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/stats.patient.info\/matomo.php?idsite=1&rec=1)\n\n[Skip to main content](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue#content)\n\nSign in\n\nSearch\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n- [Health advice](https:\/\/patient.info\/health)\n- [Medicines and treatment](https:\/\/patient.info\/medicine)\n- [Tools and resources](https:\/\/patient.info\/medical-calculators)\n- [Community](https:\/\/patient.info\/community)\n- [Medical professionals](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor)\n\n- [Health topics Trusted patient information leaflets with clear, clinically reviewed advice on conditions, symptoms and treatments.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - 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###### GP practice services\n    [NHS App](https:\/\/patient.info\/gp-practice-services)\n    \n    [Pharmacy First](https:\/\/patient.info\/pharmacy-first)\n    \n    [Patient Record Access](https:\/\/patient.info\/health\/patient-records-access)\n  \n  [Pharmacy services Help with common conditions under the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, with prescription medication, delivered for free.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Pharmacy First\n    [What is NHS pharmacy first](https:\/\/patient.info\/pharmacy-first)\n    [Shingles](https:\/\/patient.info\/skin-conditions\/shingles-herpes-zoster-leaflet)\n    \n    [Impetigo](https:\/\/patient.info\/childrens-health\/impetigo-leaflet)\n    \n    [Sinusitis](https:\/\/patient.info\/ears-nose-throat-mouth\/acute-sinusitis)\n    \n    [Infected insect bite](https:\/\/patient.info\/skin-conditions\/insect-bites-and-stings-leaflet)\n    \n    [Sore throat](https:\/\/patient.info\/ears-nose-throat-mouth\/sore-throat-2)\n    \n    [UTI](https:\/\/patient.info\/kidney-urinary-tract\/urinary-tract-infections)\n    \n    [Contraception](https:\/\/patient.info\/news-and-features\/easy-ways-to-get-the-pill-options-beyond-the-gp-surgery)\n    \n    [Weight loss treatments](https:\/\/patient.info\/weight-loss-management)\n- [Medical tools and resources Take charge of your health with easy-to-use tools and trusted resources.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Patient tools and resources\n    [All medical calculators, tools and resources](https:\/\/patient.info\/medical-calculators)\n    [Symptom checker](https:\/\/patient.info\/symptom-checker)\n    \n    [AskPatient Ai](https:\/\/patient.info\/ask\/patient)\n    \n    [Personalised digital habit coaching](https:\/\/patient.info\/features\/healthy-living\/building-healthier-habits)\n    \n    [BMI calculator](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/calculate-bmi)\n    \n    [Generalised anxiety disorder assessment](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/mental-health\/gad-7)\n    \n    [Patient health questionnaire](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/mental-health\/phq-9)\n    \n    [Pregnancy due date calculator](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/pregnancy-due-date-calculator)\n    \n    [Ovulation calculator](https:\/\/patient.info\/pregnancy\/ovulation-calculator)\n    \n    [Sleep debt calculator](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/sleep-debt-calculator)\n    \n    [Calorie calculator](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/calorie-calculator)\n    \n    [BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) calculator](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/basal-metabolic-rate-calculator)\n    \n    [Glucose Ketone Index (GKI) calculator](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/glucose-ketone-index-gki-calculator)\n    \n    [Epworth sleepiness scale](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/epworth-sleepiness-scale)\n    \n    [Asthma control test (ACT)](https:\/\/patient.info\/chest-lungs\/asthma-control-test)\n    \n    [Benefits checker](https:\/\/patient.info\/general-health\/benefits-calculator)\n    \n    [PIP helper](https:\/\/patient.info\/general-health\/check-your-personal-independence-payment-pip-eligibility)\n    \n    [Patient.info app](https:\/\/patient.info\/app)\n    \n    [Pollen map](https:\/\/patient.info\/features\/allergies-blood-immune\/pollen-map)\n  \n  [Healthy eating Healthy recipe inspiration for nourishing meals and everyday wellbeing.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Healthy eating\n    [Browse all recipes](https:\/\/patient.info\/recipes)\n    [Balanced nutrition](https:\/\/patient.info\/recipes\/balanced-nutrition-recipes)\n    \n    [Diabetes friendly](https:\/\/patient.info\/recipes\/diabetes-friendly-recipes)\n    \n    [Heart healthy](https:\/\/patient.info\/recipes\/heart-healthy-recipes)\n    \n    [High protein](https:\/\/patient.info\/recipes\/high-protein-recipes)\n    \n    [Low fat](https:\/\/patient.info\/recipes\/low-fat-recipes)\n    \n    [Low sugar](https:\/\/patient.info\/recipes\/low-sugar-recipes)\n    \n    [Vegan](https:\/\/patient.info\/recipes\/vegan-recipes)\n    \n    [Vegetarian](https:\/\/patient.info\/recipes\/vegetarian-recipes)\n  \n  [Health and wellness video library Discover our library of trusted health videos.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Health and wellness video library\n    [All health and wellness videos](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library)\n    \n    [Visit our YouTube channel](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/patient)\n    [Bones, joints and muscles](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library#bones,jointsandmuscles)\n    \n    [Cancer](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library#cancer)\n    \n    [Diabetes](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library#diabetes)\n    \n    [General health and lifestyle](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library#generalhealthandlifestyle)\n    \n    [Infections](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library#infections)\n    \n    [Mental health](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library#mentalhealth)\n    \n    [Other conditions](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library#otherconditions)\n    \n    [Pregnancy and miscarriage](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library#pregnancyandmiscarriage)\n    \n    [Sexual health and contraception](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library#sexualhealthandcontraception)\n    \n    [Women's health](https:\/\/patient.info\/video-library#women'shealth)\n    \n    [Explore more videos on YouTube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/patient)\n  \n  [Self-assessment quizzes Our self-assessment quizzes can help you recognise signs of common health conditions.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Self-assessment quizzes\n    [All self-assessment quizzes](https:\/\/patient.info\/self-assessment)\n    [Depression](https:\/\/patient.info\/self-assessment#depression)\n    \n    [Diabetes](https:\/\/patient.info\/self-assessment#diabetes)\n    \n    [OCD](https:\/\/patient.info\/self-assessment#ocd)\n    \n    [Periods](https:\/\/patient.info\/self-assessment#periods)\n    \n    [Pregnancy](https:\/\/patient.info\/self-assessment#pregnancy)\n  \n  [Brain teasers Explore daily brain teasers that challenge how you think, reason and solve problems.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Brain teasers\n    [Leaderboard](https:\/\/patient.info\/brain-teasers\/leaderboard)\n    \n    [Your progress and scores](https:\/\/patient.info\/brain-teasers\/profile)\n    [All brain teasers](https:\/\/patient.info\/brain-teasers)\n    \n    [Complete the daily challenge](https:\/\/patient.info\/brain-teasers\/daily-challenge)\n    \n    [The Daily Decode](https:\/\/patient.info\/brain-teasers\/cryptogram)\n    \n    [Myth or Fact](https:\/\/patient.info\/brain-teasers\/myth-or-fact)\n    \n    [Symptoms Sort](https:\/\/patient.info\/brain-teasers\/symptoms-sort)\n    \n    [Word Ladder](https:\/\/patient.info\/brain-teasers\/word-ladder)\n- [Patient communities Browse discussions, ask questions, and share experiences across hundreds of health topics – all in a safe, supportive space.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Patient communities\n    [Log in](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/login)\n    \n    [Sign up](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/signup)\n    [Browse all patient communities](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/)\n    [Allergies, blood and immune system](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/allergies-blood-and-immune-system\/4)\n    \n    [Bones, joints and muscles](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/bones-joints-and-muscles\/2)\n    \n    [Brain and nerves](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/brain-and-nerves\/6)\n    \n    [Cancer](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/cancer\/7)\n    \n    [Chest and lungs](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/chest-and-lungs\/8)\n    \n    [Children's health](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/childrens-health\/9)\n    \n    [Cosmetic surgery](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/cosmetic-surgery\/40)\n    \n    [Diabetes](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/diabetes\/11)\n    \n    [Digestive health](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/digestive-health\/16)\n    \n    [Ears, nose and throat](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/ears-nose-and-throat\/12)\n    \n    [Eye care](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/eye-care\/13)\n    \n    [Foot care](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/foot-care\/41)\n    \n    [General health and lifestyle](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/general-health-and-lifestyle\/43)\n    \n    [Heart health and blood vessels](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/heart-health-and-blood-vessels\/18)\n    \n    [Hormones](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/hormones\/45)\n    \n    [Infections](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/infections\/20)\n    \n    [Kidney and urinary tract](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/kidney-and-urinary-tract\/15)\n    \n    [Men's health](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/mens-health\/24)\n    \n    [Mental health](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/mental-health\/25)\n    \n    [Oral and dental care](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/oral-and-dental-care\/44)\n    \n    [Pregnancy](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/pregnancy\/27)\n    \n    [Senior health](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/senior-health\/28)\n    \n    [Sexual health](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/sexual-health\/10)\n    \n    [Signs and symptoms](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/signs-and-symptoms\/30)\n    \n    [Skin, nail and hair health](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/skin-nail-and-hair-health\/29)\n    \n    [Tests and investigations](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/tests-and-investigations\/32)\n    \n    [Travel and vaccinations](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/travel-and-vaccinations\/39)\n    \n    [Treatment and medication](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/treatment-and-medication\/19)\n    \n    [Women's health](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/womens-health\/33)\n    \n    [Other conditions](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/c\/other-conditions\/34)\n  \n  [Patient voices Hear directly from people living with health conditions - everyday experiences, tough decisions, unexpected triumphs, and everything in between.