Fatigue
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy that can interfere with usual daily activities. It is a symptom rather than a disease, and it can be a normal response to physical activity, emotional stress, boredom, or lack of sleep. Fatigue can also be a sign of a mental or physical condition, and it can be caused by various medical problems, treatments, and lifestyle habits. An overwhelming fatigue that lasts a long time, does not improve with rest, and limits daily activities is part of a disorder called myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
- ICD-10
- R53
- ICD-11
- MG22 Fatigue
Description
What is fatigue?
Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy. It can interfere with your usual daily activities. Fatigue can be a normal response to physical activity, emotional stress, boredom, or lack of sleep. But sometimes it can be a sign of a mental or physical condition. If you have been feeling tired for weeks, contact your health care provider. They can help you find out what's causing your fatigue and recommend ways to relieve it.
What causes fatigue?
Fatigue itself is not a disease; it's a symptom. It can have many different causes, including pregnancy and various medical problems, treatments, and lifestyle habits such as:
- Medical problems:
- Chronic (long-lasting) diseases such as diabetes, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and heart, liver, kidney and thyroid diseases
- Untreated pain and diseases like fibromyalgia
- Anemia
- Infections
- Parkinson's disease
- Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders
- Recent stroke
- Mental disorders such as depression and anxiety
- Treatments:
- Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow transplants
- Recovering from major surgery
- Taking certain medicines, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, and medicines for nausea and pain
- Lifestyle habits:
- Not getting enough sleep
- Staying up too late
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Substance use
- Having too much caffeine (which can keep you from getting a good night's sleep)
- Getting too little or too much exercise
Overwhelming fatigue is part of a disorder called myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The fatigue caused by this disorder is different from a tired feeling that goes away after you rest. Instead, the fatigue in ME/CFS lasts a long time, does not get better with rest, and limits your ability to do ordinary daily activities.
What can I do to manage fatigue?
If you've had fatigue that does not get better after several weeks, call your provider. They will ask questions about your sleep, daily activities, appetite, and exercise. They will likely do a physical exam and order lab tests. Once they decide on a diagnosis, they can tell you what treatments might help.
You can also make some lifestyle changes to feel less tired:
- Get regular physical activity
- Improve your sleep habits
- Stop smoking (if you smoke), since smoking is linked to many diseases that can cause fatigue
- Manage stress
- Eat a healthy diet and avoid alcohol
It also may be helpful for you to keep a fatigue diary. This can help you find patterns throughout the day, such as when you feel more tired and when you have more energy. It can also help you plan for activities that may give you more energy.
NIH: National Institute on Aging
Next to it in ICD-10
- R52Pain
- R52.0Acute pain
- R52.1Chronic pain that does not respond to treatment
- R54Age-related weakness
- R55Fainting
- R56Seizures
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
What people report
Not enough data yet. Anonymous counts appear here only for groups of at least 20 people who agreed to share them.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Fatigue?
R53 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Fatigue?
MG22: Fatigue (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
About this page. This page brings together public information from official sources, each cited where it is used. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it does not tell you which treatment to take.
Treatments. Indications are quoted unchanged from official product information (European Medicines Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration). They describe what a medicine is approved for, not whether it is right for you. Approved uses can differ between countries. Always read the package leaflet and follow your doctor's or pharmacist's advice.
What people report. Figures marked "reported by Anpheros users" are anonymous counts from at least 20 people who agreed to share them. They show what people report, not what works, and they are not clinical evidence.
Links between terms. "May be associated with" means the link appears in a cited source. It does not mean you have that condition.
In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number). Do not delay seeking medical help because of something you read here.