Why am I tired all the time? We all feel tired from time to time. The reasons are usually obvious and can include:
too many late nights
long hours spent at work
a baby keeping you up at night
But tiredness that goes on for a long time is not normal. It can affect your ability to get on and enjoy your life. Unexplained tiredness is one of the most common reasons for people to see a medical professional, it could be something simple like a vitamin or nutritional deficiency but it could also be something more serious so it’s best to get checked.
Before you see a MP, you might want to work out how you became tired in the first place, I know it sounds silly but really try and think about it!
It can be helpful to think about:
parts of your life, such as work and family, that might be particularly tiring
any events that may have triggered your tiredness, such as bereavement or a relationship break-up
how your lifestyle may be making you tired
Where as an MP will then usually look at:
psychological causes
physical causes / lifestyle causes
Psychological causes of tiredness are much more common than physical causes. Most causes lead to poor sleep which causes daytime tiredness.
Psychological causes can include:
Stress - The strains of daily life. It's worth remembering that even positive events, such as moving house or getting married, can cause stress.
Emotional shock - A bereavement, redundancy or a relationship break-up.
Mental Illness - If you feel sad, low and lacking in energy, or if you have constant uncontrollable feelings of anxiety, and you wake up tired, you may be struggling with a mental illness.
Physical causes of tiredness can include:
iron deficiency
underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
sleep apnoea
Tiredness can also be the result of:
pregnancy – particularly in the first 12 weeks
being overweight or obese – your body has to work harder to do everyday activities
being underweight – poor muscle strength can make you tire more easily
side effects of medicines and some herbal remedies *Always consult a doctor! www.welllifehealth.com
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