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Patient voices\n    [Browse all stories](https:\/\/patient.info\/patient-voices)\n    [Children's health](https:\/\/patient.info\/patient-voices#children'shealth)\n    \n    [Hearing](https:\/\/patient.info\/patient-voices#hearing)\n    \n    [Mental health](https:\/\/patient.info\/patient-voices#mentalhealth)\n    \n    [Senior health](https:\/\/patient.info\/patient-voices#seniorhealth)\n    \n    [Women's health](https:\/\/patient.info\/patient-voices#women'shealth)\n  \n  [Podcasts Candid conversations on health from celebrities, experts and real people.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Patient podcasts\n    [Browse all podcasts](https:\/\/patient.info\/features\/podcast)\n    [Yorkshire Talks](https:\/\/patient.info\/features\/podcast#yorkshiretalks)\n    \n    [Sex and Relationships](https:\/\/patient.info\/features\/podcast#thesexandrelationshipspodcast)\n- [Medical professional hub Information and tools written by clinicians for medical professionals, and training resources.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Medical professional hub\n    [Medical professional content hub](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor)\n    \n    [Clinical topics](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/articles)\n    \n    [Professional articles A-Z](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/articles#a-z-a)\n    \n    [Medicines information](https:\/\/patient.info\/medicine)\n    \n    [Medical tools and resources for professionals](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/professional-tools-and-resources)\n  \n  [Professional articles Evidence-based professional reference pages authored by our clinical team for the use of medical professionals.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Professional articles\n    [View all professional articles A-Z](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/articles#a-z-a)\n    \n    [Browse by clinical topic](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/articles)\n    [Anaesthetics and pain control](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/anaesthetics)\n    \n    [Cardiovascular disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/cardiovascular-disease)\n    \n    [Congenital and inherited disorders](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/congenital-disorders)\n    \n    [Dermatology](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/dermatology)\n    \n    [Drug therapy](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/drug-therapy)\n    \n    [Ear, nose and throat](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/ear-nose-throat)\n    \n    [Emergency medicine and trauma](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/emergency-medicine)\n    \n    [Endocrine disorders](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/endocrine-disorders)\n    \n    [Fertility and reproduction](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/fertility)\n    \n    [Gastroenterology](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/gastroenterology)\n    \n    [General surgery](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/general-surgery)\n    \n    [Gynaecology](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/gynaecology)\n    \n    [Haematology](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/haematology)\n    \n    [History and examination](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/history-examination)\n    \n    [Infectious disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/infectious-disease)\n    \n    [Information governance and security](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/information-governance-and-security)\n    \n    [Investigations](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/investigations)\n    \n    [Mental health](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/mental-health)\n    \n    [Mouth and dental disorders](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/mouth-dental-disorders)\n    \n    [Multisystem disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/multisystem-diseases)\n    \n    [Neurology](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/neurology)\n    \n    [Nutrition](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/nutrition)\n    \n    [Obstetrics](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/obstetrics)\n    \n    [Occupational illness](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/occupational-illness)\n    \n    [Oncology](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/oncology)\n    \n    [Ophthalmology](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/ophthalmology)\n    \n    [Orthopaedics and sports medicine](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/orthopaedics)\n    \n    [Paediatrics](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/paediatrics)\n    \n    [Palliative and terminal care](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/palliative-terminal-care)\n    \n    [Pathological processes](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/pathological-processes)\n    \n    [Primary care](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/primary-care)\n    \n    [Public health medicine](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/public-health-medicine)\n    \n    [Renal disorders](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/renal-disorders)\n    \n    [Respiratory medicine](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/respiratory-medicine)\n    \n    [Rheumatology](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/rheumatology)\n    \n    [Screening and prevention](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/screening-prevention)\n    \n    [Social care](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/social-care)\n    \n    [Therapies](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/therapies)\n    \n    [Thinking about medicine](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/thinking-about-medicine)\n    \n    [Toxicology and iatrogenic disorders](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/toxicology)\n    \n    [Travel related disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/travel-related-disease)\n    \n    [Urology](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/urology)\n  \n  [Medical tools and resources Clinical tools for medical professional use.](https:\/\/patient.info\/)\n  \n  - ###### Medical tools and resources\n    [All medical tools and resources](https:\/\/patient.info\/medical-calculators)\n    \n    [All clinical calculators](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/professional-tools-and-resources)\n    [BMI calculator](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/calculate-bmi)\n    \n    [Generalised anxiety disorder assessment](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/mental-health\/gad-7)\n    \n    [Patient health questionnaire](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/mental-health\/phq-9)\n    \n    [Pregnancy due date calculator](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/pregnancy-due-date-calculator)\n    \n    [Digital Paediatric Growth Charts](https:\/\/patient.info\/doctor\/professional-tools-and-resources\/growth-charts)\n    \n    [Social media toolkit](https:\/\/patient.info\/social-media-toolkit)\n\n- [Health topics](https:\/\/patient.info\/health)\n- [Signs and symptoms](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms)\n- Tiredness\n\n# Tiredness\n## Fatigue\nPeer reviewed by [Dr Caroline Wiggins, MRCGP](https:\/\/patient.info\/authors\/dr-caroline-wiggins-mrcgp) Last updated by Dr Rachel Hudson, MRCGPLast updated 18 Feb 2025\n\nMeets Patient’s [editorial guidelines](https:\/\/patient.info\/editorial-policy)Est. **7 min** reading time\n\n- Download\n  [Download](https:\/\/pdf.patient.info\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue)\n  Article PDF has been downloaded\n- Share\n  #### Share\n  - [Share via email](mailto:?subject=Patient%20-%20Tiredness&body=https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue)\n  - [Share via Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue)\n  - [Share via LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue)\n  - [Share via X](https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Patient%20-%20Tiredness&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue)\n  - [Share via WhatsApp](https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Patient%20-%20Tiredness%20https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue)\n  - [Copy link](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue#copy)\n  Article link copied to clipboard\n- Language\n  #### Language\n  - [English](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue)\n  - [Deutsch](https:\/\/de.patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue)\n  - [Español](https:\/\/es.patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue)\n  - [Français](https:\/\/fr.patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue)\n  - [Italiano](https:\/\/it.patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue)\n  - [Português](https:\/\/pt.patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue)\n- Discussion\n- Audio Version\n\nIn this series:[Chronic fatigue syndrome](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis)[Fibromyalgia](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/fibromyalgia)[Sleep apnoea](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-syndrome)[Addison's disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/addisons-disease)[Muscle weakness](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/muscle-weakness)[Sleep debt calculator](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/sleep-debt-calculator)\n\nTiredness, or fatigue, means having less energy than usual. People feel exhausted - mentally, physically or both. Tiredness is a normal part of life and more significant at particular times of life, such as having a young family, but if it persists it may warrant some investigations to check for an underlying medical problem.