What is lethargy

Lethargy is another word for fatigue, which is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, exhaustion or lack of energy. Lethargy is different from drowsiness. Drowsiness is feeling the need to sleep. Lethargy is a lack of energy and motivation. Drowsiness and apathy (a feeling of not caring about what happens) can be symptoms that go along with lethargy.

Lethargy can be a normal and important response to physical activity, emotional stress, boredom, or lack of sleep. Lethargy is a common symptom, and it is usually not due to a serious disease. But it can be a sign of a more serious mental or physical condition. When lethargy is not relieved by enough sleep, good nutrition, or a low-stress environment, it should be evaluated by your health care provider.

You may feel lethargy because of too much or not enough activity. Lethargy can also come from stress, lack of sleep, boredom, and poor diet. Many medical problems, such as viral infections, can cause lethargy. Emotional problems, especially depression, are often the cause of lethargy.

Lethargy is most often a symptom of another problem. Treatment for lethargy depends on the cause. For example, if you have lethargy because you have a certain health problem, treating this problem also treats your lethargy. If depression or anxiety is the cause, treatment may help.

Here are some tips for reducing lethargy:

• Get enough sleep each night.
• Make sure your diet is healthy and well-balanced, and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Exercise regularly.
• Learn better ways to relax. Try yoga or meditation.
• Maintain a reasonable work and personal schedule.
• Change or reduce your stressors, if possible. For example, take a vacation or resolve relationship problems.
• Take a multivitamin. Talk to your provider about what is best for you.
• Avoid alcohol, nicotine, and drug use.

If you have long-term (chronic) pain or depression, treating it often helps the lethargy. Be aware that some antidepressant drugs may cause or worsen lethargy. If your drug is one of these, your provider may have to adjust the dosage or switch you to another drug. DO NOT stop or change any medicines without first talking to your provider.

Stimulants (including caffeine) are not effective treatments for lethargy. They can make the problem worse when they are stopped. Sedatives also tend to worsen lethargy.

Lethargy causes

Most of the time lethargy can be traced to one or more of your habits or routines, particularly lack of exercise. It’s also commonly related to depression. On occasion, lethargy is a symptom of other underlying conditions that require medical treatment.

There are many possible causes of lethargy, including:

• Acute liver failure
• Anemia (including iron deficiency anemia)
• Anxiety disorders
• Cancer
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Chronic infection or inflammation
• Chronic kidney disease
• Concussion
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Depression (major depressive disorder)
• Diabetes
• Emphysema
• Fibromyalgia
• Grief
• Heart disease
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Iron deficiency (without anemia)
• Medications and treatments, such as sedatives, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, pain drugs, heart drugs and antidepressants
• Multiple sclerosis
• Obesity
• Pain that’s persistent
• Sleep disorders such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, or narcolepsy
• Stress
• Thyroid gland that is underactive or overactive
• Traumatic brain injury
• Use of alcohol or drugs, such as cocaine or narcotics, especially with regular use

Lifestyle factors

Taking an honest inventory of things that might be responsible for your lethargy is often the first step toward relief. lethargy may be related to:

• Use of alcohol or drugs
• Excess physical activity
• Jet lag disorder
• Lack of physical activity
• Lack of sleep
• Medications, such as antihistamines, cough medicines
• Unhealthy eating habits

Lethargy can also occur with the following illnesses:

• Addison disease (a disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones)
• Anorexia or other eating disorders
• Arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus
• Cancer
• Heart failure
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalgia
• Infection, especially one that takes a long time to recover from or treat, such as bacterial endocarditis (infection of the heart muscle or valves), parasitic infections, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and mononucleosis
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Malnutrition

Certain medicines may also cause drowsiness or lethargy, including antihistamines for allergies, blood pressure medicines, sleeping pills, steroids, and diuretics (water pills).

Chronic lethargy syndrome (CFS) is a condition in which symptoms of lethargy persist for at least 6 months and do not resolve with rest. The lethargy may be worsened with physical activity or mental stress. It is diagnosed based on the presence of a specific group of symptoms and after all other possible causes of lethargy are ruled out.

Lethargy diagnosis

Your doctor will perform a complete physical examination, paying special attention to your heart, lymph nodes, thyroid, abdomen, and nervous system. You will be asked about your medical history, lethargy symptoms, and your lifestyle, habits, and feelings.

Tests that may be ordered include the following:

• Blood tests to check for anemia, diabetes, inflammatory diseases, and possible infection
• Kidney function tests
• Liver function tests
• Thyroid function tests
• Urinalysis

Lethargy treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of your lethargy symptoms.

Many cases of unexplained mild tiredness or lethargy are usually not due to any serious underlying conditions and can be self managed. Mild lethargy is usually short lived and is easily overcome by some simple remedies. Common causes include not getting enough sleep, a poor diet and other lifestyle factors.

Always consult a health professional if the lethargy is more than mild, lasts for a long time and you have other symptoms such as:

• weight loss
• associated pain
• blood loss from your bowel or heavier periods
• loss of appetite
• feeling depressed or overly anxious

Use these self-help tips to restore your energy levels for mild lethargy.

Eat a healthy diet.

Get exercise

You might feel too tired to exercise, but regular exercise will make you feel less tired in the long run and you’ll have more energy. Even a single 15-minute walk can give you an energy boost, and the benefits increase with more frequent physical activity.

Start with a small amount of exercise. Build up your physical activity gradually over weeks and months until you reach the recommended goal of 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as cycling or fast walking, every week.

Lose weight

If your body is carrying excess weight, it can be exhausting. It also puts extra strain on your heart, which can make you tired. Lose weight and you’ll feel much more energetic. Apart from eating healthily, the best way to lose weight is to be more active and do more exercise.

Get enough sleep

It sounds obvious, but two-thirds of us suffer from sleep problems, and many people don’t get the sleep they need to stay alert through the day. Some recommendations on getting a good night’s sleep include: go to bed and get up in the morning at the same time every day, avoid naps through the day, and have a warm bath or shower before bed.

Reduce stress

Stress uses up a lot of energy. Try to introduce relaxing activities into your day. This could be working out at the gym, or a gentler option such as listening to music, reading or spending time with friends. Whatever relaxes you will improve your energy.

Talk about it

There’s some evidence that talking therapies such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) might help to fight lethargy. See your doctor for a referral for talking treatment.

Cut out caffeine

Anyone feeling tired should cut out caffeine. The best way to do this is to gradually stop having all caffeine drinks (and that includes coffee and tea and cola drinks) over a 3-week period. Try to stay off caffeine completely for a month to see if you feel less tired without it.

You may find that stopping caffeine gives you headaches. If this happens, cut down more slowly on the amount of caffeine that you drink.

Drink less alcohol

Although a few glasses of wine in the evening helps you fall asleep, you sleep less deeply after drinking alcohol. The next day you’ll be tired even if you sleep a full 8 hours.

Cut down on alcohol before bedtime. You’ll get a better night’s rest and have more energy. The recommendation is that men and women should not regularly drink more than 2 standard drinks a day.

Drink more water

Sometimes you feel tired simply because you’re mildly dehydrated. A glass of water will help do the trick, especially after exercise.