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Signs & Symptoms of Fatigue & Weakness

Fatigue and weakness are symptoms of medical or psychological conditions. These two symptoms often accompany other signs and symptoms that help clinicians diagnose the underlying cause. Signs are objective findings that are apparent to healthcare workers conducting a physical examination. Symptoms are subjective reports by the patient that can be corroborated by signs. Although often used interchangeably, fatigue and weakness refer to two very different sensations, according to WebMD.

  1. Definition of Fatigue

    • Fatigue is defined as feeling tired, exhausted or lacking energy. Feeling fatigue may not necessarily be a reason for concern. A common example might be feeling jet-lagged or tired after too little sleep. Short-term fatigue is your body's way of telling you to rest and recharge.

    Definition of Weakness

    • Weakness "is a lack of physical or muscle strength and the feeling that extra effort is needed to perform daily activities that require you to move your arms, legs, or other muscles," according to WebMD. Again, feeling weak may not be a reason for concern. You would naturally expect to feel weak after a hard workout or uncommon physical exertion.

    Causes of Fatigue

    • Long-term fatigue can be caused by emotional stress or physical disease. It may also be a side-effect of prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, street drugs or alcohol. When long-term fatigue is accompanied by other signs of serious illness such as difficulty breathing, abnormal bleeding or weight loss or weight gain, a visit to the doctor is recommended. There are multiple disorders that result in feeling fatigued. A physical examination and laboratory tests can often help determine what the cause might be.

    Causes of Weakness

    • Long-term weakness can be acute or chronic. Weakness that comes on suddenly and on one side of the body may indicate a stroke or cerebrovascular accident. Chronic weakness can result from an imbalance of chemicals or electrolytes in the bloodstream, over- or under-activity of the thyroid gland or, rarely, diseases such as myasthenia gravis.

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