Fatigue is one of the most common reasons people visit their doctor, yet not all fatigue is the same. For many, tiredness becomes a daily identity—something they blame on age, nutrition, or lifestyle. But chronic fatigue is often a symptom your body is trying to communicate, not a personal failure. Below are the two primary types of fatigue and how to tell which one may be affecting you.

Lifestyle Fatigue: The More Obvious Culprit

This type of fatigue is linked to habits, routine, and daily demands. Common causes include:

• Poor sleep habits
• Overworking or burnout
• Nutrient-poor diet
• Chronic stress
• Excess screen time or lack of movement

Signs that lifestyle fatigue may be the issue:

• Improvement after sleep or rest
• Energy levels that shift with stress or routine
• No significant additional health symptoms

When lifestyle fatigue is the root, simple changes often help, such as consistent sleep, balanced nutrition, daily movement, and reducing stimulants or alcohol.

Medical Fatigue: When Something Deeper Is Going On

Medical fatigue does not improve with rest, diet, or exercise—and is often missed or dismissed. These underlying issues can drain your energy even if your labs look “normal.”

• Low thyroid function
• Hormone imbalances
• Nutritional deficiencies (B12, iron, magnesium, vitamin D)
• Chronic infections or inflammation
• Sleep apnea or poor oxygenation
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Insulin resistance or prediabetes
• Post-viral fatigue syndromes
• Anemia

Red flags that suggest medical fatigue:

• Feeling exhausted even after 8+ hours of sleep
• Constant brain fog
• Daily energy crashes (especially mid-afternoon)
• Doing “everything right” but still feeling off
• Low mood, motivation, or libido
• Normal labs but abnormal symptoms
• Being told “it’s just stress” repeatedly

How a Health Optimization Physician Helps

At Delight Medical & Wellness Center, we look beyond surface-level symptoms.
Most patients experiencing fatigue have underlying metabolic or hormonal imbalances,
and many don’t realize it until we evaluate the full picture.

• Identifying root causes
• Ordering advanced diagnostic labs
• Reviewing lifestyle and health history together
• Creating a personalized treatment plan
• Monitoring progress until symptoms improve

Fatigue Is a Signal — Not a Failure

Fatigue isn’t about laziness or lack of discipline. It’s a message from your body. Whether it points to lifestyle changes or deeper medical factors, the right evaluation can help you understand what’s really going on.

What to Do Next

• Stop blaming yourself—fatigue isn’t a character flaw.
• Stop guessing—random supplements won’t solve medical fatigue.
• Start with a proper evaluation—our team specializes in identifying the true source of low energy.

Restore Your Energy & Reclaim Your Vitality

If fatigue improves with rest, it’s likely lifestyle-related. If it persists no matter what you change, it may be medical—and we can help you uncover the root.

Book a fatigue consultation with Dr. Kerendian today at www.delightmedical.com and begin your journey toward restored energy and optimized health.