Are You Tired All the Time?
If you are frequently exhausted during the day, you may suspect a sleep disorder. And while it’s a good place to start, there may be some other reasons for your daytime tiredness.
“Fatigue and sleepiness are two different things,” explains clinical psychologist Jennifer Martin, PhD, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “Sleepiness means you’re not getting enough good quality sleep, and during the day you can’t keep your eyes open. Fatigue is not having a lot of energy. You can feel that way from having chronic pain, stress, or exercising too much.”
Anemia
Also known as having a low red blood cell count, anemia can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and headaches. In addition to having lower than normal amounts of red blood cells, the cells may not have enough hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that helps circulate oxygen around the body. Anemia can be mild or severe, but both should be treated. A blood test can reveal if you are anemic. Common causes are deficiencies in iron, folate or vitamin B12. Food rich in these nutrients can help correct the problem.
The Foods You Choose
Not eating enough, and eating the wrong foods (highly processed and sugary foods such as donuts) won’t provide the nutritional fuel you need to power through the day, which can lead to feeling tired. Combining protein with a complex carbohydrate will help you stave off hunger, and help keep your body and brain energized.
“Some patients tell me they get tired after eating certain foods,” says Dr. Martin. “If you eat something that makes you tired, don’t eat it. Likewise, if you eat something at night that keeps you awake, avoid that food.”
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Sleepiness and fatigue are different.
Difficult to digest foods, such as those that are high in fat, can drain energy.
Infections can cause fatigue.
Some medical conditions can make you feel tired.
Underactive Thyroid
The thyroid gland makes a hormone that affects metabolism and is involved with how the body converts energy from food. Hypothyroidism is the medical term for an underactive thyroid. When food metabolizes too slowly, the result can be fatigue. The disease is more common among people over 60, and affects women more than men. To diagnose hypothyroidism, a physician will take a full medical history, and perform blood tests to check thyroid function and hormone levels. The condition is treatable with medications.
Depression
It’s commonly thought of as a mental and emotional disorder, but depression also has physical symptoms, including headaches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Depression is one of the most common disorders in the U.S. and can happen at any age. In older adults, depression can occur in tandem with other serious chronic conditions. Being depressed drains energy. Sometimes, the medications used to treat depression may help resolve the fog of depression, but the medication’s side effects may include fatigue. Always report any medication side effect to your physician, as there may be other options to try.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections. Women are more likely to get them, but men, especially as they get older, are more prone to UTIs as well. While burning and itching upon urination are the most typical symptoms, older adults are more likely to feel tired, shaky, weak, and have muscle aches. “Any infection can make people feel tired,” says Dr. Martin. “It can cause both fatigue and sleepiness. It’s also harder to get good sleep because you may have pain or other symptoms from the infection.”
Dehydration
Not getting enough fluids can lead to fatigue. While the general rule of thumb has been eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day, it may be different for you. If you sweat a lot, you will need more. Simply hiking outdoors on a hot humid day can cause you to perspire more than you think. Drink water before such an outing or a hard workout like tennis. Depending on how long you are at the activity, it may help to drink a little during your activity as well. You know you are well-hydrated when urine is light in color.
There are many other medical conditions such as heart and lung diseases, diabetes, and fibromyalgia, as well as medications that can cause fatigue. Sometimes, trying a different medication or taking it at a different time of day may solve the problem.
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