Why Am I Always So Tired?
Are you tired of being tired all day? Following are a few common causes of fatigue that could help you figure out what’s going on.
by Greg Montoya
Sedentary Lifestyle
Not being active enough can make you feel worn out. Not only that, there are health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. These include increased risk of some cancers, depression or anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and coronary heart disease. Also, a decrease in skeletal muscle mass, elevated cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The good news is that performing just 15-40 minutes of moderate exercise a day can fight fatigue.
Unhealthy diet
When healthy food is consumed, the body has the sustenance it needs to perform at its peak. On the contrary, eating unhealthy foods cause us to feel fatigued, contributing to a loss of energy. The added carbs and sugars in junk and processed foods can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. More importantly, this leads to sugar crashes that trigger fatigue.
Obesity
Excess weight can make normal activities extremely difficult to do, which ends of tiring you out a lot faster. Being overweight increases the risk of fatigue for a number of reasons. These include needing to carry around more weight, increased joint and muscle pain. Also, being more prone to conditions that commonly trigger fatigue like sleep apnea and diabetes.
Lack of Sleep
The most common reason people feel tired is persistent sleep deprivation. A good night’s sleep can provide you with the energy you need to carry out day-to-day activities. Unfortunately, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep. Chronic pain is one of the leading causes of lack of sleep because sufferers wake up frequently through the night. Thus, leaving them feeling exhausted the next morning.
Aside from the causes mentioned above, fatigue can be caused by a multitude of underlying medical conditions. The following sheds light on some of the most common causes.
Food Allergies
Healthy foods provide energy. Allergies (food intolerance) will do the opposite. Feeling exhausted is an early warning sign of food intolerance. If you suspect you have a food allergy, talk to your doctor about the elimination diet. This diet helps determine any food allergies you may have. This is done by cutting out certain foods that can cause a range of symptoms. These include fatigue within 10-30 minutes of consuming them.
In addition, you can ask your doctor about food allergy tests. Also you can purchase a home test like ALCAT. Thus, can help identify offending foods.
Allergic Rhinitis
This condition is a common cause of chronic fatigue. However, it can be treated. Your doctor will need to assess your symptoms in order to make a diagnosis. In addition, your physician will take a detailed history and/or testing. This will determine what’s triggering your allergies. For example, insects (dust mites, etc.), mold and mildew, pollens, animal dander, or something else.
Diabetes
The poor blood sugar control (hyperglycemia) associated with diabetes can cause fatigue and other symptoms. The incidences of type 2 diabetes are increasing in both children and adults in the United States. Please contact your doctor if experiencing symptoms of type 2 diabetes as soon as possible to be tested. Diabetes can be self-managed with guidance from your physician which include dietary changes and exercise.
Underactive Thyroid
Another fairly common cause of low energy and fatigue is hypothyroidism (an underactive or slow thyroid). The thyroid helps set the metabolism rate. This is the rate at which the body uses energy. According to the American Thyroid Foundation, 17% of women the age of 60 have a thyroid disorder.
Unfortunately, the majority won’t know they have the condition. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disorder that stops the gland from generating enough thyroid hormones. This is needed to ensure the body performs the way it should.
Anemia
The most prevalent blood condition in the United States, affecting over 3 million people. It’s the common cause of tiredness for females in their childbearing years. This is particularly true for women that have uterine polyps, uterine fibroid tumors or heavy menstrual cycles.
Fibromyalgia
This condition causes musculoskeletal pain and chronic fatigue, especially in women. Chronic fatigue syndrome and Fibromyalgia are viewed as separate but affiliated disorders. The two conditions share a common symptom – chronic fatigue that significantly interferes with patients’ lives.
Depression
Depressive disorders are conditions believed to be induced by neurotransmitters. These are abnormalities in mood-regulating chemicals in the brain. Symptoms of depression include feeling unmotivated and sluggish. People dealing with depression also have problems with sleep. They can’t fall asleep or wake up repeatedly during the night. Some sufferers also sleep too long. Thus, having trouble waking up in the morning.
If you’re constantly feeling tired do the following:
- Set an appointment with your doctor for a checkup
- Start exercising – try our E3 Energy Multivitamin Drink to give you energy to start moving!
- Change your poor eating habits – try our Protein & Superfoods and Greens & Superfoods to create better eating habits!
- Get a good’s night sleep – try our Go To Sleep Honey product to help with that!
Chances are good that getting more exercise and making healthy food choices will make noticeable changes in your energy levels!