What you need to know
- Excessive tiredness can be a short term condition caused by a bout of sleeplessness, or it could be the result of lifestyle factors.
- There are also lots of medical conditions that have fatigue as one of their top symptoms.
- It’s important to address fatigue quickly, as there may be an underlying health condition at play, and it could also leave you at increased risk of injury due to accidents.
While tiredness and fatigue can be caused by lots of reasons, including noisy neighbours or parenting responsibilities, there may also be a medical reason for your chronic fatigue.
Occasional sleepiness from a bad night’s sleep might not be cause for concern, but if you are persistently tired, this might be something you need to address.
If you often lack energy and feel drained, even after a full night’s sleep, it could be worth exploring the underlying cause.
Being sleepy during the day increases your risk of injury due to clumsiness or lack of attention.
For example, you might be at increased risk of being in a car accident due to your lack of sleep.
Lifestyle factors that impact sleep quality
When investigating chronic fatigue, it’s common for the underlying cause to be linked to lifestyle choices.
This could include poor sleep habits, where you think you are getting more sleep than you are.
It could also be due to dietary issues, or dehydration.
A lack of exercise can also make it difficult to get restful sleep.
Stress, anxiety and depression can also impact sleep quality, along with excessive consumption of alcohol, caffeine or nicotine.
If you have ruled out all possible lifestyle factors, then it might be worth exploring if a medical issue could be to blame.
Hidden health conditions that can impact sleep
If making adjustments to your lifestyle doesn’t show any improvement to your sleep patterns and your level of fatigue, the next step would be to explore potential health issues.
There may be an underlying medical condition you need to address.
Anemia
This condition occurs when the body is low in iron, which is essential for producing red blood cells.
Without sufficient healthy red blood cells, the body will struggle to carry oxygen around your body, which can leave you feeling more tired than usual.
Low iron levels can limit oxygen delivery in the body, leaving you feeling constantly tired.
Anemia is more common in menstrual age women, as menstruation is a leading cause of blood loss.
Anemia can also occur due to nutritional deficiencies.
Nutritional deficiencies
Iron is not the only nutrient you might be lacking.
If you aren’t getting enough vitamin B12, B or magnesium, this can lead to feeling more tired, seemingly without explanation.
Thyroid disorders
Either an underactive or an overactive thyroid can lead to excessive tiredness.
This is due to the impact on your metabolism.
In the case of an underactive thyroid, your metabolism slows down and you may feel tired as a result.
With an overactive thyroid, your metabolism speeds up, leading to exhaustion.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that impacts your ability to create insulin, which is essential for controlling blood sugar levels.
It can impact energy levels in a number of ways, including sugar spikes and crashes that leave you feeling fatigued.
It can also lead to increased urine output, which can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.
Chronic fatigue syndrome
This is a complex condition that often begins with unexplained periods of fatigue.
It usually shows up in flare ups of around six months and will become worse following physical exertion.
There is still a lot we don’t understand about chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME or CFS.
Sleep apnea
This condition affects your ability to sleep at night.
It is a breathing disorder that causes the individual to stop breathing while they are asleep.
This leads to frequent bouts of waking, which the individual often isn’t aware of.
Heart disease
With heart disease, the heart is not able to pump blood efficiently.
This can leave individuals feeling exhausted following minimal activity.
Autoimmune diseases
Conditions where the body attacks itself are known as autoimmune disorders.
These include lupus, MS and rheumatoid arthritis.
When to see a physician
Occasional bouts of tiredness might be normal, but if you find yourself feeling persistently tired, it’s worth seeking help from your primary care physician.
Frequently asked questions
When is tiredness something to worry about?
Feeling tired after a late night or stressful week is normal, but persistent fatigue, especially when you’re sleeping well, can be a sign of an underlying health condition.
Which health conditions commonly cause chronic fatigue?
These include anemia, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid disorders, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, heart disease and autoimmune diseases.
What lifestyle habits could be making me feel tired all the time?
Poor sleep routines, high stress, low activity levels, dehydration and excess caffeine or alcohol can all drain your energy.
