Afternoon or evening fatigue can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'minor' to 'very serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose afternoon or evening fatigue, we could:
male characteristics
occasionally feeling unusually cold
refined white flour consumption
severe fatigue after slight exertion
high sensitivity to bright light
indoor allergies
history of cysts in breasts
hyperthyroidism in family members
low diastolic blood pressure
low energy/stamina
being a lethargic person
rotten egg burps| Cause | Probability | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Narcolepsy | 99% | Confirm |
| Adrenal Fatigue | 17% | Unlikely |
| Hypothyroidism | 14% | Unlikely |
| Stress | 3% | Ruled out |
| Syndrome X | 3% | Ruled out |
| Hypoglycemia | 0% | Ruled out |
| Caffeine Intoxication | 0% | Ruled out |
| Low Estrogens | 0% | Ruled out |
|
Do you regularly become tired in the afternoon or evening and feel like having a nap? Do not answer if the reason is lack of sleep or you work at night.
Possible responses:
→ I don't sleep enough / I work nights / don't know→ No / my energy level is generally fine → I feel like napping several times a month → I need a nap most days / fall asleep occasionally → I regularly fall asleep involuntarily |
Caffeine is known to cause periods of exhaustion.