5 Reasons Why You Are Experiencing Fatigue

All of us feel tired or exhausted from time to time but there can be several reasons behind fatigue and it is important that you be aware of it and get properly diagnosed and treated. Here are some important reasons for fatigue:

1. Underlying Health Conditions- You could be fatigued if you are suffering from any medical conditions like anemia, diabetes, lung or heart diseases, thyroid conditions, kidney diseases, electrolyte problems, fibromyalgia, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity and liver diseases. Pregnant women and mothers who have delivered recently are also likely to experience fatigue. Also, infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, flu, and HIV can cause fatigue.

2. Poor Sleep- Needless to say, we can feel tired if we haven’t slept properly. Lack of sleep can be attributed to working late, jet lags, shift work and other health conditions like insomnia, reflux esophagitis, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. Also, certain mental health issues like anxiety, drug or alcohol abuse and depression can cause sleep-related problems associated with fatigue.

3. Stress- Constant worrying about work or family can give you sleepless nights and make you feel tired or exhausted. You begin to experience the physical effects of stress or anxiety and end up feeling fatigued. It is important that you opt for stress management techniques like regular exercise or meditation.

4. Vitamin or mineral deficiencies- Since vitamins and minerals can be responsible for your energy levels, their deficiencies can make you fatigued. Thus, ensure taking adequate amount of vitamin-D, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and iodine. Sometimes you might need supplements to get enough of such crucial energy providers and thus, discuss with your doctor before taking them.

5. Certain drugs and medications- You might sometimes feel sleepy or tired when you’re on certain medications. This is because drugs like antihistamines, antidepressants, statins, steroids, and antihypertensives can cause fatigue. Also, medication withdrawal, changes in the dosage or stopping the medications can cause fatigue.

While fatigue can be of two types (physical and mental fatigue), they can both sometimes occur together. Since it involves both your physical and mental state, it is recommended that you discuss your fatigue with your physician and manage it better.