Tired vs. Fatigue

I've been asked numerous times about the differences in being tired and being fatigued. Below, an incredible piece from the Patient Experience highlights the differences:

…tiredness can […] be alleviated by rest. On the other hand fatigue is often the product of a chronic medical condition. It can lead to anxiety, light sensitivity, difficulty in sleeping and depression. Many people with fatigue go on find themselves almost in a state of delirium and exhaustion and it is difficult for them to carry on their previous lifestyles.

On the News Medical web site Dr Olson said “”It is important to recognize the difference between tiredness and fatigue, because fatigue is a marker that the body is not able to keep up. The onset of the manifestations of fatigue, particularly if these are not normal states for you, should be taken seriously.”

One of Dr Olson’s pieces of advice is to avoid caffeine and other stimulants which in the long term can lead to greater fatigue.