TOP REASONS FOR FATIGUE

For most people, life is hectic. Twenty-four hours simply isn’t enough time to complete all the day’s tasks. Consequently, it makes sense that fatigue can set it. However, if you strive to achieve balance and get seven to nine hours of sleep nightly and still feel tired, there could be something else causing it. Feelings of fatigue can be symptoms of problems you may not be aware of. Some potential causes of fatigue that you might want to consider looking into include:

 Dehydration:

Not drinking sufficient water causes the body to work harder to deliver nutrients and oxygenated blood where they are needed. As a rule, you drink half your body weight in ounces of water a day. Additionally, consume liquid-rich fruits and vegetables like melons, oranges, peaches, or cucumbers.

Sleep disorders:

If you get enough sleep yet still wake up exhausted or foggy, you may have an underlying sleep disorder. Sleep apnea, an interruption in breathing during sleep, is a sleep disorder that affects millions of people. Speak with your doctor about getting a sleep evaluation if you feel this is an issue.

 Thyroid problems:

When the thyroid gland is slow or sluggish (hypothyroidism), the body follows suit, causing fatigue. Hypothyroidism often goes undiagnosed. A simple blood test can check for this condition, which is easily treatable.

Poor diet:

Your body needs quality fuel to feel good. High-calorie foods that are low in nutrients can deprive the body of energy and lead to feeling run down. It may be helpful to remove refined sugars and processed foods from your diet. Substitute with fresh fruits and vegetables to load up with natural, nutrient-dense foods. 

Infections:

If the body is fighting underlying infections, it can be drained of energy. Tell your doctor you’re feeling tired, so testing can be done to help discover any infections hiding in your body. 

Stress:

When the body experiences chronic stress, it can stay in constant “fight or flight mode.” This can increase the blood pressure, raise the heart rate, and put the entire body on high alert. That much pressure can eventually wear you down, overtax your adrenal glands, and cause extreme fatigue. Stress reduction techniques include walking, mindful movement, meditation, exercise, or anything else that helps you relax.

Overdoing the caffeine:

Lots of people enjoy a good cup of coffee in the morning and even to get through the rest of their workday. However, aging can make it more difficult for your body to process and eliminate caffeine. Too much caffeine can disrupt your ability to relax and get quality sleep. Try to limit your caffeine intake to the morning.

Device overuse and addiction:

Televisions, computer screens, cell phone screens, and e-readers all give off light in the blue spectrum. That blue light can disrupt your body’s natural biological clock. These devices also flood your brain with stimulation and social media stress, which can be exhausting. Turn off your devices an hour before bed and keep them out of reach to avoid the temptation to use them. If you are still fatigued after trying some of these, visit your doctor to lexplore any undiagnosed problems.