12 Reasons Why You're Constantly Tired
Feeling tired all the time? Well, you're far from alone. Two out of every five Americans report feeling tired most of the week, and research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 1 in 3 adults fails to get enough sleep. And between work or school, family or friends, and all the other commitments we're juggling, it's easy to blame a busy lifestyle on constant fatigue.
But if you're always asking yourself, "Why am I so tired?" don't blow it off. Give yourself about 2 to 3 weeks to make some lifestyle changes: Trim your social schedule, scale back your workload at the office, and try to sleep more. "If you're still feeling the symptoms of fatigue after those changes, then you need professional help," says Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD, an internal medicine doctor in Atlanta. Excess exhaustion could be the sign of a more serious medical condition that can be treated.'
Lifestyle Factors That Explain Why You're Always Tired
Chances are, solving the reason you're tired all the time is easy to control, and takes just a few simple changes to your day-to-day habits.
You're sleeping on an old mattress or pillow
The National Sleep Foundation recommends replacing your mattress every nine to 10 years, and pillows once a year.
Your bedroom is too warm
A hot bedroom can make it difficult to fall asleep (and stay asleep). The NSF has settled on a magic number for perfect rest: 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
You're spending too much time on your smartphone
Exposing eyes to light during the evening stops the body from making melatonin, the sleep hormone, according to a report from Harvard Medical School. For optimal sleep, make your bedroom a phone-free zone.
You're using alcohol as a sleep aid
Sure, a glass of wine may help you drift off to dreamland. Problem is, the alcohol may be making your sleep quality suffer. Nix the nightcap, and you may find it gives you the energy boost you need.
You're not drinking enough water
Ever notice that when you're feeling tired or cranky, you haven't had a glass of water for a while? That's no coincidence-being dehydrated can have a real impact on your mood and energy levels. And you don't need to be severely dehydrated to experience these cognitive symptoms, either. You may start feeling sluggish even if you're only a tiny bit dehydrated. Mild to moderate dehydration is easy to treat: Just drink more water! Try these nutritionist-approved tricks to drink more water every day.
Health Issues That Could Make You Feel Tired All the Time
So you've replaced your mattress, started going to bed at the same time every night, and improved your diet-and you're still exhausted. If your constant fatigue sticks around even after you've made some lifestyle changes, it's time to talk to your doctor about the following health issues.
Anemia
The fatigue caused by anemia is the result of a lack of red blood cells, which bring oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and cells. You may feel weak and short of breath. Anemia may be caused by an iron or vitamin deficiency, blood loss, internal bleeding, or a chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or kidney failure. Women of childbearing age are especially susceptible to iron deficiency anemia because of blood loss during menstruation and the body's need for extra iron during pregnancy and breastfeeding, explains Laurence Corash, MD, adjunct professor of laboratory medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
The symptoms: Feeling tired all the time is a major one. Others include extreme weakness, difficulty sleeping, lack of concentration, rapid heartbeat, chest pains, and headache. Simple exercise, such as climbing the stairs or walking short distances, can wipe you out.
The tests: A thorough evaluation for anemia includes a physical exam and blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC), to check the levels of your red blood cells. It's also standard to check the stool for blood loss.
The treatments: Anemia isn't a disease; it's a symptom that something else is going on in your body that needs to be resolved. So, treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause of anemia. It may be as simple as eating more iron-rich foods, but talk to your doctor about the right treatment for you.
