Schiffert Health Center

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Patient Information:

Fatigue and The College Student

INTRODUCTION binge drinks alcohol 2-3 nights a week, drinks 3 16 oz.
Fatigue is a subjective symptom of tiredness, weariness, Starbuck’s coffees and a Diet Coke a day, sleeps an average
or lack of energy. It is the 7 most common symptom (sore of 6 hours or less a night, was diagnosed with
th

throat, nausea, headache, nasal congestion etc.) described mononucleosis 3 weeks ago…sounds exhausting doesn’t it?
during medical office visits in the United States. Nearly 7% Young persons, as in this example, do come to us asking,
of patients presenting symptoms to family doctors complain “How come I feel so tired all of the time?”
of fatigue as the primary problem. Fatigue may result from
virtually every physical and psychological illness.
SYMPTOMS, SIGNS, HISTORY AND LIFESTYLE CLUES
Fortunately fatigue in the college student is self-limited and The duration of the fatigue is helpful for the clinician to
clears with time. There are four major classes of fatigue: know. Fatigue, lasting 1 month or less is commonly a result
physiologic, physical, psychological, and mixed fatigue. of physiologic or physical fatigue; lasting 3 months or longer
is likely to be caused by psychological or mixed factors. The
TYPES OF FATIGUE practitioner may ask you a number of questions such as if
Physiologic fatigue is the most common type found in the you’ve had fever, chills, sore throat, cough, shortness of
college student and is usually due to overwork, lack of sleep, breath, swollen glands, sweats, rash, heartburn, nausea,
or a defined physical stress such as pregnancy. It can vomiting, diarrhea, arthritis, or burning with urination in
normally be expected in a mentally and physically healthy order to determine if a there is a physical source of fatigue,
individual experiencing such stress. Across the lifespan, such as disease or infection. Stool (feces) color and
females are shown, as a group, to work more hours in a day character and duration and character of menstrual periods
and more years in their lives than males. This may be why are also important information to the clinician, especially if a
women visit physicians more often for fatigue than men. history of heartburn, stomach ulcers, absence of menses
Students, because of irregular or inadequate sleep patterns, and/or anemia (low blood count) are known. You shouldn’t
those on weight reducing diets, those with excessive or feel offended if asked if you have feelings of depression,
minimal exercise regimens, or those spending long hours anxiousness, panic or overwhelming stress, or a history of
commuting and working are at increased risk of physiologic these problems in your family. Pregnancy or sexually
fatigue. transmitted disease may be brought up. Fatigue is a
commonly shared symptom with these conditions. In
Physical fatigue, as a result of infection (ex. mono, flu), addition, family histories of anemia (e.g. iron deficiency and
anemia, medication, pregnancy and endocrine imbalance, is thalessemias), early onset diabetes or thyroid disorders,
the second most common type of fatigue known to the connective tissue disorders (e.g. fibromyalgia), autoimmune
college student. Furthermore, heart disease, cancer, disorders (such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis) and
autoimmune and connective tissue diseases and other inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. ulcerative colitis and
ailments cause physical fatigue. Crohn’s) are important information for us to be aware of.
Psychological fatigue results from illnesses including You’ll likely be asked about social behaviors; caffeine, drug,
depression, anxiety, persistent stress, and adjustment alcohol use, frequency and amounts, sleep habits and
reactions. Students who are the children of alcoholics are at quality, exercise, recent travel, major of study, credits,
increased risk for fatigue and depression. grades, relationships with roommates and friends, and clubs.
“Mixed” fatigue involves any of the above categories
EVALUATION
occurring in combination. An example of mixed fatigue
would be a junior chemical engineering student, taking 19 Your visit with a clinician may include a check for unstable
credits, who is in a fraternity, plays intramural soccer, lifts vital signs and high temperature, swollen glands, pus on the
weights and jogs 4 days a week, and who has a history of tonsils, heart murmurs, wheezing and crackling in the lungs,
depression and is actively taking medication for it, who soreness in the abdomen and organ enlargement, swollen
joints, rashes and signs of STD’s. If thought necessary, a

