Fatigue: 9 reasons why you are always feeling tired

If you are feeling constantly tired, the first thing you should do is see your personal physician for a checkup. A few of the possible causes of fatigue are discussed below.

Causes of tiredness or fatigue

1. Lack of sleep causes fatigue

This can have a negative impact on your overall health and well-being. Sleep for seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Go to bed at the same time every night. Wake up at the same time each morning to keep yourself on schedule. Make sure your mattress is comfortable. Ensure the room is dark and cool. Put your cell phone and television off. If you are still unable to sleep after making changes to your sleep environment, consult a doctor.

2. Inadequate food intake

Whether you eat or don’t eat can affect how much sleep you get. Not eating enough or balance nutritious diet can cause tiredness. If you eat foods that shoots up your blood sugar, you will feel tired once the sugar drops. Eat a balanced diet, complete with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein. Avoid or limit junk foods high in sugar and fat.

3. Being sad or depressed

Being sad causes stress and anxiety. It can also cause physical symptoms such fatigue, insomnia, aches and pains. If you or someone you care about is depressed, seek medical attention. Depression may not resolve without treatment. However, there are many treatments including therapy and medications that can help resolve symptoms.

4. Anxiety

Feeling anxious is sometimes perfectly normal. But some people have constant uncontrollable feelings of anxiety that are so strong they affect their daily life. When you feel worried and irritable, you will often feel tired as well.

5. Inadequate water intake

Dehydration is not as easy as you might think. It can cause fatigue, lower back pain, bags under the eyes and anxiety. Even mild dehydration, as a result of our ordinary daily activities, can change your mood. Additionally, it also decreases energy levels and memory function. To prevent and reduce fatigue, aim to drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day.

6. Caffeine

Most people take caffeine to help them stay awake. Moderate consumption of caffeine does improve alertness and energy. However, too much caffeine can increase your heart rate or palpitations, high blood pressure, anxiety, and insomnia. In addition, after caffeine wears off, users can fatigue might set in. Too much of this stimulant often found in tea, coffee, colas and energy drinks, can upset sleep. This can make you feel fatigue as well as tired. Try decaffeinated tea and coffee, or gradually cut out caffeine altogether.

7. Urinary tract infections

Fatigue and weakness is one of the most common symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Others include pain or burning during urination, or the feeling or needing to urinate urgently or frequently. If you suspect a UTI, see your doctor. The usual treatment for a UTI is antibiotics, which should cure the condition in a week or two, alleviating the fatigue and the other symptoms.

8. Night shift work

Shift work can cause trouble on your body’s 24-hour internal clock. When you work nights or rotate shifts, your body doesn’t know when to be awake and when to sleep, which causes fatigue. Daylight is often a cue to be awake. If you must sleep during the day, try to make your sleeping area as dark, cool, and quiet as possible. If you must work at night, keep your workplace brightly lit. Try to work night shifts all in a row and avoid frequently rotating shifts. Stay away from caffeine, and stick to a regular sleep-wake schedule as much as possible on days off.

9. Diabetes

It can cause fatigue with either high or low blood sugars. When your sugars are high, they remain in the bloodstream instead of being used for energy. This makes you feel fatigued. Low blood sugar also causes fatigue. If you are a person with diabetes, it is important to manage your disease. Modify your lifestyle in ways such as diet and exercise.