- Functional fatigue affects 46.6% of Indians, causing extreme tiredness daily
- Key signs include persistent exhaustion, brain fog, emotional flatness, and irritability
- Causes include chronic stress, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and lifestyle
The recent rise in people experiencing extreme tiredness on a day-to-day basis has been termed as functional fatigue. According to a 2025 study in International Journal of Science and Research, it is becoming extremely commonplace and is a growing health concern. And when information was collected on a survey that looked at 30,899 individuals between the ages of 18 and 99 years, it found that there is a 46.6% prevalence in India, with different impacts noted in age and gender. These figures show that functional fatigue affects a large portion of the Indian population, which can manifest as certain signs that you need to watch out for.
5 Signs And Symptoms To Watch Out For
Functional fatigue can hit you at any time and can feel debilitating, but you can deal with it if you know the exact signs. There are about five signs that can indicate that you may be suffering from functional fatigue, and there is help available to address it. Extreme fatigue can manifest as the inability to perform normal everyday tasks that can have hormonal, nutrient, and stress-related causes.
1. Persistent Exhaustion Despite Rest
According to Frontiers in Medicine, patients describe fatigue as multidimensional and persistent. The main problem arises when fatigue is not relieved by sleep or rest, highlighting its functional impact on daily life. If you are feeling like this, then you could be suffering from functional fatigue.
2. Brain Fog And Difficulty Concentrating
If you are unable to recall important information correctly and accurately while trying to focus on a task, then you may be suffering from brain fog. It can also accompany difficulty concentrating, which can mean that your brain needs rest. According to the Brain Communications journal, when functional fatigue hits the brain, it can lead to the brain networks misfiring, and it is also linked to attention and working memory, explaining concentration difficulties.
3. Emotional Flatness Or Irritability
If you are feeling emotionally flat, which means you are unable to feel normal human emotion when events unfold, then it may be a sign of functional fatigue. Emotional flatness can also lead to social awkwardness and problems socially with friends and family. You may be suffering from functional fatigue, but your immediate social circle may misunderstand that you are not reacting normally to instances. Another sign of functional fatigue can also be becoming highly irritable at the smallest inconveniences, and it can lead to conflicts and problems. According to the Behaviour Research Methods, psychophysiological state impairs cognition and emotional responsiveness, often manifesting as irritability.
4. Sleep Disturbances
Functional fatigue can result in sleep disturbances that can make it impossible to function properly throughout the day. According to the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, functional fatigue may have links to chronic fatigue. And it can cause problems with disturbing deep sleep, which may be because you happen to experience frequent awakenings and reduced slow-wave sleep.
5. Physical Weakness Or Muscle Aches
If you are feeling physically weak and having constant muscle aches, then one possible cause may be due to functional fatigue. According to Experimental and Molecular Medicine, muscle fatigue is due to a decrease in the ability to produce force, often reported clinically as weakness and aches in patients with functional fatigue.
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Causes Of Functional Fatigue
- Chronic Stress: While some level of stress is important to maintain productivity, the problem arises when the stress becomes chronic. Stress can lead to the secretion of stress hormones like cortisol that can lead to problems with the brain and the body simultaneously.
- Nutrient Deficiencies: Certain nutrient deficiencies, like low iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, magnesium, and folate, may cause functional fatigue. Due to the lack of these nutrients, people can experience lapses in energy metabolism, oxygen transport to vital bodily functions, and nervous system functioning. All of these factors together contribute to persistent tiredness that still lingers even after a good night's sleep.
- Hormonal Imbalances: The human body needs a balance of hormones for proper functioning, and an imbalance in thyroid hormones, cortisol, insulin, melatonin, and growth hormone can cause issues. While functional fatigue has many causes, science-backed research exists for each of these hormones and their role in making you experience functional fatigue.
- Lifestyle Factors: If you are someone who is constantly experiencing extreme tiredness, then your sleep schedule and the hours of working may be taking a toll on your well-being. To control these lifestyle factors, you need to pay attention to your daily sleep hygiene and strike a work-life balance for proper regulation.
Read More: Nutrient Deficiencies To Medical Conditions: Expert Shares Possible Reasons For Persistent Fatigue
Health Risks If Ignored
There are serious health risks associated with functional fatigue if it is left unaddressed, and they can include:
- Impact on your overall immunity and make your suspectible to more infections.
- Lead to a decline in overall productivity and hinder daily functioning.
- And it can even impact your mental health and lead to serious issues, if left ignored.
Management And Recovery For Functional Fatigue
To effectively manage and recover from functional fatigue, you need to actively make changes to ensure your well-being. These changes should be:
- Eating a nutritious and balanced diet consistently to make your body and mind stronger.
- Following sleep hygiene to get proper rest and peaceful sleep so that the day's tiredness is effectively recycled from the brain.
- Follow daily stress management techniques to make sure that you are dealing with everyday stress head-on.
To effectively tackle functional fatigue, you need to make sure that you know when it gets too much to handle so you can seek help from medical professionals. A proactive way to tackle functional fatigue is to get routine check-ups and be in tune with what you are feeling on a day-to-day basis.
Disclaimer: This content, including advice, provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
