Tired all the time? Five reasons why you might be feeling fatigued

Today is World Sleep Day and, as we’re all beginning to emerge from winter’s semi-hibernation into the hopefulness of spring, this seems the perfect time to nip any sleep issues in the bud.

To a certain extent, it’s normal to feel more tired as you go through your adult life, as responsibilities increase, and free time dwindles. However, if you find yourself waking up exhausted every day and staying that way, it might be wise to investigate that further, just to rule out any underlying conditions that could be affecting your energy levels.

To provide some food for thought, here are five reasons you might be struggling to stay awake all day:

1. Thyroid disease

Most common in women, thyroid disease can affect anyone of any age, and it can occur fairly suddenly. Your thyroid gland is responsible for producing the hormones that control your metabolism, so it’s perhaps not surprising that when that goes wrong it can have an impact on your energy levels.

Hyperthyroidism (too much hormone) speeds up the metabolism, causing unexplained weight loss, muscle fatigue and weakness, while hypothyroidism (too little hormone) leads to fatigue, weight gain and an inability to concentrate, among other things. Thyroid disease can be detected through blood tests and is easily controlled through medication, so it’s a good thing to rule out if you’re suffering from fatigue.

2. Anaemia

Anaemia is most commonly caused by iron deficiency, and can lead to extreme fatigue, due to a lack of red blood cells carrying oxygen around your body. Again, it is more common in women than in men, and is often linked to unusually heavy menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth.

Other symptoms include difficulty sleeping (which only serves to increase the fatigue), inability to concentrate, chest pains, rapid heartbeat and headache. It can be diagnosed through blood tests and a thorough health check, and treatment will depend on the underlying cause, but is likely to involve iron tablets and a change in diet.

3. Insomnia

No blood tests are necessary to test for this one – if you’re suffering from insomnia, you are most likely very well aware of it. Treatment will again depend on the underlying reasons behind the insomnia; many people find relaxation techniques and bedtime rituals to be helpful, while others have more success with prescribed sleep aids.

If you are struggling to sleep, it can help to keep a diary, noting down what you eat and drink during the day, how much physical activity and fresh air you get, to see if there is any clear link between what you do in the day and how much sleep you get at night. If necessary, we can refer you to specialists offering insomnia treatment including CBTi.

4. Depression

Sadly, depression and insomnia often go hand in hand, but even if you’re sleeping like a log, if you’re depressed you are likely to feel tired and listless all the time. There is a difference between feeling a bit down and being clinically depressed, but if you’re struggling to get out of bed in the mornings and face the day ahead, it might be time to seek medical help.

Treatment for depression will vary from person to person, and can involve prescription medication, talking therapy, or even prescribed physical activity.

5. Stress

Like depression, stress can cause insomnia, but happily it is generally more easily treated. Again, the best treatment for you will depend on the reasons for your stress – if you are able to reduce your workload, or delegate some of the tasks that are causing you to feel stressed, then that can be a major help. If not, then you may need to investigate ways to help you deal with the stress – options include yoga, meditation, counselling and much more.

If you are concerned about your energy levels and would like to find out more, our specialist team can help.

Get in touch to arrange a consultation with our doctors. We can assess whether there are any underlying causes for your fatigue, provide invaluable lifestyle advice to alleviate the problem, or refer you to our network of health specialists if required.