Sick and Tired?

Sure, life is hectic. But fatigue can signal a treatable illness. Here's what to watch for

You know you're exhausted when you put the newspaper in the refrigerator and pour orange juice in your cereal, as I did once after a series of trying late-night deadlines. But sometimes being tired means there's something wrong with your body, not just your schedule. Three months after a friend of mine noticed she could no longer keep up with her husband on their morning walk, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. "I was lucky," she says. Her doctors removed the tumor, and 12 years later she is still free of cancer. "I realize now that the fatigue was the first...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!