Why Am I Constantly Exhausted? You Have Serious Low Energy And Fatigue For These Reasons

The most relatable sentence ever is "I'm tired." Life is hectic, stressful, and frequently appears to be an impossible balancing act. In addition to the demands of never-ending professional tasks and social commitments, there are valid health factors that may help to explain why you continue to feel exhausted. If you regularly drink coffee and are still asking yourself, "Why am I so tired?" It's important to wonder if your lack of energy is a result of something going on inside of you.

It goes without saying that you'll feel lethargic the following day if you stay up late binge-watching a new series or pushing yourself harder than normal when preparing for a race. But there is a distinction between occasional bouts of exhaustion and persistent long-term fatigue.

Antoinette Price, MD, MPH, senior chief resident of family medicine at the University of Illinois Hospital, defines fatigue as "chronic, excessive tiredness." Each person's experience of exhaustion is unique, ranging from headaches, dizziness, achy and sore muscles to impatience, mental fog, and moodiness.

It could be time for you to visit your doctor and go over these issues with them if you consistently feel exhausted. There are various health conditions, both mental and physical, that might make it difficult for you to get through the entire day without wanting to fall in bed, so if anything doesn't seem right, don't dismiss it. Doctors have listed all the potential reasons why you might be experiencing this problem below.

Your allergies are exhibiting symptoms.

Sneezing and watery eyes are two common signs of seasonal allergies. Then there are the less noticeable signs, including weariness and poor energy. Purvi Parikh, MD, an allergist and immunologist of Allergy & Asthma Network, explains that seasonal allergies can make people tired if they are not addressed. Why? Your body needs more energy because it is using a lot of effort to fight the allergen. According to Dr. Parikh, this is true regardless of whether you suffer from allergies to things found outside, such as ragweed or pollen, or indoor allergens, such as dust mites.

Not only can allergens cause fatigue problems, but so can allergy treatments. Dr. Parikh states that several over-the-counter allergy medications, such as antihistamines, regrettably can produce lethargy.

How to repair it: If allergies are causing you to feel entirely exhausted, your current course of treatment isn't working. Therefore, discuss your alternatives with your doctor. To assist get things under control, they'll probably suggest medicine (or a different kind). According to Dr. Parikh, using a HEPA air purifier at home can also help the air there become cleaner.

You consume too much sugar and refined carbohydrates.

According to Jessica Cording, RD, author of The Little Book of Game-Changers, eating foods high in sugar or refined carbohydrates (such as white bread, pasta, or pastries) causes your blood sugar to spike. That might give you a brief feeling of hyperactivity. But regrettably, there will also be a crash, which could leave you completely exhausted.

According to Dr. Khan, if you continue to overindulge in sugar and processed carbohydrates, you can also cause your body to become insulin resistant. When this occurs, your body's ability to utilize glucose, often known as sugar, for energy is compromised. You're left unable to even.

Reduce your normal intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates, advises Cording, to address the problem. For the record, the CDC advises consuming no more than 10% of your daily calories from added sugars. (For example, 200 calories out of a 2,000-calorie diet shouldn't be from added sugars.

When eating meals that are high in sugar or carbohydrates, balance the meal with some protein and fat, such as spreading nut butter over crackers. According to Cording, this can reduce the likelihood that you'll crash soon after.

 You're extremely stressed out.

Stress can have physical effects on you in addition to emotional ones. According to board-certified physician Monifa   Seawell, "Your mind and body are closely connected and in constant communication with one another."

Georgian psychiatrist in Atlanta It's not unusual for a change in your mental state, whether it's favorable or negative, to also manifest physically in your body in some way.

According to Dr. Seawell, you may begin experiencing headaches, nausea, and, you guessed it, weariness.

The best course of action is to address the cause of your stress. While some stressors cannot be avoided, it might be beneficial to make every effort to reduce stress that you can control.

Dr. Seawell also advises including 20 to 30 minutes of exercise each day. When you can't entirely eliminate your stress, she explains, that can frequently assist increase your energy levels.

