I’ve slept for 8 hours, a good solid 8 hours at that, but I wake up and I’m still tired. I shower, have some breakfast, dry my hair and then sit on the couch and promptly fall asleep. Throughout the morning I keep falling asleep. Now I know everyone has days when they just feel exhausted and you are really dragging yourself through to the end of the day, but being constantly tired just isn’t normal. We’ve all experienced that lethargy when the flu knocks us over, but as a general rule we bounce back once the infection has been overpowered by our immune system.
I’m referring to that consistent lingering fatigue that is preventing you from being productive at work and controlling basic functions in the home, when managing your daily affairs is getting beyond you and getting you down. You may have reduced attentiveness, a slow reaction time, impaired memory or elevated moods.
Is it a psychological cause? Maybe physical or just a lifestyle issue?
The experts say there are three pillars of good health. Sleep, diet and exercise. Adults need 7-9 hours sleep. We all should consume a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables interspersed with protein, vitamins and minerals. And keep moving those limbs. If you find that you tick all 3 boxes, but are still feeling wiped out through the day, then it is time to get to the bottom of it.
So, Google to the rescue as I start searching for possible factors or underlying medical conditions. Is it stress? Am I eating a nutritional diet? Too much coffee? Turns out it could be any number of possible issues as I display symptoms for some on this list.
Anaemia
With a variety of causes, this is a condition brought about by a lack of healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells contain haemoglobin and it is the haemoglobin that enables the red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body’s tissues. Your bone marrow needs iron to make haemoglobin and without adequate iron production then the red blood cells falter, causing severe fatigue. I’ve had this issue over the decades and once iron levels are restored, I always notice a marked improvement.
Depression
While depression is a mental health issue and fatigue is a physical issue, the two can overlap. People suffering with depression very often do not sleep well, so hence the exhaustion creeps into everyday life.
Research shows that curcumin the active ingredient in turmeric has the potential to improve a number of health conditions including mild depression. Recent studies have made a connection between depression and chronic inflammation. It’s still not clear if inflammation causes depression or vice versa.
Blood Sugar
Your body expends a lot of energy converting blood sugar levels, so diabetics feel constantly tired. A diet high in sugar will harm your sleep patterns.
Thyroid
This small gland sits in your neck and when it is out of whack, then you will feel de-energised. Your thyroid makes a hormone that controls how you use energy and if your thyroid is under-active you will be sluggish.
Allergic Rhinitis
Hay fever is when your immune system overreacts to specific allergens, such as pollens, dust mites or animal fur, causing you to sneeze and sneeze, have a runny nose, watery itchy eyes. This absolutely affects your sleep and ability to function throughout the day.
Circadian Rhythm
Our body is naturally set to a 24-hour circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock. Your eyes capture the environmental change and send signals to your brain to respond to light and dark. Hormones like melatonin and cortisol increase and decrease in line with your arcadian rhythm. It is important to keep bedtime on a stable schedule. Working on night shifts, crossing time zones when travelling, late nights/early mornings – all these type of situations will disrupt your rhythm and cause fatigue. During sleep, your body performs a number of critical processes aimed at repairing and rejuvenating cellular tissues. If you do not wake up alert and invigorated, then you likely have an issue.
Sleep Apnoea
This disorder prevents you from receiving enough oxygen while you sleep. The brain is triggered by your body not expelling your CO2 and jolts awake in an alarmed state. This continuous disruption to your sleep will deplete any reserves that you have to function the next day.
Menopause
That constant recurring complaint is the inability to sleep due to night sweats and hot flushes. Natures Help can alleviate the worst of symptoms with their new menopause range, specifically designated to helping women.
Nutrient Deficiencies. Iron, vitamin B’s, vitamin D, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, selenium. Does your diet provide the supplements required for efficiency? If not, explore the options available to you with the Turmeric Australia Are you eating highly processed foods that are low in nutrients? If so, throw all that packaged food out and concentrate on consuming fruit and vegetables as a large part of your diet.
Caffeine
Drinking too much coffee is connected to increased night-time awakenings and daytime sleepiness. Stay well hydrated, but not by drinking copious amounts of coffee through the day.
Obesity
Every medical condition known to man is exacerbated if you are overweight. Obesity is linked to poor sleep quality.
So, after a bit of homework on Google as to what may be the issue of my constant tiredness, I duly presented myself to the doctor to discover it was indeed low iron levels. So don’t hesitate to consult with your practitioner. It is so much more fun to feel alive and alert each day, than constantly feeling sluggish.
