Lethargy

The word lethargy is used to describe a state of fatigue, sluggishness and inactivity. A state of apathy with lack of emotion or interest or comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness). It can be both physical and mental. Physical fatigue is the inability to continue functioning at the level of one's normal abilities.

It is seems to appear everywhere in everyday life, but usually becomes particularly noticeable during heavy exercise. Mental fatigue, on the other hand, rather manifests in somnolence (or "drowsiness") which is a state of near-sleep, a strong desire for sleep, or sleeping for unusually long periods.

Physical fatigue or muscle weakness (or "lack of strength") is a direct term for the inability to exert force with ones muscles to the degree that would be expected given the individual's general physical fitness. Mental fatigue In addition to physical, fatigue also includes mental fatigue, not necessarily including any muscle fatigue. Such a mental fatigue, in turn, can manifest itself both as somnolence (decreased wakefulness) or just as a general decrease of attention, not necessarily including sleepiness.

Temporary fatigue or lethargy is likely to be something which has been caused by circumstances such as stress or anxiety or by an infection such as the common cold. Chronic fatigue, on the other hand, meaning of six months or more duration, can be a symptom of a large number of different diseases or conditions such as Addison's disease, AIDS, Anaemia, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Anorexia Nervosa, Anxiety or Panic Disorder, Arthritis ATRT - Brain Cancer, Autoimmune disease, B12 Deficiency, Chemical dependency, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Clinical depression, Congestive Heart Failure, Crohn's Disease, Diabetes, Epstein-Barr Virus, Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia, Hemochromatosis, Hepatitis C, HIV, Hyperthyroidism/Graves' Disease, Hyperparathyroidism, Hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Idiopathic Hypersomnia, Lead poisoning, Leukaemia or Lymphoma, Lupus erythematosus, Lyme disease, Interstitial Cystitis, Mitral valve prolapse/Mitral regurgitation, Mononucleosis, Multiple sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia gravis, Parkinson's disease, Pernicious anemia, Pneumonia, Post-Cancer Fatigue, Post-Concussion Syndrome, Pregnancy, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, (PBC), Reyes Syndrome, Certain medications, eg: lithium salts, ciprofloxacin Sinusitis, Sleep deprivation, Sleep disorders, eg: insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, or narcolepsy, Starvation, Ulcerative colitis, Wegener's granulomatosis, Wilson's Syndrome.

For specific information and therapies on some of the above conditions, check the 'Conditions' home page. Also see 'Relaxing', 'Stress', 'Anxiety' or 'Depression'.