Key Highlights
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If you do not get enough good sleep, you may feel tired and worn out during the day.
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If you do not have enough iron or vitamin B12 in your food, this can also cause you to feel tired.
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If you feel stressed for a long time, it can make you feel tired. It is important to find ways to deal with stress in a healthy way.
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Health problems like sleep apnea, diabetes, or thyroid issues may make you feel very tired.
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Eating balanced meals and drinking plenty of water may help fight tiredness and give you more energy.
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Changing how you live—like getting more exercise and keeping good sleep habits—may help you feel less tired.
Introduction
If you feel tired and low on energy a lot, know that many people feel this way too. A lot of us feel worn out sometimes. This often happens because of things like not getting enough sleep, feeling sick, or being busy with work and life. But if you feel tired all the time for weeks or months, it might mean there is another cause. Carrying extra weight can make you feel this way. Losing this extra weight may help you feel more alive. It can also help your heart and boost your overall health.
It is important to know why you feel tired so you can find good ways to feel better. In this blog, you will read about 10 common reasons why you may feel tired. You will also see what you can do about it. This covers things like not getting enough sleep and bad food choices. It also talks about health problems like low iron or thyroid disease. We will go through many reasons why people feel tired.
When you find out why you feel tired and start using the right tips, you can get your energy back and feel better in your day. So let's get started and look at the reasons that make you feel so tired, and what you can do about it.
Understanding Fatigue
Fatigue means you feel tired or have no energy for a long time. This is different from just being tired at the end of the day. While it is normal to feel tired after hard work or stress, chronic fatigue lasts a long time and does not go away, which can make your day hard. Many things can bring on fatigue, like sleep apnea, heart trouble, chronic fatigue syndrome, or other health problems. It is important to find and fix the cause, which can be things like not sleeping enough or health issues. When you know what is making you feel so sleepy, whether it is not enough sleep, sleep problems, some medicines, or other health concerns, you can take steps to feel better and prevent this tired feeling in your life.
Defining Fatigue
Chronic fatigue is a health problem where a person feels tired all the time. This tiredness lasts for six months or more. People with this often feel other things. Headaches, pain in their muscles, and their memory or focus can be worse. The tiredness makes daily life hard. A person may find it tough to do regular things. It may be hard for them to keep up with people in their life or do things in their day that need energy.
It is normal to feel tired sometimes and you can feel better with rest. But long-lasting tiredness is not the same. It does not go away, even when you sleep or rest. In fact, it can get worse if you do things that need your body or mind to work. This kind of tiredness can come from different things. It could be from a health problem you have, a physical injury like a head injury, changes in hormones, problems with the body’s defense system, or even things going on with your feelings or thoughts. It is very important to know how brain injuries can make you feel this way. This can help people find ways to feel better and deal with this common problem.
If you feel tired all the time, you should talk to your doctor. They can help you find the cause and make a plan for help. You may need to get some tests done. These tests are done to rule out why you feel tired and to find the best way to help you feel better.
Recognizing Fatigue Symptoms
It is important to notice the signs of tiredness. This can help you find and handle what causes it. Tiredness can show up in different ways. The signs may not be the same for everyone. Here are some usual signs of being tired:
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Daytime sleepiness: Feeling very tired during the day or wanting to nap a lot.
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Feelings of fatigue: Always feeling tired and not getting better, even after rest.
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Extreme fatigue: Feeling so tired that you cannot do easy things.
Fatigue often comes with other symptoms, and these can change based on what is causing it. For example, if you feel tired because you have low iron in your blood, you may also have pale skin, feel out of breath, or feel dizzy. But if your tiredness is from sleep problems, like sleep apnea, you might snore loudly, feel like you gasp or choke during sleep, or wake up with a headache.
If you feel tired all the time and notice these signs, you should talk to your doctor. A doctor can help find out why you feel this way and guide you to the best plan to feel better.
Lifestyle Factors Contributing to Fatigue
There are some things in the way we live that can make us feel tired all the time. These things include not getting enough sleep, eating food that is not good for you, being under a lot of stress, and not having enough water. If you work on these parts of your life, it can help you feel better and have more energy.
1. Inadequate Sleep
Not getting enough good sleep is a big reason people feel tired. You need to sleep well to feel good and stay healthy. If you do not have enough sleep, your body will not get the time it needs to rest and feel better. This will make you feel more tired and worn out.
