Fatigue is common. One in 5 people feel tired most of the time and 1 in 10 people experience ongoing tiredness. Psychological causes of tiredness are much more common than physical causes.
It is essential to analyze yourself why you get exhausted easily – is it your lifestyle? has any major event triggered your tiredness such as bereavement? or is it a part of your life such as work or family that drains your energy?
What are the common causes of Tiredness?
Diet – skipping a meal, lack of sleep, excessive consumption of Coffee or energy drinks, inadequate water intake, excessive alcohol consumption, excessive physical activity, stress/anxiety, sedentary lifestyle and obesity.
Medical conditions that cause fatigue
Vitamin Deficiency – Vitamin D/B12/Iron/Magnesium/Potassium, medication side effect, infections – viral or bacterial, anemia, thyroid problems – Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Diabetes, Cancer, Heart disease, chronic kidney disease, Liver disease, lung disease, conditions affecting the gut such as Coeliac disease /Inflammatory bowel disease/food intolerance.
Psychological conditions that cause tiredness
Anxiety, Depression or Grief due to loss of job/loss of a loved one /relationship problems such as separation or divorce.
Empty nest syndrome – experienced by parents when their children leave home for work, study or when they move out.
How to manage fatigue?
Ways to boost energy: Hydrate/eat healthy and balanced diet/limit coffee intake/get enough sleep/quit smoking and drinking/exercise moderately/cope with stress by practicing relaxation techniques/have a work – life balance. Vitamin B complex intake boosts energy.
When to seek Medical Attention?
Do not delay seeing your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.
Tiredness is impacting your quality of life /abnormal weight changes such weight gain or rapid weight loss /swelling in any part of your body such as swollen legs or lumps or bumps /gut problems such as change in bowel habit prolonged diarrhea or constipation or alternating diarrhea and constipation/shortness of breath on exertion or at rest and women who bleed excessively with passing of clots during menstruation.
Ask yourself a question do you really feel tired all the time or is it just boredom or a hidden depression?
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