Which physical symptoms and sleep problems can come with burnout?
Prospective studies link burnout with, for example, pain, headaches, gastrointestinal problems and insomnia. Palpitations, frequent infections or unrefreshing sleep can also have medical causes. This is why these complaints belong in a medical assessment. Waking very early in the morning can, for example, be part of depression, and waking often at night can point to sleep apnoea. Exhaustion despite enough sleep can be linked, for example, with sleep apnoea, an underactive thyroid or depression.
Which questions on “Physical symptoms and sleep problems” does exburnout.com answer?
- Can burnout cause physical symptoms?Burnout can come with physical complaints. Prospective studies found that it predicted, for example, complaints such as musculoskeletal pain, headaches and gastrointestinal problems, and illnesses such as coronary heart disease. Physical complaints belong in a medical assessment, because illnesses can cause them too.
- Can burnout cause palpitations or chest pain?Palpitations and chest pain can accompany anxiety and stress. They can also be signs of, for example, anaemia or a heart problem. For sudden chest pain that does not go away, the UK National Health Service (NHS) advises calling the emergency number straight away. In the EU, this is 112.
- Why do I keep getting sick?Frequent illness can have many causes. Prospective studies found that burnout predicted respiratory problems. Whether this means frequent infections remains open. Infections are also among the causes of exhaustion that a GP looks for.
- Why am I exhausted but cannot sleep?Exhaustion and poor sleep can be part of burnout. Prospective studies found that burnout predicted later insomnia. According to the WHO, disturbed sleep can also be a symptom of depression and anxiety disorders. The German fatigue guideline recommends asking about both specifically.
- Why do I wake up at 3 or 4 a.m.?Waking very early, for example at 3 or 4 a.m., can be a symptom of depression. Frequent waking at night can also point to, for example, sleep apnoea.
- Why am I still exhausted after a full night of sleep?Exhaustion despite enough sleep can come from, for example, sleep apnoea, an underactive thyroid, anaemia, depression or ME/CFS. All of these can be checked medically.
The content on exburnout.com is for information and orientation. It is no substitute for a medical examination, diagnosis or treatment. In an emergency: 112 (EU), 999 (UK).