Morning fatigue can be a cause for concern as it is not necessarily related to sleep and can be a symptom of underlying medical conditions such as sleep disorders, depression, chronic conditions, and medication side effects. Treatment and management options are available, and sudden changes in energy levels should be evaluated for potential medical problems.
Morning fatigue is an unusually low energy level in the morning. People with morning fatigue aren’t necessarily sleepy or tired, and getting sleep won’t help them feel better. They may wake up feeling tired or develop fatigue quickly in the morning. Since energy levels are usually high when people wake up, morning fatigue can be a cause for concern. There are a number of reasons people develop fatigue in the morning and these can be considered during a medical evaluation.
A common cause is disordered sleep. People with sleep disorders such as apnea and insomnia may feel tired in the morning, as can people who do shift work or change their sleep schedules. Another cause can be depression, in which case energy levels can remain low throughout the day. Fatigue in people with depression can be accompanied by generally depressed feelings and unhappiness.
Chronic conditions including low blood pressure, thyroid problems, anemia, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome are also linked to morning fatigue. Also, some medications can make people tired; cancer therapy is a common cause of fatigue, for example. A differential diagnosis and evaluation can be used to determine if a patient has an underlying medical problem. Patients with known medical conditions who notice a change in status such as the sudden development of fatigue may consider a reevaluation to see if anything in the condition has changed.
Some causes of morning fatigue can be treated, resolving low energy levels in the morning and helping patients resume normal activity levels. Others cannot be cured, but can be managed with medical care. Budgeting for energy usage can be beneficial for patients, as can care during periods of severe fatigue. For example, parents of young children who have difficulty helping their children in the morning might get help from a partner or childcare worker.
Sudden changes in energy levels at any time of day can be an indicator of a developing medical problem. Everyone has occasional rest days, but if fatigue and other symptoms persist for several days, worsen, or are accompanied by symptoms such as fuzzy-headedness, sleepiness, or feeling off balance, a patient may have a serious medical problem. Comprehensive evaluation of a patient for all possible causes can take several weeks and can include extensive diagnostic tests including medical imaging, taking blood samples, and conducting patient interviews to learn more about a patient’s lifestyle, health, usual energy level and potential risk factors for the disease.
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