Lethargy: Causes, Symptoms, Complications, And Treatment

Constant feeling of tiredness, weariness, or lack of energy followed by depression, decreased motivation, or apathy is generally known as Lethargy. Normally, due to common reasons like overexertion, overworking, stress, inadequate sleep, lack of exercise, or boredom one can experience Lethargy, which can be easily cured by better lifestyle alterations like good sleep and nutrition along with activities that are engaging and proven to decrease stress.

Other reasons which are associated with an underlying physical or psychological disorder, may not be resolved with general self-care techniques. Some of the common physiological conditions like allergies, asthma, anemia, chronic pain, heart disease, infection, thyroid problems, cancer, and medication side effects may lead to clinical Lethargy.

Psychological reasons like grief, depression, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, alcohol or drug use/abuse can also cause Lethargy.

Other than the underlying medical condition the duration of Lethargy also determines the severity. Lethargy feeling starts in the morning and stays the entire day.

It can be temporary or may be due to disturbance in life cycle events like constipation, dry skin, lack of sleep, depression, cold sensitivity, and weight gain. But if the condition is also accompanied by shortness of breath or any underlying heart or lung problems, it could be persistent.

Lethargy itself rarely causes an emergency situation, although if it has been combined with a serious medical condition it may require an immediate evaluation to avoid significant complications. Immediately consult your doctor, if you feel chronic fatigue syndrome.

It starts with a flu-like illness like high fever, dizziness, shortness of breath, energy loss, blurred vision, rapid heart rate, low urine output, chest pain, weight gain, sudden swelling, severe pain, or consciousness.

To identify the cause of Lethargy, one needs to identify the relation between the surface symptoms and the root cause of the occurrence. Your medical professional will evaluate the reason behind the lack of energy via physical and verbal diagnosis. This may include a series of tests which includes blood and urine tests and imaging tests to design the treatment and prognosis of Lethargy.

General causes of Lethargy include:

• Inadequate sleep
• Stress
• Lack of exercise
• Overexertion
• Overworking
• Boredom

Lethargy connected with these general causes can easily be resolved with self-care techniques like rest, adequate sleep, decreased stress, and good nutrition.

The main cause of Lethargy which can’t be treated with self-care and may be associated with ongoing disease, disorder, or conditions such as:

• Asthma
• Irregular heartbeat
• Heart valve disease
• Cardiomyopathy (Abnormal heart muscle functioning
• Pneumonia
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure
• COPD- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

It can be caused by neurological and psychosocial conditions:

• Depression
• Dementia
• Alcohol and drug use
• Eating disorder
• Anxiety
• Overwork
• Work shift change
• Grief
• Lack of exercise

Other causes may include:

• Liver disease
• Anemia
• Cancer & its treatment
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Chronic pain
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Thyroid
• Any Infection
• Exposure to environmental toxins
• Malnutrition
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Any medicine side-effect

It can also be caused due to serious or life-threatening conditions such as:

• Trauma
• Depression
• Drugs use
• Leukemia
• Hemorrhage
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Abnormal heartbeat
• Any severe infection

Lethargy is a non-specific symptom, usually, it has some reason or it happens due to an underlying medical condition. Below are the symptoms which are associated with heart and lung:

• Chest pain
• Rapid heart rate
• Dizziness
• Cough
• Abnormal heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

Symptoms associated with other body systems:

• Appetite changes
• Change in bowel movements
• Anxiety
• Sneezing
• Hair loss
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Weakness
• Skin changes
• Hair loss
• Weight gain or loss
• Thirsty feeling
• Fever
• Frequent urination

Symptoms associated with life-threatening situations:

• Tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
• Breathing issues
• Being a danger to oneself or suicidal behavior
• Loss of consciousness
• Paralysis on one or both sides of the face
• Chest pain or tightness
• Sudden vision change
• Severe pain
• Inability to move limbs
• Disorientation
• High fever
• Palpitation
• Blood in vomit
• Blood in stool
• Rectal bleeding
• Headache

Seek medical attention immediately in case the patient shows the following symptoms:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritation in eyes
• Swollen neck glands
• Fatigue
• Weight gain or loss
• Difficulty in tolerating cold & hot temperatures
• Ache & pain that doesn't go away with treatment

Newborns and toddlers with or without any underlying medical condition may experience Lethargy. These symptoms may include:

• Dehydration.
• Crying without tears.
• Dry mouth.
• Less frequent urination.
• Sudden rash.
• Difficult to rouse.
• Fever more than 102°F (38.9°C).
• Forced vomiting, especially for more than 12 hours.

