Mind Your Self : NI Top 5's : Top 5 days off work

What does 'feeling rundown' mean?

'Feeling rundown' is one of those wonderful phrases that shouldn’t mean anything, but actually describes something perfectly. We all know the feeling, but it's hard to describe the reality. Women sometimes use the phrase 'I need a duvet day' to signal their degree of exhaustion.

Is it a sign of something worse?

Deciding whether feeling rundown indicates a health problem or the need for a holiday can be difficult. We need to break the problem down into different areas.

Get rest

The simplest thing to do is rest - over a weekend, or by taking a 'duvet day'. Make a point of doing almost nothing. If resting helps a lot, there is unlikely to be anything medical wrong. If you have the chance of a spell in a good hotel – go man go! Many ailments could be eased if the doctor could prescribe 'Three Days In A Four-Star Hotel'!

• We all know the feeling, but it's hard to describe the reality.

I still feel rundown - what's wrong?

If the feeling is present only some of the time, a medical cause is also unlikely. But if you feel tired, and weary rather than sleepy, breathless on exercise or work, and weaker than usual for you, and if all of those last 2 or more weeks, it's time to consider some diseases. And almost all diseases have to be considered! Anaemia (low blood count), underactive thyroid gland, kidney problems, heart problems, and background arthritis conditions are all possibles.

It is also important to consider whether your mental health is the problem, even if the major symptom is the physical one of being exhausted. Just as feeling rundown can indicate hidden anaemia, it can also be a major signal that there is a hidden depression.

Go to your doctor!

But to find out if you're depressed, you really have to make an appointment with your doctor. It helps to be as specific as you can – it's easier for the doctor to sort out ‘tired all the time’ symptoms if there is some other symptom along with it. But a general examination and a set of blood tests can give clues as to the presence or absence of physical illness.