\n\n### In this article:\n- [Causes of tiredness](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue#causes-of-tiredness)\n- [What tests are there for tiredness?](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue#what-tests-are-there-for-tiredness)\n- [Do I need to see a doctor?](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue#do-i-need-to-see-a-doctor)\n- [What is the treatment for tiredness?](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue#what-is-the-treatment-for-tiredness)\n- [Further reading and references](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue#furtherreading)\n#### Video picks for [Tiredness](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue)\nEveryone experiences tiredness (fatigue) from time to time. Tiredness that drags on for no apparent reason can be very difficult and it's an extremely common symptom.\n\nOne UK survey of over 15,000 people found that 10-18% reported tiredness that lasted for one month or longer, and a study looking at GP databases found that 1.5 in 100 people see their doctor about new tiredness every year. It's so common that doctors have an acronym for it - TATT which means \"tired all the time\".\n\n## Causes of tiredness\n### Physical causes of tiredness\nTiredness may be due to a wide range of physical illnesses. Examples include:\n\n- A low iron level ([anaemia](https:\/\/patient.info\/allergies-blood-immune\/anaemia-leaflet)).\n- An underactive thyroid gland ([hypothyroidism](https:\/\/patient.info\/hormones\/thyroid-and-parathyroid-glands\/underactive-thyroid-gland-hypothyroidism)).\n- [Diabetes](https:\/\/patient.info\/diabetes\/type-2-diabetes) that is not well controlled.\n- [Heart failure](https:\/\/patient.info\/heart-health\/heart-failure-leaflet).\n- Cancer\n- Chest illnesses (including [asthma](https:\/\/patient.info\/chest-lungs\/asthma-leaflet) and [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/chest-lungs\/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-leaflet)).\n- [Addison's disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/addisons-disease).\n- Problems with absorbing nutrients (for example, [coeliac disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/digestive-health\/coeliac-disease-leaflet)).\n- [Vitamin D deficiency](https:\/\/patient.info\/bones-joints-muscles\/osteoporosis-leaflet\/vitamin-d-deficiency).\n- [Pregnancy](https:\/\/patient.info\/pregnancy\/early-pregnancy-signs-and-symptoms).\n- [Glandular fever](https:\/\/patient.info\/ears-nose-throat-mouth\/sore-throat-2\/glandular-fever-infectious-mononucleosis).\n- [Chronic fatigue syndrome.](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis)\n- Conditions affecting the quality of sleep, such as pain, obstructive sleep apnoea, menopausal hot flushes, anxiety or an enlarged prostate resulting in needing to get up to pass urine multiple times a night.\n- Side-effects of some medicines (for example, [beta-blockers](https:\/\/patient.info\/heart-health\/beta-blockers), some painkillers, some antidepressants).\n\nMost physical causes of tiredness will also cause other symptoms, such as weight loss or gain, or shortness of breath, but some causes of tiredness may not cause any other symptoms.\n\n### Psychological causes of tiredness\nTiredness that cannot be explained by any physical problem is much more common than tiredness that can. Both [anxiety](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/anxiety) and [depression](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/depression-leaflet) can cause significant tiredness. [Eating disorders](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/eating-disorders\/anorexia-nervosa) can also cause tiredness. Any cause of a [sleep problem](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/insomnia-poor-sleep) will also cause tiredness during the day.\n\n[Stress](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/stress-management) is a common cause of tiredness, either because it interferes with sleep or because of the effect of having constant high levels of stress and worry. Causes of stress may include bereavement, stress at work and relationship problems including domestic violence.\n\nBoredom may also cause tiredness.\n\n### Lifestyle causes of tiredness\nTiredness is often caused by lifestyle. Lifestyle causes of tiredness include:\n\n- [Drinking too much alcohol](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/alcohol-and-liver-disease\/alcoholism-and-problem-drinking).\n- [Having an unhealthy, unbalanced diet](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/healthy-eating), including eating too many ultra-processed foods.\n- Working very hard with little down-time.\n- Having young children.\n- Taking [recreational drugs](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/recreational-drugs).\n- Excessive exercise or total lack of exercise.\n- Working night shifts, which may lead to a poor sleep pattern and result in tiredness.\n- Big life events such as getting married or moving house.\n\nIn most cases no specific cause for tiredness is found.\n\n## What tests are there for tiredness?\n[Back to contents](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue#toc)\n\nIf tiredness is persisting or if it is associated with other symptoms, medical advice should be sought in order to see if there is an underlying cause. The clinician will need to ask some questions and may arrange an examination and some blood tests.\n\n### Questions you may be asked\nThese are to help give some clues about the cause of the tiredness, and may include:\n\n- Do you have any other symptoms?\n- Sleep: Do you sleep well? Is your sleep interrupted? Do you snore? Has your partner noticed any changes to your breathing at night?\n- Mood: Do you feel low, or more worried than usual? Are you under any stress? You may be asked to complete a specific questionnaire about your mood.\n- Has your weight changed?\n- Do you have heavy periods?\n- How much alcohol do you drink?\n- Are you on any medication?\n- Do you eat a healthy diet?\n- Can you remember when this started? Did it start suddenly and can you date it from a particular date, event, holiday or illness? Or did it come on more gradually?\n- How is the tiredness affecting you in your everyday life?\n### The doctor may examine you\nThe clinician may check weight and height, if it seems relevant. Depending on the answers to the questions, they may think it relevant to:\n\n- Check [lymph glands](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/neck-lumps-and-bumps-leaflet\/swollen-lymph-glands) to see if they are enlarged.\n- Check the thyroid gland to see if it is enlarged.\n- Look at the eyes to see if there is evidence of anaemia.\n- Listen to the chest and feel the abdomen.\n- Check the joints for swelling or inflammation.\n- Check the strength of arms and\/or legs.\n- Ask for a sample of urine to check for sugar (for diabetes), protein or infection.\n### Blood tests for tiredness\nBlood tests are often suggested to rule out physical causes of the tiredness. In most cases these turn out to be normal. This might include tests to rule out:\n\n- Low iron levels (anaemia).\n- [Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)](https:\/\/patient.info\/hormones\/thyroid-and-parathyroid-glands\/underactive-thyroid-gland-hypothyroidism).\n- Diabetes.\n- Vitamin deficiencies such as [B12,](https:\/\/patient.info\/allergies-blood-immune\/anaemia-leaflet\/vitamin-b12-deficiency-and-pernicious-anaemia) folate or vitamin D.\n- Coeliac disease.\n- Any inflammation.\n- Any problems with the function of the liver or kidneys.\n- Specific infections, such as glandular fever.\n### Other tests\nUsually no other tests are needed but, if specific medical conditions are suspected, other tests such as a [chest X-ray](https:\/\/patient.info\/treatment-medication\/x-ray-test) might be necessary.\n\n## Do I need to see a doctor?\n[Back to contents](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue#toc)\n\nThere is no need to seek medical advice if the cause of the tiredness is obvious but if it persists, despite making appropriate lifestyle changes, then it is sensible to request a medical opinion.\n\nSymptoms which make it more important to seek medical advice include tiredness in addition to:\n\n- Weight loss, without trying to lose weight.\n- A change in bowel habit.\n- A new persistent cough (lasting more than 3 weeks) or coughing up blood.\n- Heavy periods.\n- Night sweats.\n- Unexplained or excessive bruising.\n- Persistent tummy bloating.\n- Unexplained lumps.\n- New unexplained pain.\n\n## What is the treatment for tiredness?\n[Back to contents](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue#toc)\n\nThere is no specific treatment for tiredness. The secret is to try to narrow down the cause and then do something about that.\n\n### Exercise as a treatment\nIt may seem bizarre, but exercise or physical activity can actually be remarkably effective for treating tiredness. Any moderate exercise, such as walking, swimming or cycling, can help reduce tiredness. [Regular exercise](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/physical-activity-for-health) is also an excellent way to stay healthy.