TempoLife › Features › Always tired? The causes in order › red-flags
When tiredness means see a doctor and tiredness
The signs that move this from lifestyle to medical.
Most tiredness is sleep, iron, thyroid, D, mood or alcohol — and all of those are fixable. But a few patterns are the reason clinicians ask more questions: tiredness with unexplained weight loss, fevers or night sweats; breathlessness or chest pain on light effort; a change in bowel habit; new headaches; or tiredness that has lasted months and is getting worse.
The rule of thumb: tiredness that has a clear pattern (better after rest, better on holiday, worse after bad weeks) is usually behavioural. Tiredness that is progressive, unexplained and unrelenting deserves blood tests and a proper history. You do not need to be certain it is serious to book the appointment — ruling out is what the appointment is for.
Check first
Any of the red flags above: book a clinician review — blood tests are the standard first step.
Reference, not medical advice. If tiredness is progressive, unexplained, or comes with weight loss, fevers, night sweats or breathlessness, see a clinician. Nothing here diagnoses.