Persistent Tiredness May Indicate a Medical Condition

Many people experience tiredness. Busy schedules, on the job stress and late nights equal a recipe for fatigue. Most fatigue is caused by stress, sleep problems and depression. However, chronic fatigue syndrome is more severe and is also accompanied by other symptoms. If you have fatigue for at least six months that's not alleviated by rest in addition to other symptoms, you may have chronic fatigue syndrome. According to the National Institutes of Health there are specific risk factors for CFS: • People of every age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic group can have CFS. • CFS affects women at four times the rate of men. • Research indicates that CFS is most common in people in their 40s and 50s. • Although CFS is much less common in children than in adults, children can develop the illness, particularly during the teen years.