Copyright © Schiffert Health Center

Revised March 2010 McComas Hall 540-231-6444
[email protected]
Fatigue and The College
Student
Characteristics Proposed to Distinguish Psychological Fatigue from Physical Fatigue
Characteristic Psychological Physical
Duration Chronic, > 3 months Acute, < 1 month
Primary Deficit No desire to do anything, poorly motivated Ability is absent, desire is present
Onset Stress related, during busy, work-filled times Unrelated to stress, during easy and difficult times
Diurnal Pattern Worse in the morning Worse in the evening
Course Fluctuates, waxing and waning Progressive, severe at first, then improving
Effect of Activity on Fatigue Relieves Worsens
Associated Symptoms Multiple and nonspecific (“I’m dizzy, feel weak all Few and specific (100.2 temp, sore throat, swollen
over, my hands tingle, have hot flashes, sleep all glands, rash, back and headache)
the time, and not really hungry)
Family Stressful, Dysfunctional Supportive, functional
Appearance Anxious, depressed, moody Sickly or ill (sweating, flush, warm)
Family History Depression, anxiety, panic attack, alcoholism None
Effect of Increased Sleep Unaffected or worsened Relieved

few tests may be obtained from blood, urine, saliva, genital body to continue to function for an entire semester or
secretions and even stool samples. These will check for academic year on “over-drive” and not break down on you,
infection and general organ health. X-rays, pulse oximetry, physically and/or psychologically.
spirometry, and/or an electrocardiogram may be obtained. If your fatigue is determined to be from a sleep
Each student’s case is different and the need for tests varies disturbance, short-term over-the-counter sleep aids may be
between them. Tests are best determined after a physical recommended. In certain cases, prescription sleep aids may
exam and history by your health care provider. be used for short or long-terms. You may require a sleep
study by a local specialist.
TREATMENT
Fortunately, most students don’t usually have an A host of medications have been advocated for fatigue of
abnormality allowing us to confidently identify a physical unknown origin. A partial list includes vitamins, thyroid
cause of fatigue, such as mononucleosis. Normal test medication (for borderline cases), growth hormone,
results are difficult for most patients to accept. Find amphetamines, and hydrocortisone. No practitioner at
reassurance in normal test results, as they mean your Schiffert Health Center would empirically prescribe a
fatigue will likely get better with rest and cutting back on medication for the symptom of fatigue without medical
excessive activities. But this again, is a bitter pill to swallow evidence or specific identifiable cause. However, if clinical
in a time where the over-committed and busy student is suspicion of depression is present in a patient with no
considered by society to be a successful student. It is made identifiable cause for fatigue, a two month trial of
further difficult in this age of “quick fix” medicine, where antidepressants are warranted. These may be dispensed by
some patients prefer to take a pill or be told there is a Cook Counseling Center providers after a consultation with
disease causing the fatigue, as opposed to adjusting their them.
maladaptive behaviors to chronic stress. At Schiffert Health If an infection is identified, most cases of fatigue will clear
Center, we frequently tell patients that poor and inadequate within days or several weeks. Most infections require time,
sleep, class workload, social commitments (clubs, pledging, medications for comfort, and rest. Don’t worry – your
parties, bar-hopping), ingestion of too much caffeine (and energy level will return! Other physical causes of fatigue
alcohol), poor diet, too much exercise (or too little!), and too may dictate the student be referred to a specialist such as a
many extra-curricular activities (intramurals, clubs) are the Hematologist for severe anemia or an Endocrinologist for
cause of their fatigue. It is unreasonable to expect your thyroid problems. Students with certain sleep disturbances