If you're still having trouble, consider speaking with a qualified mental health practitioner. According to Dr. Seawell, they "may help you process your feelings and learn good coping strategies."

You don't get enough sleep.

The CDC recommends that adults obtain seven hours or more of sleep each night. Certainly receiving less? Come on, fatigue.

According to Dr. Khan, a minimum of seven hours of sleep is necessary for the body to effectively regenerate and the brain to be rested. The problem is this Your circadian rhythm (your sleep-wake cycle) can be disrupted and thrown off for a few days by even one night of poor sleep, according to her.

How to correct it The simplest fix is to simply get more sleep. Of course, there are instances when it is easier to say than to do. You must first identify the cause—is it stress? Netflix? Poor sleeping habits? Then fix it. Consult your doctor about your choices if that still doesn't work. For example, to treat insomnia, you could require a treatment plan like cognitive behavioral therapy.

You are battling depression.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, low energy or weariness is undoubtedly one of the signs of depression (NIMH). Feelings of exhaustion and a lack of energy are one of the symptoms I always ask about when I'm screening a patient for depression, according to Dr. Seawell.

According to the NIMH, these are the signs of depression to be aware of.

feeling depressed, nervous, or "empty" all the time

the absence of optimism or pessimism

Irritability

guilty, worthless, or powerless emotions

Your enjoyment of your pastimes and interests has diminished

Lack of vigor or weariness

Slowing down your movement or speech

agitated or having difficulty remaining seated

Having trouble focusing, remembering, or deciding

inability to fall asleep or oversleeping

changes in appetite and/or weight

Consideration of suicide or death

Unknown causes of pain, pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive issues that do not improve with treatment

Worth noting: According to the NIMH, not every person with depression exhibits every symptom. Therefore, it's perfectly conceivable for you to have chronic fatigue without even realizing that depression is at blame.

How to correct it In order to feel better, you must address the issue that is causing your exhaustion in this case. Psychotherapy, medicine, or a combination of the two are all options for treating depression. It's essential to discuss getting evaluated with your doctor if you think your weariness may be related to depression.

You've got a thyroid problem.

Your thyroid is a little gland in the front of your throat that resembles a butterfly and secretes hormones that control how your body uses energy. According to Medline Plus, hypothyroidism is a condition that results from the body not producing enough thyroid hormone, which can interfere with or slow down a lot of your body's activities.

According to Dr. Khan, thyroid hormones have receptors on virtually every organ in the human body, and a lack of them can make you tired by drastically slowing down your metabolism.

How to correct it Taking medicine to replace the hormone that your own thyroid can no longer produce in adequate quantities to maintain your body working normally is the treatment for hypothyroidism.

Just be aware that it can take some time for you to feel better. Until you reach the ideal dosage, your doctor might need to change your medicine.

 An infection is clearing up for you.

You shouldn't anticipate to automatically regain your vitality just because you're recovering from, say, a virus. It may take awhile to recover. Dehydration, widespread inflammation, and extreme weariness are all possible effects of a viral or bacterial infection, according to Dr. Khan.

Giving oneself time to recover is the first step in fixing things. Within a week or two, if you drink plenty of water and simply take it easy, you should feel less exhausted and more like yourself.

You've got anemia

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, anemia is a disorder where your blood has a lower-than-normal amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin (NHLBI). Red blood cells need hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein, to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. According to the NHLBI, anemia is a condition when the body does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. Therefore, Dr. Khan explains that if you have the illness, you may have "fatigue and excessive exhaustion."

How to correct it Your anemia kind will determine what you should do. You might only need to add over-the-counter or prescription iron supplements to your regimen for some types of mild to moderate anemia.

However, according to the NHLBI, your doctor may also advise specific vitamins, IV treatment, or medications that stimulate the production of more red blood cells in your body. Additionally, you might need to eat more meals high in iron. Basically, you need to consult your doctor about this.