Some important things to know about not getting enough sleep and feeling tired are:
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Good sleep habits: Set a regular time to go to bed each night. Do things that help you relax before sleeping, and make sure your bedroom is a quiet and cozy place. This can help you get better sleep.
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Hours of sleep: Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night if you are an adult. This will help your body feel more rested and give you good energy for the day.
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Next-day effects: Not getting enough sleep can hurt your memory, mood, and the way your body works. It can make you feel tired and slow the next day.
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Sleep quality: Sleep is not only about how many hours you get but also about how well you sleep. If your sleep is poor, you might still feel tired, even if you feel you slept long enough.
When you focus on good sleep habits, you can make your sleep better. You will feel more energy during the day. This can also help to cut down on tiredness.
2. Poor Dietary Habits
What you eat has a big impact on your energy and how healthy you feel. Bad eating habits can make you feel tired and low on energy. Here are some things to keep in mind about poor eating habits and feeling tired:
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Balanced diet: A balanced diet that includes different kinds of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and good fats gives the body the nutrients it needs for the best energy.
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Blood sugar management: Eating too many sugary foods and drinks can make your blood sugar go up and down quickly. This can make you feel tired and low on energy.
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Weight loss: Going on crash diets or cutting out too many calories can keep your body from getting the important nutrients and energy it needs, which can make you feel tired and weak.
If you eat a mix of foods that give you what your body needs, you will feel more energy. It helps keep your blood sugar steady. You can also stop feeling tired.
3. Dehydration
Dehydration can have a big effect on your body and how much energy you feel. If you do not have enough water in your body, you may feel tired and have less energy. Some things you should know about dehydration and feeling tired are:
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Physical health: Water is needed for your body to work well. It helps move nutrients and oxygen to your cells. If you do not get enough water, these things do not happen as they should. You may feel tired and weak.
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Energy levels: When you do not drink enough water, even if it is just a little, you may feel tired and not as sharp. You may feel worn out and not able to focus as well.
To help fight tiredness from not drinking enough water, make sure you have enough water during the day. The right amount you need to drink can be different for everyone. It depends on things like your body weight, activity level, and the weather. When you keep your body hydrated, you feel better and have more energy.
4. Stress and Anxiety
Stress can wear you out. It can affect both your mind and body. This often leads to feeling tired and low on energy. Here are some things to keep in mind about stress and how it makes you feel tired:
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Psychological stress: High stress can make you feel tired in your body and mind. It can leave you feeling worn out and low on energy.
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Overall health: If you feel stress all the time, it can be bad for your health. This can also take away your energy.
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Chronic stress: When you go through stress for a long time, your body lets out stress hormones. This can also make you feel worn out.
Dealing with stress is important to feel less tired and have more energy. You can try different things to help with this. You can practice ways to feel calm, like deep breathing. You can also try sitting quietly and clearing your mind. Doing some exercise often can help too. Talking with friends or a therapist is good if you feel down. It also helps to find good ways to deal with stress in your everyday life.
Common Medical Causes for Feeling Tired
Besides habits and way of living, some usual health problems can add to feeling tired and worn out. The conditions that may cause this are anemia, diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disease, and sadness. Knowing how these health issues can lead to tiredness will help you know what makes the tired feel worse and find the best way to feel better.
Anemia
Anemia is when someone does not have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. This makes it hard for the blood to carry enough oxygen. A person with anemia can feel tired or weak. There are some important points about anemia and feeling tired:
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Iron lack: The most common reason people get anemia is not having enough iron. This can happen if you do not eat enough iron-rich foods, your body does not take in iron well, or you lose blood.
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Blood tests: A simple blood test can show if you have anemia and can help find out why you have it.
If you are told you have anemia, your doctor may tell you to take iron pills or change what you eat. This will help bring up the iron in your body and make you feel less tired.
Depression
Depression is a mental health issue that makes you feel many things, like tiredness and low drive. Here are some main things to keep in mind about feeling tired and being down:
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Mental states: Depression can change how you feel. You may feel tired a lot and not feel like doing things. Your mood and energy can go down. It makes the day feel hard.
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Healthcare provider: If you feel tired all the time and have signs of depression, you should talk to a healthcare provider or someone who works in mental health. They can help figure out what's going on and suggest ways to feel better, like therapy or medicine.