\n\n### Try to improve your sleep\nIf you are not sleeping well at night, it is tempting to try to \"make up for this\" by taking naps during the day. This does not help and often results in sleeping less well at night due to the body clock being out of sync. There are lots of ways you can try to improve your sleep when suffering from [insomnia](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/insomnia-poor-sleep) and this should improve symptoms of tiredness.\n\n### Treatments for medical conditions that cause tiredness\nMedical conditions causing tiredness can usually be treated and this often resolves the tiredness.\n\nFor example, in anaemia with low iron levels, [iron supplements](https:\/\/patient.info\/medicine\/iron-supplements) can be used to treat this and the tiredness will resolve as the blood count increases. However, any underlying cause for the anaemia would need to be found and treated. For example, if it is due to heavy periods, then using medicines to make the periods lighter will help. If there is a suspicion that the anaemia might be due to a serious condition, such as [bowel cancer](https:\/\/patient.info\/cancer\/colon-rectal-bowel-cancer-colorectal), then further tests and referral to a specialist would be needed.\n\n### Treatments for medications that cause tiredness\nIf the cause is a side-effect of medication, it may be that this can be changed to something without this side effect.\n\n### Treatments for tiredness caused by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)\nIf symptoms are thought to be due to [CFS](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis) then a referral to a specialist team is sometimes made. This team can make the diagnosis and then help with psychological therapy and medication. This service is not always available everywhere.\n\n### Treatments for tiredness caused by anxiety or depression\nAnxiety or depression can be helped by talking therapy (counselling), [cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt-leaflet) or medication.\n\n### Treatments for tiredness caused by stress\nIf stress is the cause, it is worth taking the time to think and talk about possible ways to reduce this. Is there something which can be changed? It may be that some things need to be re-prioritised.\n\nIf work is the stressful problem, it might be possible to change roles, change hours or discuss ways to reduce stress with a manager. If there isn't anything that can be done to change the situation then it might be possible to find things to balance out the stress and improve quality of life. There are a variety of ways to de-stress, such as:\n\n- Regular \"me\" time.\n- Scheduling some fun events.\n- Booking a holiday.\n- Regular exercise, ideally something fun such as dancing lessons or a weekly walk with a friend, etc.\n- Taking up an enjoyable hobby eg, baking or going to a book club.\n- Spending time outdoors eg, going for a walk, gardening, or even just sitting outside.\n\nThere is no single answer for treatment of tiredness. Even if no cause is found, in most people it settles on its own with time.\n\n#### Patient picks for [Tiredness](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue)\n[![Chronic fatigue syndrome](https:\/\/patient.info\/images\/default_image.png)Signs and symptoms Chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), sometimes known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or myalgic encephalomyelitis\/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME\/CFS) , is a condition where there is long-term disabling tiredness (fatigue). Most people with also have one or more other symptoms such as muscular pains, joint pains, disturbed sleep patterns, poor concentration or headaches. The cause is not known. by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis)\n\n[![Epworth sleepiness scale](https:\/\/patient.info\/images\/default_image.png)Signs and symptoms Epworth sleepiness scale Open the Epworth sleepiness scale calculator by Patient infomatics team](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/epworth-sleepiness-scale)\n\n### Further reading and references\n- [Tiredness\/fatigue in adults](https:\/\/cks.nice.org.uk\/topics\/tiredness-fatigue-in-adults\/)\n  ; NICE CKS, October 2021 (UK access only)\n- [Maisel P, Baum E, Donner-Banzhoff N](http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/entrez\/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=34196270)\n  ; Fatigue as the Chief Complaint-Epidemiology, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2021 Aug 23;118(33-34):566-576. doi: 10.3238\/arztebl.m2021.0192.\n- [Why am I tired all the time](https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/live-well\/sleep-and-tiredness\/why-am-i-tired-all-the-time\/)\n  ; NHS 2021\n\n## Article history\nThe information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.\n\n- ###### Next review due: 17 Feb 2028\n- ###### 18 Feb 2025 \\| Latest version\n  Last updated by\n  \n  ##### Dr Rachel Hudson, MRCGP\n  Peer reviewed by\n  \n  [Dr Caroline Wiggins, MRCGP](https:\/\/patient.info\/authors\/dr-caroline-wiggins-mrcgp)\n- ###### 17 Apr 2014 \\| Originally published\n  Authored by:\n  ##### Dr Rachel Hudson, MRCGP\n\n## Join the conversation\nShare your thoughts or experiences with others in our [patient communities.](https:\/\/community.patient.info\/)\n\n**Disclaimer:** The views expressed in the community do not represent medical advice. For any health concerns, consult your GP or healthcare provider.\n\n![flu eligibility checker](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/xxv4b9mbhlgd\/67ZL1sw5SwXVH5pETgnbmd\/00adebe6fc9061807a7a9a14f77bcd68\/Untitled_design-24.png)\n\n#### Ask, share, connect.\nBrowse discussions, ask questions, and share experiences across hundreds of health topics.\n\nBrowse forums\n\n![symptom checker](https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/xxv4b9mbhlgd\/4YO2oGN3nTyecJaazD5OMM\/a915fdc3dae8d6afe9c93dcfa4c2cfcf\/Desktop.png)\n\n#### Feeling unwell?\nAssess your symptoms online with our free symptom checker\n\nCheck symptoms\n\n#### Sign up to the Patient newsletter\nYour weekly dose of clear, trustworthy health advice - written to help you feel informed, confident and in control.\n\nBy subscribing you accept our [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/patient.info\/privacy-policy). You can unsubscribe at any time. We never sell your data.\n\nOur clinical information meets the standards set by the NHS in their Standard for Creating Health Content guidance.  \n[Read our editorial policy.](https:\/\/patient.info\/editorial-policy)\n\n## Download the Patient app\nFollow us\n\nPatient\n\n[Subscribe to health updates](https:\/\/patient.info\/newsletter)[About us](https:\/\/patient.info\/about-us)[Advertise with us](https:\/\/patient.info\/commercial-opportunities)[Partnerships and collaboration](https:\/\/patient.info\/partnerships)[Authors](https:\/\/patient.info\/authors)[RSS feeds](https:\/\/patient.info\/rss-feeds)[International sites](https:\/\/patient.info\/language)[Contact us](https:\/\/patient.info\/contact-us)\n\nLegal\n\n[Accessibility statement](https:\/\/patient.info\/accessibility-statement)[Cookie policy](https:\/\/patient.info\/cookies)[Privacy policy](https:\/\/patient.info\/privacy-policy)[Terms of use](https:\/\/patient.info\/terms-and-conditions)[Editorial policy](https:\/\/patient.info\/editorial-policy)[Affiliate policy](https:\/\/patient.info\/affiliate-links)\n\nFollow us\n\n**Disclosure:** Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, Patient.info may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This does not influence our editorial content or medical recommendations. [Read more about how we fund our work.](https:\/\/patient.info\/affiliate-links)\n\nPatient is a part of [![Navigate Health](https:\/\/patient.info\/logo-navigate-health.svg)](https:\/\/www.navigatehealth.co.uk\/)\n\n© 2026 Navigate Health Ltd. All rights reserved.  \n Registered number: 16229589  \n Registered office: 128 City Road, London, United Kingdom, EC1V 2NX.\n\nPatient is a UK registered trade mark.\n\nPatient does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.","attrs_readable_markdown":"Everyone experiences tiredness (fatigue) from time to time. Tiredness that drags on for no apparent reason can be very difficult and it's an extremely common symptom.\n\nOne UK survey of over 15,000 people found that 10-18% reported tiredness that lasted for one month or longer, and a study looking at GP databases found that 1.5 in 100 people see their doctor about new tiredness every year. It's so common that doctors have an acronym for it - TATT which means \"tired all the time\".\n\n### Physical causes of tiredness\nTiredness may be due to a wide range of physical illnesses. Examples include:\n\n- A low iron level ([anaemia](https:\/\/patient.info\/allergies-blood-immune\/anaemia-leaflet)).\n- An underactive thyroid gland ([hypothyroidism](https:\/\/patient.info\/hormones\/thyroid-and-parathyroid-glands\/underactive-thyroid-gland-hypothyroidism)).\n- [Diabetes](https:\/\/patient.info\/diabetes\/type-2-diabetes) that is not well controlled.\n- [Heart failure](https:\/\/patient.info\/heart-health\/heart-failure-leaflet).\n- Cancer\n- Chest illnesses (including [asthma](https:\/\/patient.info\/chest-lungs\/asthma-leaflet) and [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/chest-lungs\/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-leaflet)).\n- [Addison's disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/addisons-disease).\n- Problems with absorbing nutrients (for example, [coeliac disease](https:\/\/patient.info\/digestive-health\/coeliac-disease-leaflet)).\n- [Vitamin D deficiency](https:\/\/patient.info\/bones-joints-muscles\/osteoporosis-leaflet\/vitamin-d-deficiency).\n- [Pregnancy](https:\/\/patient.info\/pregnancy\/early-pregnancy-signs-and-symptoms).\n- [Glandular fever](https:\/\/patient.info\/ears-nose-throat-mouth\/sore-throat-2\/glandular-fever-infectious-mononucleosis).\n- [Chronic fatigue syndrome.](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis)\n- Conditions affecting the quality of sleep, such as pain, obstructive sleep apnoea, menopausal hot flushes, anxiety or an enlarged prostate resulting in needing to get up to pass urine multiple times a night.\n- Side-effects of some medicines (for example, [beta-blockers](https:\/\/patient.info\/heart-health\/beta-blockers), some painkillers, some antidepressants).