We all get tired at times. If you feel overly tired most to the time, that is a sign that something is wrong. Be sure to talk to your physician about your tiredness.
Possible causes of your tiredness (fatigue):
- Poor Sleep: A lack of sleep can take a toll on your body, leaving you rundown and exhausted. It is recommended that adults get at least 7 hours of sleep, if not more every night on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
- Too Much Alcohol or Caffeine: Alcohol can initially make you drowsy, but in most cases it can cause you to wake up at night, which can lead to fatigue. Caffeine is often used to increase concentration, but too much can disrupt a good night of sleep. Try to limit alcohol and caffeine intake in the evening prior to bedtime.
- Taking Medications: Certain medicines, such as blood pressure medications, antidepressants, or antihistamines, are commonly associated with fatigue.
- Unbalanced Diet: A poor diet or even not eating enough can make you feel sluggish. Nutrition-dense foods can help to provide adequate energy and ward off fatigue.
Medical problems that may cause fatigue:
- Thyroid disorder: The thyroid gland produces hormones that help control your breathing, heart rate, body temperature, digestion, and other body functions. If your thyroid starts to make too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), many body functions speed up. If your thyroid doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone, body functions may slow down (hypothyroidism). Either condition can leave you feeling tired and fatigued.
- Depression: Everyone feels unhappy and anxious sometimes, but usually those feelings go away on their own. Depression is different. It’s a serious mood disorder—affecting more than 15 million American adults each year—that can cause ongoing sadness and hopelessness. While the symptoms of depression are different for everyone, many people experience fatigue and changes in their sleep patterns.
- Anemia: Red blood cells in your blood have an important job: they help carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body. When you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells, your body can’t get enough of the oxygen-rich blood it needs. This problem is called anemia, and some types of anemia are common. It can leave you feeling constantly tired and weak. You may also feel dizzy and find it hard to catch your breath.
Read more: Why Are You So Tired All The Time?