Lethargy: Definition, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Lethargy causes you to feel sleepy or fatigued and sluggish. This sluggishness may be physical or mental. People with these symptoms are described as ... HealthlineHealthConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectSubscribeFitnessGetMotivatedFindYourMovementLevelUpExercise+ConditionsRestandRecoverSupportYourJourneyExercisewithUsWhatYouShouldKnowAboutLethargyMedicallyreviewedbySuzanneFalck,M.D.,FACP—WrittenbyRachelNall,MSN,CRNA—UpdatedonAugust2,2019SymptomsCausesSeekmedicalhelpDiagnosisTreatmentWhatislethargy?Lethargycausesyoutofeelsleepyorfatiguedandsluggish.Thissluggishnessmaybephysicalormental.Peoplewiththesesymptomsaredescribedaslethargic.Lethargycanberelatedtoanunderlyingphysicalormentalcondition.Whatarethesymptomsoflethargy?Lethargycancausesomeorallofthefollowingsymptoms:changesinmooddecreasedalertnessordecreasedabilitytothinkfatiguelowenergysluggishnessPeoplewithlethargymayactasifthey’reinadaze.Theymaymovemoreslowlythanusual.Whatcauseslethargy?Manykindsofacuteillnessescanmakeyoufeellethargic.Thisincludesthefluorastomachvirus.Otherphysicalormedicalconditionscanalsocauselethargy,suchas:carbonmonoxidepoisoningdehydrationfeverhyperthyroidismhypothyroidismhydrocephalusorbrainswellingkidneyfailureLymediseasemeningitispituitarydiseases,suchaspituitarycancernutritiondeficienciessleepapneastroketraumaticbraininjuryLethargycanalsobetheresultofmentalhealthconditions.Theseinclude:majordepressivedisorderpostpartumdepressionpremenstrualsyndrome(PMS)Lethargycanalsobeasideeffectoftakingcertainmedications,suchasnarcotics.WhenshouldIseekmedicalhelpforlethargy?Symptomsoflethargymayrequireemergencymedicalattention,especiallyiftheycomeonsuddenly.Seekemergencymedicalattentionifyouexperiencelethargyalongwiththefollowingsymptoms:chestpainunresponsivenessorminimalresponsivenessinabilitytomoveyourlimbsononesideofyourbodydisorientation,suchasnotknowingyourname,thedate,oryourlocationfastheartrateparalysisononeorbothsidesofyourfacelossofconsciousnessrectalbleedingsevereheadacheshortnessofbreathvomitingbloodAnynoticeable,markedchangesinbehavioraccompaniedbylethargyareoftencauseforconcern.Seekimmediatemedicalattentionifyouexperiencethoughtsofharmingyourselfalongwithlethargy.TheHealthlineFindCaretoolcanprovideoptionsinyourareaifyoudon’talreadyhaveadoctor.Youmayalsowanttomakeanappointmentatyourdoctor’sofficeifyouexperienceanyofthesesymptomsalongsidelethargy:achesandpainsthatdon’tgoawaywithtreatmentdifficultysleepingdifficultytoleratinghotorcoldtemperatureseyeirritationfatiguethatlastslongerthantwoweeksfeelingsofsadnessorirritabilityswollenneckglandsunexplainedweightgainorlossLethargyinbabiesoryoungchildrenBabiesoryoungchildrencanalsoexperiencelethargy.Symptomsinbabiesthatmayneedimmediatemedicalattentioninclude:difficulttorousefevergreaterthan102°F(38.9°C)dehydrationsymptoms,suchascryingwithouttears,drymouth,orfewwetdiaperssuddenrashvomitingforcefully,especiallyformorethan12hoursHowislethargydiagnosed?Yourdoctorwillusuallytakeafullmedicalhistorytodiscussanyofyourpreviousmedicalconditions.Theymayalsoperformaphysicalexamthatcaninclude:listeningtoyourheartandlungscheckingforbowelsoundsandpainevaluatingyourmentalawarenessDiagnostictestingtypicallydependsonwhatyourdoctorsuspectsmaybeanunderlyingcause.Forexample,ifyourdoctorthinksyoumayhaveathyroiddisorder,theymayorderbloodteststodetermineifyourthyroidhormonesarehighorlow.Yourdoctormayorderimagingstudies,suchasaCTorMRIscan,iftheysuspectthecauseisbrain-related,suchasaheadinjury,stroke,ormeningitis.Howislethargytreated?Treatmentforlethargydependsuponitsunderlyingcause.Forexample,theymayprescribeantidepressantsifyourlethargyiscausedbydepressionoranothermentalhealthdisorder.Youcanpracticehealthyhabitsathometoreducethefatiguerelatedtolethargy.Examplesinclude:drinkingplentyoffluidseatingahealthydietgettingplentyofsleepreducingstresslevelsMakeanappointmentwithyourhealthcareproviderifthesehealthyhabitsdon’thelpyoursymptoms.LastmedicallyreviewedonJanuary26,2018MedicallyreviewedbySuzanneFalck,M.D.,FACP—WrittenbyRachelNall,MSN,CRNA—UpdatedonAugust2,2019Readthisnext10ReasonsYou’reAlwaysTired(andWhatYouCanDoAboutIt)WrittenbyFranziskaSpritzlerFeelingtiredonaregularbasisisextremelycommon.Thisarticleoutlines10reasonswhypeoplefeeltired,aswellaswhattodoaboutit.READMOREWhyIsMyDiabetesMakingMeSoTired?MedicallyreviewedbyDebraSullivan,Ph.D.,MSN,R.N.,CNE,COIIfyouhavediabetes,you'lllikelyexperiencefatigueatsomepoint.We'lltellyouwhatyouneedtoknow.READMORESignsofIronDeficiencyWrittenbyMaryJaneBrown,PhD,RD(UK)Ifyou'renotgettingenoughiron,youmaydevelopiron-deficiencyanemia.Hereare10signsandsymptomsthatyou'redeficientiniron.READMORE15WaystoCombatTirednessMedicallyreviewedbyJamesKeithFisher,MDFeelingtiredmayjustbeasymptomofourmodernlives.Butfeelingtiredallthetime,aconditioncalledfatigue,couldbeasignofsomethingmore…READMOREThe6BestIndoorBikeTrainersforHomeMedicallyreviewedbyGregoryMinnis,DPTSeewhatindoorbiketrainersourexpertshavehandpickedforyourat-homeworkouts.READMOREThe6BestPowerRacksforYourHomeGymMedicallyreviewedbyDanielBubnis,M.S.,NASM-CPT,NASELevelII-CSSSeewhatpowerracksourteamhaspickedforyoutoensureyougetthemostoutofyourhomegym.READMOREThe7BestPowerTowersforYourHomeGymMedicallyr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