Dealing with depression and getting the right help can make you feel less tired. It can also help you feel better in your daily life.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term problem where there is too much sugar in the blood. This can cause many things to happen to the body, like feeling very tired or worn out. There are some key things to know about diabetes and feeling tired:
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Blood sugar: Blood sugar levels can go up and down. This can make you feel tired and low on energy.
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Healthcare provider: If you have diabetes and feel tired all the time, you should talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you keep your blood sugar at a good level. They can also help find out what else may be making you feel tired.
Taking your medicine, making changes to your food, and doing regular exercise can help you feel more energetic. This will also help lower tiredness if you have diabetes.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is a group of problems that can be in the heart or blood vessels. It often makes people feel tired. Here are some things to know about heart disease and feeling tired:
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Blood pressure: High blood pressure can put stress on the heart. This can make you feel tired and worn out.
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Healthcare provider: If you have heart disease and feel tired all the time, you should talk to your healthcare provider. They can check your condition, change your treatment plan if needed, and tell you how to deal with being tired.
If you take care of your heart disease with the help of medicine, changes to your daily life, and going to the doctor often, you can feel more active. This will also help you feel better all around.
Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disease means you have a problem with the thyroid gland. This can be when it does not work enough, called hypothyroidism, or when it works too much, which is called hyperthyroidism. Both of these can make you feel tired and worn out. Here are some important things to know about thyroid disease and being tired:
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Healthcare provider: If you think you have thyroid disease and feel tired for a long time, talk to your healthcare provider. They can check how your thyroid is working with some blood tests. After that, they will tell you the best way to treat it.
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Energy levels: Thyroid hormones help control your energy and how your body uses food. If these hormones are not balanced, you may feel tired and not have much energy.
If you take your medicine for thyroid disease and get checked often, you can feel better. This can help your energy go up and make you feel less tired.
Impact of Diseases and Disorders on Fatigue
Certain diseases and problems can make you feel tired. Some of these include autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and sleep problems. Knowing how these issues make you feel so tired can help you figure out what it's coming from. This also helps you find ways that work well for you to feel better.
Autoimmune Diseases and Fatigue
Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system goes after healthy cells and tissues by mistake. When you have these diseases, inflammation does not go down and can last a long time. This can make people feel tired or worn out. Here are some important things you need to know about autoimmune diseases and why they make you feel tired:
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Chronic swelling: The way the body fights disease in some health problems can cause long-lasting swelling. This can make you feel tired and low on energy.
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Healthcare provider: If you have a problem with the body's defenses and feel tired all the time, you should talk to your healthcare provider. They can look at your health, change your treatment if you need it, and give you advice on how to feel less tired.
If you manage your autoimmune disease well with medicine, changes to your daily habits, and seeing the doctor often, you can feel better and have more energy.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is a hard and tough condition. People have very bad tiredness that does not get better with rest. Here are some main things to know about chronic fatigue syndrome and being tired:
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Chronic fatigue: CFS shows as tiredness that does not go away and cannot be explained. This feeling lasts for six months or more. It can make it hard to do everyday things and can change your quality of life.
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Quality of life: People with CFS often feel much worse in how they feel overall, with tiredness being one of the hardest things to deal with.
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Text table:
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CFS Symptoms |
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Persistent fatigue |
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Impaired memory or concentration |
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Headaches |
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Joint pain |
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Unrefreshing sleep |
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Sore throat |
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Tender lymph nodes |
If you think you may have chronic fatigue syndrome, it is good to talk with a healthcare provider who works with this health problem. They can tell you what is wrong and tell you what treatment can help. This may use medicine, changes in how you live, and ways to help you feel better.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a long-lasting illness. People with it feel pain all over their muscles and bones, feel tired often, and feel sore in parts of their body. Here are some important things to know about fibromyalgia and being tired:
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Chronic pain: Fibromyalgia can cause pain all over the body and make you feel sore. This can lead to you feeling tired and worn out.
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Healthcare provider: If you think you might have fibromyalgia and feel very tired often, talk to your doctor. They can tell you what is wrong and suggest good ways to help, like medicine, exercise, or changing the way you live.
When you manage your fibromyalgia symptoms well, you can feel more energetic. This can help make your day better and improve your overall well-being.
Sleep Disorders
Sleep problems like obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and sleep troubles that keep you from moving while asleep can hurt how well you sleep. This can make you feel very tired during the day. Here are some things to think about when it comes to sleep problems and being tired:
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Obstructive sleep apnea: In this condition, breathing stops and starts while you sleep. This can make your sleep bad and cause you to feel sleepy during the day.
