9 Possible Causes Of Feeling Tired All The Time

[LoShiNi]

It’s normal to feel drained of energy after pulling an all-nighter to finish an assignment or after a grueling day at work. But if you feel tired constantly and without an obvious reason, it might be a symptom of a medical condition. If getting more rest doesn’t make you feel more energetic, it’s time to talk to your doctor, because fatigue is on the list of symptoms of various health problems.

1. Hypothyroidism

If your thyroid is underactive, you start to experience symptoms such as tiredness, muscle aches, weight gain, and depression. Anyone can develop hypothyroidism, but it’s more common in aging women. The American Thyroid Foundation states that about 17 percent of women will have a thyroid disorder before they turn 60. It’s diagnosed based on your symptoms and a blood test.


2. Anemia

Anemia is a common cause of feeling tired. Having anemia means not having enough red blood cells. Other symptoms of anemia include weakness, increased heart rate, pale skin and headache. Anemia can develop as a result of a deficiency of iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid, or medical conditions, including diabetes, kidney disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Women who have heavy periods are also prone to anemia. A blood test is used to diagnose the condition.


3. Diabetes

Constantly feeling tired may be one of the first symptoms of diabetes. Other symptoms include increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, and weight loss. A blood test to measure your blood sugar levels is used to diagnose diabetes.


4. Depression

Depressed people often experience a lack of energy. Depression can manifest in different ways, but the most common signs include feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness, sleeping too much or too little, feeling tired all the time, eating too much or too little, and issues with memory and concentration. Depression is diagnosed based on the patient’s description of symptoms. It’s treated with antidepressants, talk therapy, or a combination of both.


5. Anxiety

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common mental health problems along with depression. Depression and anxiety often co-occur. Worrying all the time can drain you of energy; other symptoms of GAD include trouble sleeping, feeling “on edge”, and inability to concentrate. If you think that you have an anxiety disorder, talk to a mental health professional.


6. Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which your breathing is interrupted numerous times when you sleep. You often wake up in the night and don’t remember it in the morning. Symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, tiredness and daytime sleepiness. The condition can lead to other serious health problems, such as heart disease and stroke. If you think you might have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about your symptoms and ask him or her about a sleep study (polysomnogram).


7. Chronic fatigue syndrome

Many experts were skeptical about the very existence of the condition until recently. Not much is known about it, and the research is ongoing. Its symptoms include constant extreme tiredness, muscle and joint pain, weakness, headache, and inability to concentrate. There is no single test to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome. Doctors diagnose it based on the description of symptoms and ruling out other conditions.


8. Heart disease

Feeling exhausted after even a slight physical exertion, such as climbing the stairs, may be one of the signs of heart disease. It can be successfully managed with medications and lifestyle changes; discuss it with your doctor.


9. Food intolerance and food allergies

Food intolerance, such as celiac disease, can manifest in constant tiredness. Talk to your doctor about the elimination diet and food allergy tests to determine whether it’s something you eat that is causing your symptoms.