\n\nMost physical causes of tiredness will also cause other symptoms, such as weight loss or gain, or shortness of breath, but some causes of tiredness may not cause any other symptoms.\n\n### Psychological causes of tiredness\nTiredness that cannot be explained by any physical problem is much more common than tiredness that can. Both [anxiety](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/anxiety) and [depression](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/depression-leaflet) can cause significant tiredness. [Eating disorders](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/eating-disorders\/anorexia-nervosa) can also cause tiredness. Any cause of a [sleep problem](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/insomnia-poor-sleep) will also cause tiredness during the day.\n\n[Stress](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/stress-management) is a common cause of tiredness, either because it interferes with sleep or because of the effect of having constant high levels of stress and worry. Causes of stress may include bereavement, stress at work and relationship problems including domestic violence.\n\nBoredom may also cause tiredness.\n\n### Lifestyle causes of tiredness\nTiredness is often caused by lifestyle. Lifestyle causes of tiredness include:\n\n- [Drinking too much alcohol](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/alcohol-and-liver-disease\/alcoholism-and-problem-drinking).\n- [Having an unhealthy, unbalanced diet](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/healthy-eating), including eating too many ultra-processed foods.\n- Working very hard with little down-time.\n- Having young children.\n- Taking [recreational drugs](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/recreational-drugs).\n- Excessive exercise or total lack of exercise.\n- Working night shifts, which may lead to a poor sleep pattern and result in tiredness.\n- Big life events such as getting married or moving house.\n\nIn most cases no specific cause for tiredness is found.\n\nIf tiredness is persisting or if it is associated with other symptoms, medical advice should be sought in order to see if there is an underlying cause. The clinician will need to ask some questions and may arrange an examination and some blood tests.\n\n### Questions you may be asked\nThese are to help give some clues about the cause of the tiredness, and may include:\n\n- Do you have any other symptoms?\n- Sleep: Do you sleep well? Is your sleep interrupted? Do you snore? Has your partner noticed any changes to your breathing at night?\n- Mood: Do you feel low, or more worried than usual? Are you under any stress? You may be asked to complete a specific questionnaire about your mood.\n- Has your weight changed?\n- Do you have heavy periods?\n- How much alcohol do you drink?\n- Are you on any medication?\n- Do you eat a healthy diet?\n- Can you remember when this started? Did it start suddenly and can you date it from a particular date, event, holiday or illness? Or did it come on more gradually?\n- How is the tiredness affecting you in your everyday life?\n### The doctor may examine you\nThe clinician may check weight and height, if it seems relevant. Depending on the answers to the questions, they may think it relevant to:\n\n- Check [lymph glands](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/neck-lumps-and-bumps-leaflet\/swollen-lymph-glands) to see if they are enlarged.\n- Check the thyroid gland to see if it is enlarged.\n- Look at the eyes to see if there is evidence of anaemia.\n- Listen to the chest and feel the abdomen.\n- Check the joints for swelling or inflammation.\n- Check the strength of arms and\/or legs.\n- Ask for a sample of urine to check for sugar (for diabetes), protein or infection.\n### Blood tests for tiredness\nBlood tests are often suggested to rule out physical causes of the tiredness. In most cases these turn out to be normal. This might include tests to rule out:\n\n- Low iron levels (anaemia).\n- [Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)](https:\/\/patient.info\/hormones\/thyroid-and-parathyroid-glands\/underactive-thyroid-gland-hypothyroidism).\n- Diabetes.\n- Vitamin deficiencies such as [B12,](https:\/\/patient.info\/allergies-blood-immune\/anaemia-leaflet\/vitamin-b12-deficiency-and-pernicious-anaemia) folate or vitamin D.\n- Coeliac disease.\n- Any inflammation.\n- Any problems with the function of the liver or kidneys.\n- Specific infections, such as glandular fever.\n### Other tests\nUsually no other tests are needed but, if specific medical conditions are suspected, other tests such as a [chest X-ray](https:\/\/patient.info\/treatment-medication\/x-ray-test) might be necessary.\n\nThere is no need to seek medical advice if the cause of the tiredness is obvious but if it persists, despite making appropriate lifestyle changes, then it is sensible to request a medical opinion.\n\nSymptoms which make it more important to seek medical advice include tiredness in addition to:\n\n- Weight loss, without trying to lose weight.\n- A change in bowel habit.\n- A new persistent cough (lasting more than 3 weeks) or coughing up blood.\n- Heavy periods.\n- Night sweats.\n- Unexplained or excessive bruising.\n- Persistent tummy bloating.\n- Unexplained lumps.\n- New unexplained pain.\n\nThere is no specific treatment for tiredness. The secret is to try to narrow down the cause and then do something about that.\n\n### Exercise as a treatment\nIt may seem bizarre, but exercise or physical activity can actually be remarkably effective for treating tiredness. Any moderate exercise, such as walking, swimming or cycling, can help reduce tiredness. [Regular exercise](https:\/\/patient.info\/healthy-living\/physical-activity-for-health) is also an excellent way to stay healthy.\n\n### Try to improve your sleep\nIf you are not sleeping well at night, it is tempting to try to \"make up for this\" by taking naps during the day. This does not help and often results in sleeping less well at night due to the body clock being out of sync. There are lots of ways you can try to improve your sleep when suffering from [insomnia](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/insomnia-poor-sleep) and this should improve symptoms of tiredness.\n\n### Treatments for medical conditions that cause tiredness\nMedical conditions causing tiredness can usually be treated and this often resolves the tiredness.\n\nFor example, in anaemia with low iron levels, [iron supplements](https:\/\/patient.info\/medicine\/iron-supplements) can be used to treat this and the tiredness will resolve as the blood count increases. However, any underlying cause for the anaemia would need to be found and treated. For example, if it is due to heavy periods, then using medicines to make the periods lighter will help. If there is a suspicion that the anaemia might be due to a serious condition, such as [bowel cancer](https:\/\/patient.info\/cancer\/colon-rectal-bowel-cancer-colorectal), then further tests and referral to a specialist would be needed.\n\n### Treatments for medications that cause tiredness\nIf the cause is a side-effect of medication, it may be that this can be changed to something without this side effect.\n\n### Treatments for tiredness caused by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)\nIf symptoms are thought to be due to [CFS](https:\/\/patient.info\/signs-symptoms\/tiredness-fatigue\/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis) then a referral to a specialist team is sometimes made. This team can make the diagnosis and then help with psychological therapy and medication. This service is not always available everywhere.\n\n### Treatments for tiredness caused by anxiety or depression\nAnxiety or depression can be helped by talking therapy (counselling), [cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)](https:\/\/patient.info\/mental-health\/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt-leaflet) or medication.\n\n### Treatments for tiredness caused by stress\nIf stress is the cause, it is worth taking the time to think and talk about possible ways to reduce this. Is there something which can be changed? It may be that some things need to be re-prioritised.\n\nIf work is the stressful problem, it might be possible to change roles, change hours or discuss ways to reduce stress with a manager. If there isn't anything that can be done to change the situation then it might be possible to find things to balance out the stress and improve quality of life. There are a variety of ways to de-stress, such as:\n\n- Regular \"me\" time.\n- Scheduling some fun events.\n- Booking a holiday.\n- Regular exercise, ideally something fun such as dancing lessons or a weekly walk with a friend, etc.\n- Taking up an enjoyable hobby eg, baking or going to a book club.\n- Spending time outdoors eg, going for a walk, gardening, or even just sitting outside.\n\nThere is no single answer for treatment of tiredness. Even if no cause is found, in most people it settles on its own with time.\n\n## Article history\nThe information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.\n\n- Next review due: 17 Feb 2028\n- ###### 18 Feb 2025 \\| Latest version\n  Last updated by\n  \n  Peer reviewed by\n  \n  [Dr Caroline Wiggins, MRCGP](https:\/\/patient.info\/authors\/dr-caroline-wiggins-mrcgp)\n- ###### 17 Apr 2014 \\| Originally published\n  Authored by:\n  ##### Dr Rachel Hudson, MRCGP","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/Health\":999,\"\/Health\/Health_Conditions\":887,\"\/Health\/Health_Conditions\/Other\":173}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":988,\"\/Article\/Definitions\":561}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":999}","meta_language":"en","attrs_author":null,"attrs_publish_time":0,"attrs_original_publish_time":1552311786,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"3215","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"1478","body_ext_links_number":18,"body_int_links_number":307,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":1,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":375,"download_ttfb_msec":334,"download_size":57283}

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Tiredness (Fatigue): Causes, Tests, and Treatment

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Tiredness, or fatigue, means having less energy than usual. People feel exhausted: mentally, physically or both. Written by a GP.

