Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash
Most of us get tired from time to time. Maybe you’ve been working too hard, partying too hard, or are just busy all day long. These things can take their toll on anyone’s energy. But what if you find yourself tired all of the time? If you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep each night but are still tired, you might want to investigate other causes.
Your thyroid is underactive
The thyroid is a little gland in your throat which has an important role in so many things. It is involved in brain development, controlling your metabolic rate, your heart, and bone development.
If your thyroid is underactive (known as hypothyroidism), then it can make you feel quite poorly. The main symptoms include:
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Weight gain (or inability to lose weight if you’re trying too)
- Muscle weakness and cramps
- Constipation
- Fuzzy head
- Depression
If you are suffering from some or all of these, then you need to go to see your doctor. Hypothyroidism can be detected by a simple blood test. In many cases, the treatment for hypothyroidism is with daily medication.
You’re anemic
When someone is anemic, they don’t have enough red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen to tissue all over the body. When there isn’t enough, the body has to try and work harder.
If you’re anemic, the main symptoms are tiredness, pale skin, dizziness, and an irregular heartbeat.
This is something that can be diagnosed with a blood test. Depending on the reason for your anemia and severity, there are a number of treatment options. Any people need a short course of iron tablets and a change in diet, others will need a blood transfusion. Your doctor will be able to investigate and find out what is causing your anemia.
You have sleep apnea
If you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep every night, but waking up every day exhausted, you could have what’s known as sleep apnea. When you sleep, your airways begin to close, causing your body to wake itself up enough to keep you breathing normally. Because you’re not fully awake, you don’t realize that there is a problem.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include extreme tiredness, sleepiness, and confusion. Often, it is a partner that notices the sleep apnea, when they hear their partner stop breathing for a few seconds and then wake with a start.
Sleep apnea can be caused by being significantly overweight or by the anatomy of the soft tissues in your throat. It can be treated by losing weight, sleeping on your side, or with a Constant Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine which is designed to keep your airways clear while you sleep.
Conclusion
It’s easy to write off tiredness to the stresses and strains of modern life. Often, this is the case, but if you are getting enough sleep and otherwise taking care of yourself, then it doesn’t hurt to get checked out by your doctor. Many of these conditions can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and treatment works quickly, meaning you’ll have energy in no time.