Treatment depends on the patient's overall situation. A patient who is in active treatment may have different priorities than a person who has completed treatment, or who is at the end of life. Some management strategies may help all patients and could be supported by the work of an Occupational Therapist. These include scheduling high-priority tasks during the patient's best time of day, using labor-saving devices, delegating tasks to caregivers, and avoiding unimportant activities, so that the patient will have more energy available for other activities. Patients who are not at the end of life may benefit from physical exercise or physical therapy. Engaging in moderate activity reduces fatigue. While antidepressants are ineffective at reducing fatigue in non-depressed<unk>  patients, the stimulant methylphenidate (Ritalin) may reduce fatigue in some patients. At the end of life, fatigue is usually associated with other symptoms, especially anemia, side effects from many medications and previous treatments, and poor nutritional status. Pain, difficulty breathing, and fatigue form a common symptom cluster. Fatigue often increases as patients with advanced<unk>  approach death. As a result, people who are dying often sleep much more than a healthy person. Addressing specific causes If the fatigue is caused or exacerbated by a specific medical condition, such as anemia, then treatment of that medical condition should reduce the fatigue. * Anemia: Loss of oxygen-carrying red blood cells is a common cause of fatigue. Medications to improve blood production or blood transfusions frequently reduce fatigue. * Pain: A variety of approaches to managing<unk>  pain may be used, particularly analgesic medications. * Emotional distress: Anxiety and depression are strongly associated with fatigue in<unk>  patients. Psychosocial treatments directed at reducing stress and increasing coping skills may reduce fatigue. Additionally, some patients in active treatment worry that the fatigue indicates treatment failure, and this anxiety may increase their fatigue in a vicious cycle. Education about fatigue as a normal side effect can reassure the patient. Up to 25% of<unk>  patients will experience depression. * Sleep disturbances: Patients who do not sleep well are more tired than others.<unk>  patients commonly experience insomnia or hypersomnia. Sleep disturbances may be caused by sleeping too much during the day, by restless leg syndrome, by pain, by anxiety, or by other medical conditions, like obstructive sleep apnea or menopause. Practicing good sleep hygiene may reduce fatigue by improving sleep quality. * Nutritional disturbances: Patients may have difficulty eating, may not be absorbing food well, or may have chosen an extreme diet as an alternative<unk>  treatment. Loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting may result in the patient consuming too few calories or becoming dehydrated. * Lack of physical activity: Decreased physical activity can make fatigue worse by reducing endurance and muscle strength. Participating in regular aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity both during and after<unk>  treatment may reduce<unk> . Current physical activity guidelines recommend adults with<unk>  to engage in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate- intensity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination. It is also recommended to perform muscle-strengthening physical activity two to three times a week, although there are studies showing that aerobic training is better at mitigating symptoms of<unk>  and reduces the risk of post exercise malaise. Physical activities should be tailored to individual needs and physical abilities. * Side effects from medications: Fatigue and sleepiness are known side effects with some kinds of medications. Sometimes a change of medication, the dose, or the timing of the medication may result in less fatigue. For example, an antihistamine might be taken shortly before sleep, rather than in the middle of the day. * Substance abuse: Alcohol, marijuana, and many other drugs can produce fatigue as a side effect. * Other medical conditions:<unk>  and its treatment usually put intense physical stress on the body, which can exacerbate other medical conditions. Additionally, fatigue may result from an infection.
Cancer-related fatigue
Idiopathic chronic fatigue
Functional somatic syndrome
AIDS fatigue
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Postmenopausal confusion
Food addiction
Exercise addiction