Page 2 of 3 Copyright © Schiffert Health Center—Revised March 2010

Fatigue and The College
Student
may benefit from a sleep study. Some medical problems 2% of persons actually need 9 hours or a bit more.
can be approached initially here at Schiffert Health Center, The more chronic stress you endure, the more sleep
like asthma and allergy symptoms. If a psychological cause your body will require.
is suspected, we have counselors and psychiatrists on staff Additionally, eat a well-balanced diet during the day and a
at Cook Counseling Center for referral. small snack before bed. Try to maintain an ideal body
To avoid fatigue associated with school the single most weight through balanced nutrition and exercise. Fad diets
beneficial thing you can do is get adequate quantity and have not been shown effective to prevent fatigue. Fatigue
good quality sleep. Try to do the following: has been associated with obesity and body mass index
greater than 45, but it is not certain if weight loss will
 Go to bed and wake at the same hours every day.
alleviate fatigue in greatly obese persons. It is not advisable
Avoid excessive sleeping on weekends or extremes
of sleep (little or none or 9+ hours). to “mega-dose” on vitamins, as extreme amounts of some
can be toxic. Men’s or women’s multivitamins once a day
 Use bed for sleeping only – not, studying, TV or are good for general health.
Xbox competitions.
There may be a number of herbs supplements and teas
 Caffeine use, more than just a cup in the morning,
can interrupt healthy sleep wave patterns for night- that make claims to reduce fatigue or be an “energy
time and can result in poor quantity and quality of formula”. It cannot be overstated that while most herbs
sleep. seen on the health food store shelves make the FDA’s
Generally Recognized as Safe List, it does not mean studies
 Limit or avoid alcohol, especially when already tired.
It may help you fall asleep, but it interrupts quality have been done to prove they help fatigue. Most stimulating
of sleep and in the end you will be in more sleep or mental sharpening effects from these herb formulas are
deficit. probably derived from the addition of caffeine, but possibly
from dangerous or illegal botanicals like ephedra (Ma-
 Nicotine is a stimulant - it should be avoided in
forms of cigarettes and dipping/chewing tobacco. huang). Ginko biloba, and even St. John’s wort may be
found in other formulations and can cause significant drug
 Try to control sleep environment (temperature,
interactions with aspirin and popular prescription
noise and light).
antidepressants.
 Wind down for sleep with light reading (mystery
novels, not physics!). Wind down prior to bed time, If you feel like “I am always getting sick!” remember that
don’t play computer games or start arguments and it is not uncommon for persons of college age to “catch” 2-4
have heated conversations! colds a year. Poor sleep and chronic stress suppress the
 Use over-the-counter sleep medications (e.g. immune system, adding to this number. Popular immune
® ®
Tylenol PM , Benadryl ) for short-term only. stimulating herbs such as Echinacea should not be used
Valerian and Melatonin are sleep aide alternatives more than 6-8 weeks - for short-term supportive care of
® ®

alone or in “natural sleep formulas”, but should be colds, flu, and bladder infections. Longer or continuous use
used for short-terms only, such as for jet-lag. Long- of these products can be deleterious to the immune system.
term use is of questionable value. Valerian® also
Finally, and perhaps the most difficult for an eager and
has potential interactions with many drugs.
motivated college student, is to defer or delegate
 Go to bed when sleepy (You have seen that movie commitments, and saying, “No, I’m really sorry,” to getting
before…three times!). involved when you are committed to your limit. Remember
 Avoid prolonged naps, unless they are short (an saying “No,” is not a sign of weakness or laziness, it is in
hour or less) and part of your normal routine. your best health interest to “pass” on commitments/
 Remember, sleep where you sleep best, not the proposals once in a while.
floor, sofa, or friends’ room.
 Remember, there is an adaptation effect in new
sleeping environments (realize that you will likely
not sleep well the first nights in a new place).
 Don’t expect to come back from a road trip well
rested!
 Exercise 30 minutes a day on most days of the
week, but NOT within 1-2 hours of bed time.
 Attempt to get 6-8 hours of sleep a night. Less than
2% of persons can do well with 5- 6 hours a night;

Page 3 of 3 Copyright © Schiffert Health Center—Revised March 2010