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National Institute on Aging

AgePage

Fatigue: More than 

Being Tired

“You better get up soon,” Dan called to his 

wife, Liang. “The grandchildren will be 

here in an hour for lunch.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” 

Liang said. “I feel so tired. I’m not even 

sure I can get out of bed. I just don’t seem to 

have any energy—not even for my family.”

Everyone feels tired now and then. But, 

after a good night’s sleep, most people 

feel refreshed and ready to face a new 

day. If, like Liang, you continue to feel 

tired for weeks, it’s time to see your 

doctor. He or she may be able to help 

you find out what’s causing your fatigue. 

In fact, your doctor may even suggest 

you become more active, as exercise may 

reduce fatigue and improve quality of life.

Some Illnesses Cause Fatigue

Feeling fatigued can be like an alarm 

going off in your body. It may be the first 

sign that something is wrong. But, fatigue 

itself is not a disease. For example, 

people with rheumatoid arthritis, a 

painful condition that affects the joints, 

often complain of other symptoms, 

including fatigue. People with cancer 

may feel fatigued from the disease, 

treatments, or both.

Many medical problems and treatments 

can add to fatigue. These include:

■ Taking certain medications, such as 

antidepressants, antihistamines, and 

medicines for nausea and pain

■ Having medical treatments, like 

chemotherapy and radiation

■ Recovery from major surgery

What Role Do Emotions Play 

in Feeling Fatigued?

Are you fearful about the future? Do 

you worry about your health and who 

will take care of you? Are you afraid 

you are no longer needed? Emotional 

worries like these can take a toll on your 

energy. Fatigue can be linked to many 

emotions, including:

■ Anxiety

■ Depression

■ Grief from loss of family or friends 

■ Stress from financial or personal 

problems

■ Feeling that you no longer have 

control over your life
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Regular physical activity or exercise 

may help reduce feelings of depression 

and stress while improving your mood 

and overall well-being.

What Else Causes Fatigue?

Some lifestyle habits can make you 

feel tired. Here are some things that 

may be draining your energy:

■ Staying up too late. A good night’s 

sleep is important to feeling refreshed 

and energetic. Try going to bed and 

waking up at the same time every day.

■ Having too much caffeine. Drinking 

caffeinated drinks like soda, tea, or coffee 

late in the day can keep you from getting 

a good night’s sleep. Limit the amount 

of caffeine you have during the day, and 

avoid it in the evening.

■ Drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol 

changes the way you think and act. It may 

also interact with your medical treatments.

■ Eating junk food. Say “no thanks” to 

food with empty calories, like fried foods 

and sweets, which have few nutrients and 

are high in fat and sugars. Nutritious 

foods will give you the energy you need 

to do the things you enjoy.

Can Boredom Cause Fatigue?

Being bored can also make you feel 

tired. That may sound strange, but 

it’s true. If you were very busy during 

your working years, you may feel lost 

about how to spend your time when 

you retire. When you wake up in 

the morning, you may see long days 

stretching before you with nothing 

planned. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Engaging in social and productive 

activities that you enjoy, like 

volunteering in your community, may 

help maintain your well-being. Think 

about what interests you and what 

skills or knowledge you have to offer, 

and look for places to volunteer. NIA 

has a tip sheet on this topic, or check 

For More Information about Fatigue for 

ways to find volunteer opportunities.

How Can I Feel Less Tired?

Some changes to your lifestyle can 

make you feel less tired. Here are some 

suggestions:

■ Keep a fatigue diary to help you 

find patterns throughout the day when 

you feel more or less tired.

■ Exercise regularly. Almost anyone, 

at any age, can do some type of physical 

activity. If you have concerns about starting 
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an exercise program, ask your doctor if 

there are any activities you should avoid. 

Moderate exercise may improve your 

appetite, energy, and outlook. Some 

people find that exercises combining 

balance and breathing (for example, tai 

chi or yoga) improve their energy.

■ Try to avoid long naps (over 30 minutes) 

late in the day. Long naps can leave you 

feeling groggy and may make it harder 

to fall asleep at night.

■ Stop smoking. Smoking is linked to 

many diseases and disorders, such as 

cancer, heart disease, and breathing 

problems, which can drain your energy.

■ Ask for help if you feel swamped. 

Some people have so much to do that just 

thinking about their schedules can make 

them feel tired. Working with others may 

help a job go faster and be more fun.

When Should I See a Doctor 

for Fatigue?

If you’ve been tired for several weeks 

with no relief, it may be time to call 

your healthcare provider. He or she will 

ask questions about your sleep, daily 

activities, appetite, and exercise, and 

will likely give you a physical exam and 

order lab tests.

Your treatment will be based on your 

history and the results of your exam and 

lab tests. Your doctor may prescribe 

medications to target underlying health 

problems, such as anemia or irregular 

thyroid activity. He or she may suggest 

that you eat a well-balanced diet and 

begin an exercise program.

What Is Chronic Fatigue 

Syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a 

condition in which fatigue lasts 6 months 

or longer and is not related to other 

diseases or conditions. CFS symptoms can 

include muscle pain, memory problems, 

headaches, and tender lymph nodes. 

Learn more about CFS from MedlinePlus 

at www.medlineplus.gov.

What about Liang?

Liang went to see her doctor because she 

was feeling so tired. Dr. Castillon suggested 

she join a regular exercise program to help 

strengthen her muscles and balance. She 

told her that when it comes to muscles, the 

old saying “use it or lose it” is true. Liang 

signed up for a twice-weekly class at her 

local senior center. She and Dan also began 

taking long walks in their neighborhood. 

Now, they both look forward to visits from 

their grandchildren.
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For More Information about 

Fatigue

National Cancer Institute

1-800-422-6237 (1-800-4-CANCER/

toll-free)

cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov (email)

www.cancer.gov

National Center for Complementary 

and Integrative Health

1-888-644-6226 (toll-free)

1-866-464-3615 (TTY/toll-free)

info@nccih.nih.gov (email)

www.nccih.nih.gov

National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus: Fatigue

www.medlineplus.gov/fatigue.html

USA.gov

www.usa.gov/volunteer

This webpage can connect you to 

volunteering opportunities in your 

area, including election monitoring 

and volunteering at national parks 

or museums.

For more information about health 

and aging, including sleep, nutrition, 

volunteering, and exercise, contact:

National Institute on Aging

Information Center

P.O. Box 8057

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057

1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)

1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)

niaic@nia.nih.gov (email)

www.nia.nih.gov

Visit www.nia.nih.gov/health to find more 

health and aging information from 

NIA and subscribe to email alerts. Visit 

https://order.nia.nih.gov to order free print 

publications.

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®

July 2016