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Everyone experiences tiredness (fatigue) from time to time. Tiredness that drags on for no apparent reason can be very difficult and it's an extremely common symptom. One UK survey of over 15,000 people found that 10-18% reported tiredness that lasted for one month or longer, and a study looking at GP databases found that 1.5 in 100 people see their doctor about new tiredness every year. It's so common that doctors have an acronym for it - TATT which means "tired all the time". Physical causes of tiredness Tiredness may be due to a wide range of physical illnesses. Examples include: A low iron level ( anaemia ). An underactive thyroid gland ( hypothyroidism ). Diabetes that is not well controlled. Heart failure . Cancer Chest illnesses (including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ). Addison's disease . Problems with absorbing nutrients (for example, coeliac disease ). Vitamin D deficiency . Pregnancy . Glandular fever . Chronic fatigue syndrome. Conditions affecting the quality of sleep, such as pain, obstructive sleep apnoea, menopausal hot flushes, anxiety or an enlarged prostate resulting in needing to get up to pass urine multiple times a night. Side-effects of some medicines (for example, beta-blockers , some painkillers, some antidepressants). Most physical causes of tiredness will also cause other symptoms, such as weight loss or gain, or shortness of breath, but some causes of tiredness may not cause any other symptoms. Psychological causes of tiredness Tiredness that cannot be explained by any physical problem is much more common than tiredness that can. Both anxiety and depression can cause significant tiredness. Eating disorders can also cause tiredness. Any cause of a sleep problem will also cause tiredness during the day. Stress is a common cause of tiredness, either because it interferes with sleep or because of the effect of having constant high levels of stress and worry. Causes of stress may include bereavement, stress at work and relationship problems including domestic violence. Boredom may also cause tiredness. Lifestyle causes of tiredness Tiredness is often caused by lifestyle. Lifestyle causes of tiredness include: Drinking too much alcohol . Having an unhealthy, unbalanced diet , including eating too many ultra-processed foods. Working very hard with little down-time. Having young children. Taking recreational drugs . Excessive exercise or total lack of exercise. Working night shifts, which may lead to a poor sleep pattern and result in tiredness. Big life events such as getting married or moving house. In most cases no specific cause for tiredness is found. If tiredness is persisting or if it is associated with other symptoms, medical advice should be sought in order to see if there is an underlying cause. The clinician will need to ask some questions and may arrange an examination and some blood tests. Questions you may be asked These are to help give some clues about the cause of the tiredness, and may include: Do you have any other symptoms? Sleep: Do you sleep well? Is your sleep interrupted? Do you snore? Has your partner noticed any changes to your breathing at night? Mood: Do you feel low, or more worried than usual? Are you under any stress? You may be asked to complete a specific questionnaire about your mood. Has your weight changed? Do you have heavy periods? How much alcohol do you drink? Are you on any medication? Do you eat a healthy diet? Can you remember when this started? Did it start suddenly and can you date it from a particular date, event, holiday or illness? Or did it come on more gradually? How is the tiredness affecting you in your everyday life? The doctor may examine you The clinician may check weight and height, if it seems relevant. Depending on the answers to the questions, they may think it relevant to: Check lymph glands to see if they are enlarged. Check the thyroid gland to see if it is enlarged. Look at the eyes to see if there is evidence of anaemia. Listen to the chest and feel the abdomen. Check the joints for swelling or inflammation. Check the strength of arms and/or legs. Ask for a sample of urine to check for sugar (for diabetes), protein or infection. Blood tests for tiredness Blood tests are often suggested to rule out physical causes of the tiredness. In most cases these turn out to be normal. This might include tests to rule out: Low iron levels (anaemia). Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism) . Diabetes. Vitamin deficiencies such as B12, folate or vitamin D. Coeliac disease. Any inflammation. Any problems with the function of the liver or kidneys. Specific infections, such as glandular fever. Other tests Usually no other tests are needed but, if specific medical conditions are suspected, other tests such as a chest X-ray might be necessary. There is no need to seek medical advice if the cause of the tiredness is obvious but if it persists, despite making appropriate lifestyle changes, then it is sensible to request a medical opinion. Symptoms which make it more important to seek medical advice include tiredness in addition to: Weight loss, without trying to lose weight. A change in bowel habit. A new persistent cough (lasting more than 3 weeks) or coughing up blood. Heavy periods. Night sweats. Unexplained or excessive bruising. Persistent tummy bloating. Unexplained lumps. New unexplained pain. There is no specific treatment for tiredness. The secret is to try to narrow down the cause and then do something about that. Exercise as a treatment It may seem bizarre, but exercise or physical activity can actually be remarkably effective for treating tiredness. Any moderate exercise, such as walking, swimming or cycling, can help reduce tiredness. Regular exercise is also an excellent way to stay healthy. Try to improve your sleep If you are not sleeping well at night, it is tempting to try to "make up for this" by taking naps during the day. This does not help and often results in sleeping less well at night due to the body clock being out of sync. There are lots of ways you can try to improve your sleep when suffering from insomnia and this should improve symptoms of tiredness. Treatments for medical conditions that cause tiredness Medical conditions causing tiredness can usually be treated and this often resolves the tiredness. For example, in anaemia with low iron levels, iron supplements can be used to treat this and the tiredness will resolve as the blood count increases. However, any underlying cause for the anaemia would need to be found and treated. For example, if it is due to heavy periods, then using medicines to make the periods lighter will help. If there is a suspicion that the anaemia might be due to a serious condition, such as bowel cancer , then further tests and referral to a specialist would be needed. Treatments for medications that cause tiredness If the cause is a side-effect of medication, it may be that this can be changed to something without this side effect. Treatments for tiredness caused by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) If symptoms are thought to be due to CFS then a referral to a specialist team is sometimes made. This team can make the diagnosis and then help with psychological therapy and medication. This service is not always available everywhere. Treatments for tiredness caused by anxiety or depression Anxiety or depression can be helped by talking therapy (counselling), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or medication. Treatments for tiredness caused by stress If stress is the cause, it is worth taking the time to think and talk about possible ways to reduce this. Is there something which can be changed? It may be that some things need to be re-prioritised. If work is the stressful problem, it might be possible to change roles, change hours or discuss ways to reduce stress with a manager. If there isn't anything that can be done to change the situation then it might be possible to find things to balance out the stress and improve quality of life. There are a variety of ways to de-stress, such as: Regular "me" time. Scheduling some fun events. Booking a holiday. Regular exercise, ideally something fun such as dancing lessons or a weekly walk with a friend, etc. Taking up an enjoyable hobby eg, baking or going to a book club. Spending time outdoors eg, going for a walk, gardening, or even just sitting outside. There is no single answer for treatment of tiredness. Even if no cause is found, in most people it settles on its own with time. Article history The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians. Next review due: 17 Feb 2028 18 Feb 2025 | Latest version Last updated by Peer reviewed by Dr Caroline Wiggins, MRCGP 17 Apr 2014 | Originally published Authored by: Dr Rachel Hudson, MRCGP

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Download [Download](https://pdf.patient.info/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue) Article PDF has been downloaded - Share #### Share - [Share via email](mailto:?subject=Patient%20-%20Tiredness&body=https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue) - [Share via Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue) - [Share via LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue) - [Share via X](https://x.com/intent/post?text=Patient%20-%20Tiredness&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue) - [Share via WhatsApp](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=Patient%20-%20Tiredness%20https%3A%2F%2Fpatient.info%2Fsigns-symptoms%2Ftiredness-fatigue) - [Copy link](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue#copy) Article link copied to clipboard - Language #### Language - [English](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue) - [Deutsch](https://de.patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue) - [Español](https://es.patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue) - [Français](https://fr.patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue) - [Italiano](https://it.patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue) - [Português](https://pt.patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue) - Discussion - Audio Version In this series:[Chronic fatigue syndrome](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis)[Fibromyalgia](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/fibromyalgia)[Sleep apnoea](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-syndrome)[Addison's disease](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/addisons-disease)[Muscle weakness](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/muscle-weakness)[Sleep debt calculator](https://patient.info/healthy-living/sleep-debt-calculator) Tiredness, or fatigue, means having less energy than usual. People feel exhausted - mentally, physically or both. Tiredness is a normal part of life and more significant at particular times of life, such as having a young family, but if it persists it may warrant some investigations to check for an underlying medical problem. ### In this article: - [Causes of tiredness](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue#causes-of-tiredness) - [What tests are there for tiredness?](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue#what-tests-are-there-for-tiredness) - [Do I need to see a doctor?](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue#do-i-need-to-see-a-doctor) - [What is the treatment for tiredness?](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue#what-is-the-treatment-for-tiredness) - [Further reading and references](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue#furtherreading) #### Video picks for [Tiredness](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue) Everyone experiences tiredness (fatigue) from time to time. Tiredness that drags on for no apparent reason can be very difficult and it's an extremely common symptom. One UK survey of over 15,000 people found that 10-18% reported tiredness that lasted for one month or longer, and a study looking at GP databases found that 1.5 in 100 people see their doctor about new tiredness every year. It's so common that doctors have an acronym