Tired All the Time? Your Guide to Fixing Your Fatigue
Do you feel tired all the time? Fatigue can steal your joy. It makes daily activities feel impossible. Exhaustion is a difficult, invisible struggle and caffeine is not the answer. No rest or coffee can alleviate chronic fatigue.
Exhaustion is the symptom of numerous health conditions, so finding a cause and diagnosis can be difficult.
It is definitely possible to find a solution. The right diagnosis and treatment can change your life.
Causes of Fatigue
Fatigue is usually your body's way of telling you something. Treatable health conditions can cause a lack of energy. Read on to see what your symptoms mean.
Sleep Apnea
If you wake up tired even after a full night's rest, it's possible that sleep apnea is the cause.
Do you wake up with a sore throat, dry mouth and headaches? Does your partner complain about your snoring? Sleep apnea may be the cause of your tiredness.
Along with robbing you of rest, sleep apnea can be dangerous. It affects how you breathe during sleep and may cause heart issues.
Underactive Thyroid
The butterfly-shaped gland in your throat, your thyroid, impacts your entire body. You need thyroid hormones for a healthy metabolism.
Fatigue is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. Other symptoms include weight gain, sensitivity to cold and muscle weakness.
A blood test can tell you if your thyroid hormone levels are normal.
Diabetes
High blood sugar can cause tiredness. Complications from diabetes can also affect energy levels.
Whether you're undiagnosed or taking medications, diabetes and its treatments may be the cause of your tiredness.
See your doctor if you suspect that diabetes is the cause. If you know you're diabetic, you may be able to take supplements and natural remedies to boost energy. Ask your doctor before taking any new supplements.
Iron Deficiency
Often, the underlying cause of a condition is simple. Iron deficiency is common among women.
Iron helps oxygen bind to your red blood cells, so all your cells can metabolize energy.
This is why iron deficiency is an extremely common cause of fatigue.
Iron deficiency anemia is very common, especially in pregnant women and those who menstruate. Signs of anemia include fatigue, pale skin and shortness of breath.
Stress
You must have heard this one a lot. No matter what is wrong with the body, we blame stress.
This assumption is not without merit. When you are stressed every day for a long time, your body reacts. Your cortisol levels become chronically high and it throws off your body's immune response. Think of a constantly beeping fire alarm but inside your body, tiring out your endocrine and immune system. Neglecting your mental health can have significant impacts on your body.
It may sound like a cliché, but deep breaths are scientifically proven to help you relax(1). Controlling your breath tells your brain that you're safe. It helps to quell your body's emergency mode.
Apoptogenic substances are present in foods like ginseng and turmeric also protect your body from the effects of stress.
Depression
While stress and anxiety throw your body in 'fight or flight mode,' depression can have the opposite effect on the body. Depression is often caused by an imbalance in chemicals in your brain. This may be the reason that fatigue is a common symptom of depression.
If you often lose interest in activities that you normally enjoy, it's likely that you're depressed. Feelings of sadness and despair that interfere with your daily activities are also classic symptoms.
The tricky thing is that prolonged fatigue often causes depression. Physical and mental health are inextricably linked.
Nevertheless, mental health treatment is necessary for your well-being.
If you are experiencing signs of depression, see your doctor or preferred medical professional.
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
If you suffer from fatigue, your search for answers may have led you to this term.
There is no medical condition specifically called Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome. Alternative health practitioners and laypeople use this term to describe symptoms of fatigue that often elude clear diagnoses. Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is thought to be caused by wear and tear caused to the body by stress.
Your adrenal glands make hormones that regulate many functions in your body. Theoretically, perpetual stress causes the adrenal glands to tire out. The adrenal glands then become inefficient and cannot produce enough hormones needed for the body. It is said to cause fatigue and body-aches among other symptoms.
Adrenal fatigue may sound like the neat, single name for multiple of your worries. The strength of holistic and alternative health practices is that all your symptoms are viewed holistically and you may feel more heard as you talk about your symptoms.
However, don't rule out diagnosable medical conditions before accepting Adrenal Fatigue as the answer.
Do You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a diagnosable medical condition. Often, causes of fatigue are difficult to find. If your feelings of fatigue and unrefreshing sleep have persisted for six months or more, you may have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(CFS). CFS may have a number of physical, emotional and mental causes.
Many with CFS have histories of emotional trauma (2). Affected people also often have had viral infections. Infection with COVID-19 often results in long-term fatigue, a symptom of what is termed 'Long COVID.'
Treatments for Fatigue
Getting a diagnosis and treating the root cause of fatigue does not seem easy, but it's relatively straightforward. You can treat iron deficiency, hypothyroidism and sleep apnea. You get tests for these conditions and get a prescription that often helps alleviate all the symptoms.
If no medical tests point to a single cause, as is often the case, it can be very frustrating.
In this case, it may help to look at alternative methods.
Lifestyle Changes
Many lifestyle factors and circumstances can cause fatigue. Changing the factors that you can control can help energize you.
Schedule
An irregular sleep cycle causes fatigue. Shift work is a particular culprit in this case. Try to go to bed at the same time each day and create a routine to make sure you are getting enough sleep.
Diet
A healthy diet is key. Make sure you don't have any food intolerances or allergies. Food that upsets your body causes fatigue and gut issues.
Manage your caffeine intake
It may seem that caffeine is the answer to feel more alert and energetic. However, caffeine can make it harder for you to sleep, affect your sleep quality and cause dependence.
Caffeine is a natural stimulant. It's a great fix for short-term needs, but you should manage your intake.
Other Natural Remedies
Caffeine is definitely great, but it comes with shortcomings. After your 'high' of alertness and energy, comes the dreaded crash.
Natural remedies that are proven to help with fatigue may be very helpful.
Ginseng
Scientific research shows that ginseng is a promising treatment for fatigue (3). Seek the advice of your doctor and get a high-quality supplement to try ginseng.
Maca Root
Maca is very nutritious and has been shown to enhance the performance of athletes (4). It also increases sex drive.
Remember...
You don't have to suffer through fatigue. Fatigue and its side effects, like lower brain function and loss of libido, can have great side effects on your quality of life.
Treatments for conditions that cause fatigue are available. You also have access to many supplements proven to boost energy. Fatigue is a big problem, but solutions exist.
References:
1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/relaxation-techniques-breath-control-helps-quell-errant-stress-response
2.https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061107082833.html
3.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29624410/
4.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19781622/
