General wellnessLiving with chronic illness

6 times your fatigue is something more serious

We all feel tired from time to time, but if walking to the bathroom wipes you out, there may be an underlying issue.

Jan, 2026
LearnNatural energy6 times your fatigue is something more serious
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Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
Heart disease
Diabetes
Anemia
Thyroid disorders
Cancer

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Fatigue is a state of mental and physical exhaustion that can leave you feeling weak and deflated. Temporary fatigue typically has an identifiable cause. Once it's addressed, the fatigue will go away over time. Common causes include too little sleep, a lack of exercise, or poor diet.

If your lethargy doesn’t have an identifiable cause, lasts for a long time, or isn’t remedied by restful sleep, it may be a sign of an underlying health condition, like anemia, thyroid disorders, or diabetes.

Find out what might be the source of your long-term fatigue, and whether it’s something you should discuss with a healthcare provider (HCP).

Written byTaylor Lupo.
Medically reviewed byAnn Wendling, MD, MPH.July, 2025
Sources: MedlinePlus. Fatigue. April 24 + 26
  1. MedlinePlus. Fatigue. April 24, 2021.
  2. MedlinePlus. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. January 17, 2023.
  3. Bateman L, Bested AC, et al. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Essentials of Diagnosis and Management. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021 Nov;96(11):2861-2878.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Overview of ME/CFS. May 10, 2024.
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is ME/CFS? January 27, 2021.
  6. Office on Women’s Health. Chronic fatigue syndrome. October 24, 2025.
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Possible Causes. July 12, 2018.
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms and Diagnosis of ME/CFS. July 12, 2018.
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment of ME/CFS. January 28, 2021.
  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Disease Facts. October 14, 2022.
  11. American Heart Association. Warning Signs of a Heart Attack. December 5, 2022.
  12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women and Heart Disease. October 14, 2022.
  13. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Heart Tests. March 24, 2022.
  14. Singh R, Teel C, Sabus C, et al. Fatigue in Type 2 Diabetes: Impact on Quality of Life and Predictors. PLoS One. 2016;11(11):e0165652.
  15. American Heart Association. Symptoms, Diagnosis and Monitoring of Diabetes. May 5, 2021.
  16. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. What Is Anemia? March 24, 2022.
  17. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Vitamin B12–Deficiency Anemia. March 24, 2022.
  18. American Society of Hematology. Iron-Deficiency Anemia. Accessed on February 9, 2023.
  19. MedlinePlus. Thyroid Diseases. January 11, 2023.
  20. MedlinePlus. Hyperthyroidism. June 16, 2021.
  21. MedlinePlus. Hypothyroidism. June 16, 2021.
  22. MedlinePlus. Thyroid Tests. January 11, 2023.
  23. American Cancer Society. Fatigue and Weakness. Accessed on February 9, 2023.
  24. American Cancer Society. What is Fatigue or Weakness? February 1, 2020.
  25. American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Cancer. November 6, 2020.
  26. American Cancer Society. Treatment Types. Accessed on February 9, 2023.
  27. American Cancer Society. Managing Fatigue or Weakness. February 1, 2020.

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