for it - TATT which means "tired all the time". ## Causes of tiredness ### Physical causes of tiredness Tiredness may be due to a wide range of physical illnesses. Examples include: - A low iron level ([anaemia](https://patient.info/allergies-blood-immune/anaemia-leaflet)). - An underactive thyroid gland ([hypothyroidism](https://patient.info/hormones/thyroid-and-parathyroid-glands/underactive-thyroid-gland-hypothyroidism)). - [Diabetes](https://patient.info/diabetes/type-2-diabetes) that is not well controlled. - [Heart failure](https://patient.info/heart-health/heart-failure-leaflet). - Cancer - Chest illnesses (including [asthma](https://patient.info/chest-lungs/asthma-leaflet) and [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease](https://patient.info/chest-lungs/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-leaflet)). - [Addison's disease](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/addisons-disease). - Problems with absorbing nutrients (for example, [coeliac disease](https://patient.info/digestive-health/coeliac-disease-leaflet)). - [Vitamin D deficiency](https://patient.info/bones-joints-muscles/osteoporosis-leaflet/vitamin-d-deficiency). - [Pregnancy](https://patient.info/pregnancy/early-pregnancy-signs-and-symptoms). - [Glandular fever](https://patient.info/ears-nose-throat-mouth/sore-throat-2/glandular-fever-infectious-mononucleosis). - [Chronic fatigue syndrome.](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis) - Conditions affecting the quality of sleep, such as pain, obstructive sleep apnoea, menopausal hot flushes, anxiety or an enlarged prostate resulting in needing to get up to pass urine multiple times a night. - Side-effects of some medicines (for example, [beta-blockers](https://patient.info/heart-health/beta-blockers), some painkillers, some antidepressants). Most physical causes of tiredness will also cause other symptoms, such as weight loss or gain, or shortness of breath, but some causes of tiredness may not cause any other symptoms. ### Psychological causes of tiredness Tiredness that cannot be explained by any physical problem is much more common than tiredness that can. Both [anxiety](https://patient.info/mental-health/anxiety) and [depression](https://patient.info/mental-health/depression-leaflet) can cause significant tiredness. [Eating disorders](https://patient.info/mental-health/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa) can also cause tiredness. Any cause of a [sleep problem](https://patient.info/mental-health/insomnia-poor-sleep) will also cause tiredness during the day. [Stress](https://patient.info/mental-health/stress-management) is a common cause of tiredness, either because it interferes with sleep or because of the effect of having constant high levels of stress and worry. Causes of stress may include bereavement, stress at work and relationship problems including domestic violence. Boredom may also cause tiredness. ### Lifestyle causes of tiredness Tiredness is often caused by lifestyle. Lifestyle causes of tiredness include: - [Drinking too much alcohol](https://patient.info/healthy-living/alcohol-and-liver-disease/alcoholism-and-problem-drinking). - [Having an unhealthy, unbalanced diet](https://patient.info/healthy-living/healthy-eating), including eating too many ultra-processed foods. - Working very hard with little down-time. - Having young children. - Taking [recreational drugs](https://patient.info/healthy-living/recreational-drugs). - Excessive exercise or total lack of exercise. - Working night shifts, which may lead to a poor sleep pattern and result in tiredness. - Big life events such as getting married or moving house. In most cases no specific cause for tiredness is found. ## What tests are there for tiredness? [Back to contents](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue#toc) If tiredness is persisting or if it is associated with other symptoms, medical advice should be sought in order to see if there is an underlying cause. The clinician will need to ask some questions and may arrange an examination and some blood tests. ### Questions you may be asked These are to help give some clues about the cause of the tiredness, and may include: - Do you have any other symptoms? - Sleep: Do you sleep well? Is your sleep interrupted? Do you snore? Has your partner noticed any changes to your breathing at night? - Mood: Do you feel low, or more worried than usual? Are you under any stress? You may be asked to complete a specific questionnaire about your mood. - Has your weight changed? - Do you have heavy periods? - How much alcohol do you drink? - Are you on any medication? - Do you eat a healthy diet? - Can you remember when this started? Did it start suddenly and can you date it from a particular date, event, holiday or illness? Or did it come on more gradually? - How is the tiredness affecting you in your everyday life? ### The doctor may examine you The clinician may check weight and height, if it seems relevant. Depending on the answers to the questions, they may think it relevant to: - Check [lymph glands](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/neck-lumps-and-bumps-leaflet/swollen-lymph-glands) to see if they are enlarged. - Check the thyroid gland to see if it is enlarged. - Look at the eyes to see if there is evidence of anaemia. - Listen to the chest and feel the abdomen. - Check the joints for swelling or inflammation. - Check the strength of arms and/or legs. - Ask for a sample of urine to check for sugar (for diabetes), protein or infection. ### Blood tests for tiredness Blood tests are often suggested to rule out physical causes of the tiredness. In most cases these turn out to be normal. This might include tests to rule out: - Low iron levels (anaemia). - [Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)](https://patient.info/hormones/thyroid-and-parathyroid-glands/underactive-thyroid-gland-hypothyroidism). - Diabetes. - Vitamin deficiencies such as [B12,](https://patient.info/allergies-blood-immune/anaemia-leaflet/vitamin-b12-deficiency-and-pernicious-anaemia) folate or vitamin D. - Coeliac disease. - Any inflammation. - Any problems with the function of the liver or kidneys. - Specific infections, such as glandular fever. ### Other tests Usually no other tests are needed but, if specific medical conditions are suspected, other tests such as a [chest X-ray](https://patient.info/treatment-medication/x-ray-test) might be necessary. ## Do I need to see a doctor? [Back to contents](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue#toc) There is no need to seek medical advice if the cause of the tiredness is obvious but if it persists, despite making appropriate lifestyle changes, then it is sensible to request a medical opinion. Symptoms which make it more important to seek medical advice include tiredness in addition to: - Weight loss, without trying to lose weight. - A change in bowel habit. - A new persistent cough (lasting more than 3 weeks) or coughing up blood. - Heavy periods. - Night sweats. - Unexplained or excessive bruising. - Persistent tummy bloating. - Unexplained lumps. - New unexplained pain. ## What is the treatment for tiredness? [Back to contents](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue#toc) There is no specific treatment for tiredness. The secret is to try to narrow down the cause and then do something about that. ### Exercise as a treatment It may seem bizarre, but exercise or physical activity can actually be remarkably effective for treating tiredness. Any moderate exercise, such as walking, swimming or cycling, can help reduce tiredness. [Regular exercise](https://patient.info/healthy-living/physical-activity-for-health) is also an excellent way to stay healthy. ### Try to improve your sleep If you are not sleeping well at night, it is tempting to try to "make up for this" by taking naps during the day. This does not help and often results in sleeping less well at night due to the body clock being out of sync. There are lots of ways you can try to improve your sleep when suffering from [insomnia](https://patient.info/mental-health/insomnia-poor-sleep) and this should improve symptoms of tiredness. ### Treatments for medical conditions that cause tiredness Medical conditions causing tiredness can usually be treated and this often resolves the tiredness. For example, in anaemia with low iron levels, [iron supplements](https://patient.info/medicine/iron-supplements) can be used to treat this and the tiredness will resolve as the blood count increases. However, any underlying cause for the anaemia would need to be found and treated. For example, if it is due to heavy periods, then using medicines to make the periods lighter will help. If there is a suspicion that the anaemia might be due to a serious condition, such as [bowel cancer](https://patient.info/cancer/colon-rectal-bowel-cancer-colorectal), then further tests and referral to a specialist would be needed. ### Treatments for medications that cause tiredness If the cause is a side-effect of medication, it may be that this can be changed to something without this side effect. ### Treatments for tiredness caused by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) If symptoms are thought to be due to [CFS](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis) then a referral to a specialist team is sometimes made. This team can make the diagnosis and then help with psychological therapy and medication. This service is not always available everywhere. ### Treatments for tiredness caused by anxiety or depression Anxiety or depression can be helped by talking therapy (counselling), [cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)](https://patient.info/mental-health/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt-leaflet) or medication. ### Treatments for tiredness caused by stress If stress is the cause, it is worth taking the time to think and talk about possible ways to reduce this. Is there something which can be changed? It may be that some things need to be re-prioritised. If work is the stressful problem, it might be possible to change roles, change hours or discuss ways to reduce stress with a manager. If there isn't anything that can be done to change the situation then it might be possible to find things to balance out the stress and improve quality of life. There are a variety of ways to de-stress, such as: - Regular "me" time. - Scheduling some fun events. - Booking a holiday. - Regular exercise, ideally something fun such as dancing lessons or a weekly walk with a friend, etc. - Taking up an enjoyable hobby eg, baking or going to a book club. - Spending time outdoors eg, going for a walk, gardening, or even just sitting outside. There is no single answer for treatment of tiredness. Even if no cause is found, in most people it settles on its own with time. #### Patient picks for [Tiredness](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue) [![Chronic fatigue syndrome](https://patient.info/images/default_image.png)Signs and symptoms Chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), sometimes known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) , is a condition where there is long-term disabling tiredness (fatigue). Most people with also have one or more other symptoms such as muscular pains, joint pains, disturbed sleep patterns, poor concentration or headaches. The cause is not known. by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis) [![Epworth sleepiness scale](https://patient.info/images/default_image.png)Signs and symptoms Epworth sleepiness scale Open the Epworth sleepiness scale calculator by Patient infomatics team](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/epworth-sleepiness-scale) ### Further reading and references - [Tiredness/fatigue in adults](https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/tiredness-fatigue-in-adults/) ; NICE CKS, October 2021 (UK access only) - [Maisel P, Baum E, Donner-Banzhoff N](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=34196270) ; Fatigue as the Chief Complaint-Epidemiology, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2021 Aug 23;118(33-34):566-576. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0192. - [Why am I tired all the time](https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/why-am-i-tired-all-the-time/) ; NHS 2021 ## Article history The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians. - ###### Next review due: 17 Feb 2028 - ###### 18 Feb 2025 \| Latest version Last updated by ##### Dr Rachel Hudson, MRCGP Peer reviewed by [Dr Caroline Wiggins, MRCGP](https://patient.info/authors/dr-caroline-wiggins-mrcgp) - ###### 17 Apr 2014 \| Originally published Authored by: ##### Dr Rachel Hudson, MRCGP ## Join the conversation Share your thoughts or experiences with others in our [patient communities.](https://community.patient.info/) **Disclaimer:** The views expressed in the community do not represent medical advice. 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Readable Markdown

