JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It's not so easy getting those eight hours of recommended sleep a night, but doctors says lack of sleep isn't the only reason we may feel tired.
"It could be the start of an illness or you could be recovering from an illness," Dr. Shalaka Ghate from Memorial Health says.
Fatigue could be the first signs that you're coming down with whatever is going around, Gahate says. Sometimes catching up on sleep will keep the illness at bay. But if it doesn't get better, Ghate said ask for help.
"Talk with your doctor and have him do all the test like labs or physical exams which may help him or her find out if it's something else underlying," says Ghate
To be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome you must have unexplained, persistent fatigue for 6 months or more, along with several other signs or symptoms.
"I would recommend that patients keep a diary to see if it comes and goes over a certain time period. If there are certain triggers and if it's ongoing for such a long time then we can call it chronic," says Ghate
Also make sure you're living a healthy life. What you consume and how you move your body can a make a big difference in your energy level.
"Make sure you're taking vitamins, make sure you're getting sleep everyday make sure you're doing exercise and eating a healthy diet and that you have the family and friends support to get you out of this," says Ghate
If you do decide to see your doctor it's suggested that you prepare for the appointment. Doctors suggest that you write down your signs and symptoms, key personal information about your life, health information, and any questions that you have for your doctor.