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Restless legs syndrome: This happens in your nerves and gives you strange feelings in your legs. You feel a strong need to move them, which often wakes you up at night and makes you feel tired.
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Sleep paralysis: You may not be able to move or talk for a short time when you are falling asleep or waking up. It can break your sleep and make you feel very tired.
If you think you have a sleep problem and feel tired all the time, you should talk to a doctor who helps people with sleep issues. A doctor can find out what is causing your problem and tell you what steps to take. They might suggest using a CPAP machine if you have sleep apnea. Medications may help if you have restless legs or other sleep trouble.
If you are not active and do not move much, you may have more trouble with sleep, like snoring or breaks in your breathing. If you notice these problems, you need to get moving more and change your habits. This can help you sleep better.
Addressing Fatigue
Dealing with feeling tired means you need to look at both how you live and any health problems that might be causing it. When you change some habits and talk to a doctor if you need to, you can feel better and get more energy.
Making Lifestyle Changes
Making changes to how you live can help lower tiredness and boost your energy. There are some main ideas to keep in mind about lifestyle changes and feeling tired:
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Lifestyle habits: It is important to have good lifestyle habits like getting regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and finding ways to manage stress well.
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Good sleep: Try to set a steady sleep schedule. Make a calming routine before bed. Be sure your bedroom is comfortable for sleep.
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Physical activity: Take part in some physical activity often. It will help boost your energy and can make you feel better overall.
If you add these lifestyle changes to your daily routine, you can feel more energy and fight tiredness.
Seeking Medical Help
If you feel tired all the time and know it is not because of the way you live, you should talk to a doctor. A checkup can help you and your doctor find out if there is a health problem causing your fatigue. Here are some things to keep in mind when you want to get help for being so tired:
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Healthcare provider: Talk to a healthcare provider. They will check your symptoms, run tests if needed, and suggest the best treatment options for you.
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Blood tests: Blood tests may show other reasons for your tiredness, like not enough iron in your blood, thyroid problems, or not having the right vitamins.
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Underlying causes: When you find out and treat what is really making you feel tired, you can feel better and have more energy.
If you are worried about feeling tired, you should talk to a healthcare provider. They can give you the help and advice you need to feel better and get your energy back.
Conclusion
To sum up, dealing with tiredness needs a full approach. You have to change the way you sleep, eat, and handle stress. It helps to get advice from a doctor. A doctor can check if it is caused by a health problem like anemia or thyroid issues. Doing all these can help you feel better and have more energy.
Remember, feeling tired all the time may mean there is a health problem. It is a good idea to talk with your doctor for the right checkup and advice. This will help you feel your best. Try to take care of your energy and choose a healthy and balanced way to live.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some natural remedies for fatigue?
Some ways to help with feeling tired are to have a balanced diet and to do some physical activity. You should try to get good sleep, drink enough water, and find ways to manage stress. All of these things can help you feel less tired.
When should I see a doctor for fatigue?
You should go to see a doctor for fatigue if you feel very sleepy all the time. If tiredness makes it hard for you to do daily things, or if the tired feeling comes with other troubling signs, it's a good idea. A healthcare provider can help find what might be causing your tiredness. They can check for any health problems that may be behind Lavin fatigue.
Can diet change help reduce fatigue?
Yes, eating a healthy diet that has a mix of nutrients can help lower feelings of being tired. When you eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, you get the nutrients your body needs to feel good and have more energy.
How can I improve my sleep quality to combat fatigue?
To help you sleep better and feel less tired, practice good habits before bed. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Set up a calming routine before you sleep. Make sure your room is cozy and helps you feel relaxed. Try not to look at screens before you go to bed.
What are some physical activities or exercises that can boost energy levels?
Doing regular physical activity can help you feel more energetic. You can walk fast, jog, ride a bike, or do some strength training. Try to get at least 150 minutes of medium-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of hard exercise each week.
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About the Author: Anna Hibschman Ferguson
Anna Hibschman Ferguson is a marketing leader who helps brands grow by using data, new ideas, and putting customers first. She is VP of Marketing at PolyGel LLC. There, she manages SEO, product marketing, and digital growth for brands in wellness and the arts. Anna helps the brands get more visitors, make more money, and get people more involved.
She uses what she knows about people and how they act to make marketing better. Anna finds ways to link what people do with results so brands can reach people in real ways and get good business results.