Everyone experiences tiredness (fatigue) from time to time. Tiredness that drags on for no apparent reason can be very difficult and it's an extremely common symptom. One UK survey of over 15,000 people found that 10-18% reported tiredness that lasted for one month or longer, and a study looking at GP databases found that 1.5 in 100 people see their doctor about new tiredness every year. It's so common that doctors have an acronym for it - TATT which means "tired all the time". ### Physical causes of tiredness Tiredness may be due to a wide range of physical illnesses. Examples include: - A low iron level ([anaemia](https://patient.info/allergies-blood-immune/anaemia-leaflet)). - An underactive thyroid gland ([hypothyroidism](https://patient.info/hormones/thyroid-and-parathyroid-glands/underactive-thyroid-gland-hypothyroidism)). - [Diabetes](https://patient.info/diabetes/type-2-diabetes) that is not well controlled. - [Heart failure](https://patient.info/heart-health/heart-failure-leaflet). - Cancer - Chest illnesses (including [asthma](https://patient.info/chest-lungs/asthma-leaflet) and [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease](https://patient.info/chest-lungs/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-leaflet)). - [Addison's disease](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/addisons-disease). - Problems with absorbing nutrients (for example, [coeliac disease](https://patient.info/digestive-health/coeliac-disease-leaflet)). - [Vitamin D deficiency](https://patient.info/bones-joints-muscles/osteoporosis-leaflet/vitamin-d-deficiency). - [Pregnancy](https://patient.info/pregnancy/early-pregnancy-signs-and-symptoms). - [Glandular fever](https://patient.info/ears-nose-throat-mouth/sore-throat-2/glandular-fever-infectious-mononucleosis). - [Chronic fatigue syndrome.](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis) - Conditions affecting the quality of sleep, such as pain, obstructive sleep apnoea, menopausal hot flushes, anxiety or an enlarged prostate resulting in needing to get up to pass urine multiple times a night. - Side-effects of some medicines (for example, [beta-blockers](https://patient.info/heart-health/beta-blockers), some painkillers, some antidepressants). Most physical causes of tiredness will also cause other symptoms, such as weight loss or gain, or shortness of breath, but some causes of tiredness may not cause any other symptoms. ### Psychological causes of tiredness Tiredness that cannot be explained by any physical problem is much more common than tiredness that can. Both [anxiety](https://patient.info/mental-health/anxiety) and [depression](https://patient.info/mental-health/depression-leaflet) can cause significant tiredness. [Eating disorders](https://patient.info/mental-health/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa) can also cause tiredness. Any cause of a [sleep problem](https://patient.info/mental-health/insomnia-poor-sleep) will also cause tiredness during the day. [Stress](https://patient.info/mental-health/stress-management) is a common cause of tiredness, either because it interferes with sleep or because of the effect of having constant high levels of stress and worry. Causes of stress may include bereavement, stress at work and relationship problems including domestic violence. Boredom may also cause tiredness. ### Lifestyle causes of tiredness Tiredness is often caused by lifestyle. Lifestyle causes of tiredness include: - [Drinking too much alcohol](https://patient.info/healthy-living/alcohol-and-liver-disease/alcoholism-and-problem-drinking). - [Having an unhealthy, unbalanced diet](https://patient.info/healthy-living/healthy-eating), including eating too many ultra-processed foods. - Working very hard with little down-time. - Having young children. - Taking [recreational drugs](https://patient.info/healthy-living/recreational-drugs). - Excessive exercise or total lack of exercise. - Working night shifts, which may lead to a poor sleep pattern and result in tiredness. - Big life events such as getting married or moving house. In most cases no specific cause for tiredness is found. If tiredness is persisting or if it is associated with other symptoms, medical advice should be sought in order to see if there is an underlying cause. The clinician will need to ask some questions and may arrange an examination and some blood tests. ### Questions you may be asked These are to help give some clues about the cause of the tiredness, and may include: - Do you have any other symptoms? - Sleep: Do you sleep well? Is your sleep interrupted? Do you snore? Has your partner noticed any changes to your breathing at night? - Mood: Do you feel low, or more worried than usual? Are you under any stress? You may be asked to complete a specific questionnaire about your mood. - Has your weight changed? - Do you have heavy periods? - How much alcohol do you drink? - Are you on any medication? - Do you eat a healthy diet? - Can you remember when this started? Did it start suddenly and can you date it from a particular date, event, holiday or illness? Or did it come on more gradually? - How is the tiredness affecting you in your everyday life? ### The doctor may examine you The clinician may check weight and height, if it seems relevant. Depending on the answers to the questions, they may think it relevant to: - Check [lymph glands](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/neck-lumps-and-bumps-leaflet/swollen-lymph-glands) to see if they are enlarged. - Check the thyroid gland to see if it is enlarged. - Look at the eyes to see if there is evidence of anaemia. - Listen to the chest and feel the abdomen. - Check the joints for swelling or inflammation. - Check the strength of arms and/or legs. - Ask for a sample of urine to check for sugar (for diabetes), protein or infection. ### Blood tests for tiredness Blood tests are often suggested to rule out physical causes of the tiredness. In most cases these turn out to be normal. This might include tests to rule out: - Low iron levels (anaemia). - [Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)](https://patient.info/hormones/thyroid-and-parathyroid-glands/underactive-thyroid-gland-hypothyroidism). - Diabetes. - Vitamin deficiencies such as [B12,](https://patient.info/allergies-blood-immune/anaemia-leaflet/vitamin-b12-deficiency-and-pernicious-anaemia) folate or vitamin D. - Coeliac disease. - Any inflammation. - Any problems with the function of the liver or kidneys. - Specific infections, such as glandular fever. ### Other tests Usually no other tests are needed but, if specific medical conditions are suspected, other tests such as a [chest X-ray](https://patient.info/treatment-medication/x-ray-test) might be necessary. There is no need to seek medical advice if the cause of the tiredness is obvious but if it persists, despite making appropriate lifestyle changes, then it is sensible to request a medical opinion. Symptoms which make it more important to seek medical advice include tiredness in addition to: - Weight loss, without trying to lose weight. - A change in bowel habit. - A new persistent cough (lasting more than 3 weeks) or coughing up blood. - Heavy periods. - Night sweats. - Unexplained or excessive bruising. - Persistent tummy bloating. - Unexplained lumps. - New unexplained pain. There is no specific treatment for tiredness. The secret is to try to narrow down the cause and then do something about that. ### Exercise as a treatment It may seem bizarre, but exercise or physical activity can actually be remarkably effective for treating tiredness. Any moderate exercise, such as walking, swimming or cycling, can help reduce tiredness. [Regular exercise](https://patient.info/healthy-living/physical-activity-for-health) is also an excellent way to stay healthy. ### Try to improve your sleep If you are not sleeping well at night, it is tempting to try to "make up for this" by taking naps during the day. This does not help and often results in sleeping less well at night due to the body clock being out of sync. There are lots of ways you can try to improve your sleep when suffering from [insomnia](https://patient.info/mental-health/insomnia-poor-sleep) and this should improve symptoms of tiredness. ### Treatments for medical conditions that cause tiredness Medical conditions causing tiredness can usually be treated and this often resolves the tiredness. For example, in anaemia with low iron levels, [iron supplements](https://patient.info/medicine/iron-supplements) can be used to treat this and the tiredness will resolve as the blood count increases. However, any underlying cause for the anaemia would need to be found and treated. For example, if it is due to heavy periods, then using medicines to make the periods lighter will help. If there is a suspicion that the anaemia might be due to a serious condition, such as [bowel cancer](https://patient.info/cancer/colon-rectal-bowel-cancer-colorectal), then further tests and referral to a specialist would be needed. ### Treatments for medications that cause tiredness If the cause is a side-effect of medication, it may be that this can be changed to something without this side effect. ### Treatments for tiredness caused by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) If symptoms are thought to be due to [CFS](https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tiredness-fatigue/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis) then a referral to a specialist team is sometimes made. This team can make the diagnosis and then help with psychological therapy and medication. This service is not always available everywhere. ### Treatments for tiredness caused by anxiety or depression Anxiety or depression can be helped by talking therapy (counselling), [cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)](https://patient.info/mental-health/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt-leaflet) or medication. ### Treatments for tiredness caused by stress If stress is the cause, it is worth taking the time to think and talk about possible ways to reduce this. Is there something which can be changed? It may be that some things need to be re-prioritised. If work is the stressful problem, it might be possible to change roles, change hours or discuss ways to reduce stress with a manager. If there isn't anything that can be done to change the situation then it might be possible to find things to balance out the stress and improve quality of life. There are a variety of ways to de-stress, such as: - Regular "me" time. - Scheduling some fun events. - Booking a holiday. - Regular exercise, ideally something fun such as dancing lessons or a weekly walk with a friend, etc. - Taking up an enjoyable hobby eg, baking or going to a book club. - Spending time outdoors eg, going for a walk, gardening, or even just sitting outside. There is no single answer for treatment of tiredness. Even if no cause is found, in most people it settles on its own with time. ## Article history The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians. - Next review due: 17 Feb 2028 - ###### 18 Feb 2025 \| Latest version Last updated by Peer reviewed by [Dr Caroline Wiggins, MRCGP](https://patient.info/authors/dr-caroline-wiggins-mrcgp) - ###### 17 Apr 2014 \| Originally published Authored by: ##### Dr Rachel Hudson, MRCGP

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