Since Lethargy is a response your body produced as a result of the underlying medical condition, delay or late treatment may result in serious issues:

• Spread of infection.
• Disability.
• Isolation.
• Drug overdose.
• Persistent symptoms.
• Cancer.
• Infertility or Abnormal menstrual cycle.
• Heart, lung, liver, or kidney disease.

Diagnosis of Lethargy will be initiated with a series of questions to collect data about an individual lifestyle and daily routine habit along with any underlying medical conditions, some of the questions that your doctor may associate with your daily routine are:

• First time when you notice the symptoms of Lethargy.
• When should I be concerned about Lethargy and its effects?
• Your regular activity schedule includes your sleep pattern, daily diet, physical activity, occupation ( to get an understanding of your level of stress), etc.
• How do you feel?
• Do you consume alcohol or any illicit drugs?
• Do you experience any other warning signs?
• Any medical history, if yes, what medicines you are taking?

Other than data collection, the doctor will also conduct a medical examination which may include:

• Examining your heartbeat and lungs functioning.
• Checking your bowel sounds and signs of any physical pain.
• Examination of your overall mental health.

If the patient has an underlying medical condition, the route of the medical diagnosis will become more specific to that condition. For instance, if the patient has a thyroid disorder, then your physical examination will also include a series of blood tests to analyze the level of thyroid in the bloodstream. In case of any neurological, or psychological condition such as head injury, stroke, or meningitis, imaging studies like CT or MRI scans will also be recommended.

After the diagnosis, your medical advisor will design a treatment plan for the underlying disease and its associated symptoms of Lethargy.

For instance, if one’s Lethargy is due to any physical illness, the doctor will plan the treatment focused on the treatment of the disease as it will ease out the effects of Lethargy on the patient, on the other hand, if the cause of Lethargy is connected to any psychological condition, one will be prescribed medications associated with Lethargy as it can trigger an increase in the severity of the disorder.

Your doctor might initiate the treatment plan by recommending the following habits to reduce the fatigue and weakness related to Lethargy:

• Drink plenty of fluids, not just water but drinks like fruit and vegetable juice, energy supplements, etc may also be recommended.
• To maintain overall health and fitness, a wholesome meal is important, have small frequent meals rich in protein and multivitamins, and nutrients.
• One of the most common reasons behind Lethargy is sleep deprivation, your doctor will recommend you to have a sound sleep. In case of insomnia or other sleeping disorders, your doctor might recommend medication that will help you sleep better.
• Practicing stress management is crucial to recover from Lethargy. Stress produces hormones that hinder the overall functioning of the body triggering a variety of medical conditions. Things like physical exercise, breathing exercise and medication, yoga, and other natural ways to reduce stress will be recommended as per the case. If the level of stress cannot be cured via natural therapies, your doctor may recommend medication that will ease the effects of stress on your body.

Severe cases of Lethargy associated with a critical medical condition are hard to prevent as the medical condition or its treatment will imbalance internal functioning. But common cases where the cause of the illness is associated with poor lifestyle choices is easy to prevent if one keeps a check of the following things:

1. Sleep: It is important to have sound sleep for the body in order to function properly. Not getting enough sleep, or more sleep than required, having a night of disturbed sleep, consumption of high caffeine at sleep hours, or excess screen time before bed can make you feel sleep-deprived resulting in Lethargy. Some of the methods that one can follow in order to have better sleep:
   • Avoid consumption of high caffeine products like chocolate and coffee three hours prior to bedtime, as it can keep you awake during the night.
   • Keeping your screen away for at least one hour before going to bed will keep your eyes fresh and less stressed.
   • Try to make a routine, maintain a habit of sleeping, and waking up every day at the same time will help you sleep better.
   • Keeping pleasant scents like room freshener, body oils, etc. will help you drift off easily.
   • Bath will warm water before bed will keep your body during the night making it easy for you to sleep.
2. Diet: Poor diet and eating habits may cause weakness and fatigue leading to an individual feeling lethargic. Avoid things like fast food and foods with less nutrient content as it will make your body more fragile and prone to diseases. Try not to take sugary foods. You can have a balanced diet containing fruits and vegetables to avoid deficiency. Consume more natural sugars than artificial sweeteners to avoid any sugar rush.

Summary: Lethargy can be described as a state of fatigue and low energy. An individual may experience low energy and motivation throughout the day. From overexertion to ongoing medical conditions, the cause of Lethargy can have a big cause.