Chronic fatigue - What measures will help me?

Dear Ask The Doctor: I m feeling very lazy n tired n who ever looks at my face tells me tat i m looking very sleepy n i hav lack of concentration n forgeting wat i m studying previous day!! i m havin adequate sleep in nite of 6 hrs n 1hr in morning n playing 1hr daily in evening n then also in morning i dont feel fresh n look fresh. plzz if u can help me.

Dear Varun: I do understand that we all feel tired from time to time. But it becomes a concern if the symptoms last for a long time and there is no cause discovered. The reasons for tiredness could be physical, psychological or an underlying illness.

• Both obesity and being underweight cause tiredness and fatigue.
• Psychological causes are depression, insomnia, increased worries and stress.
• Underlying illness like anemia, chronic infections, diabetes, hypothyroidism and cancer can also cause fatigue.

The steps that you can take to improve your fatigue are :

i) Improve sleep by setting up a routine for sleep. Not drinking coffee/tea before going to bed and refrain from watching television, reading books in bed.

ii) Getting adequate exercise and a proper diet.

iii) Relax by listening to music or do yoga/stretching exercises.

If these measures don't help, then you may have to consult your doctor. A complete blood count, thyroid levels and a chest x-ray may help in the diagnosis.