You have a gluten sensitivity

If you're not familiar, gluten is a protein that may be found in rye, barley, and wheat. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, gluten can harm the small intestine in certain people, leading to symptoms including bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea, stomach discomfort, vomiting, and yes, weariness (NIDDK). People with celiac disease experience that.

This condition may also contribute to ongoing digestive problems, prevent you from consuming the nutrients you require, and result in persistent exhaustion.

How to treat it: Your doctor may suggest that you get a blood test and have an intestinal biopsy to check for inflammation in your small intestine after performing a physical examination to identify celiac disease. If celiac disease is identified in you, you must stay away from gluten-containing foods going forward.

You suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS).

Even though this is a less likely diagnosis, it is nonetheless important to highlight. MS is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, harming the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers.

the National Multiple Sclerosis Society claims (NMSS).

According to the NMSS, fatigue affects roughly 80% of MS patients, making it a relatively prevalent symptom. Even if a person feels well overall, the weariness might greatly impair their ability to operate. It may be brought on by medical conditions that can be treated, drug side effects, or other factors.

How to fix it: According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), there are specific treatments to help people with MS manage fatigue, including occupational therapy to simplify tasks at home, physical therapy to learn energy-saving ways of walking and performing other daily tasks, a regular exercise program, sleep regulation, and psychological interventions.

Fatigue and lack of energy can also be brought on by cancer.

Another one to put in the "unlikely but worth knowing" category is this. Cancer-related fatigue occurs a lot: According to the American Cancer Society, it affects at least 80% of those who are diagnosed with the condition (ACS). People with cancer may feel exhausted from the disease itself as well as the therapies they get, which may also be to blame. According to Dr. Khan, it has the ability to disrupt the body's mitochondrial energy and take over nearly all metabolic pathways.

How to correct it First of all, don't panic thinking you have a significant health problem. However, be aware that receiving a thorough diagnosis is crucial, as is receiving the appropriate treatment, which typically entails chemotherapy, radiation therapy,

either immunotherapy or surgery. The sort of cancer you have and its stage will determine the specific course. Therefore, if you haven't been able to overcome your fatigue for a while, it's important to visit your doctor to rule it out.

There are not enough nutrients in your diet

The problem is this To function normally, our body requires a particular number of vitamins, minerals, and calories each day. Everybody's numbers are different. Dr. Price advises that in addition to ensuring that you consume enough calories each day to maintain your weight, you should also ensure that you are consuming the right kinds of nutrients.

Your energy levels decline if you don't consume enough foods that are high in nutrients.

How to correct it According to Dr. Price, eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables, and proteins is crucial for preventing weariness. Your body can produce the energy you need to go through the day if you consume the right nutrients in the right amounts.

There's too much caffeine in your system.

Although you've probably heard this before, caffeine is a drug. You get dependent on anything if your body gets used to it, especially if you drink coffee or soda every day. Caffeine provides you a boost, but it also has highs and lows, and that might make you feel drained, according to Dr. Price. Due to the fact that caffeine burns calories,

You exhaust yourself more quickly because you're moving more quickly, according to her.

If you totally depend on coffee to get through the day, it ought to be a red flag. Dr. Price observes that "something else is going on in your life that is causing you to be exceedingly exhausted" and that "you shouldn't have to have coffee in order to function."

Change up your caffeine intake and start weaning yourself off of it as a solution. You may experience headaches at first while you acclimate, but once your body is no longer dependent on coffee, you'll feel much better.

Your COVID is lengthy

Despite the fact that the long-term repercussions of COVID-19 are still unknown, Dr. Price notes that one effect the condition has on the body is excessive exhaustion. When you have an infection, your body is working overtime to try to heal itself. You don't feel like eating, your muscles are worn out, and your body is functioning in overdrive.

Dr. Price explains that once the illness is over, "your body is doing the most to bring you back to your regular self and to fight off COVID, so you're not going to just bounce right back to yourself." Additionally, it has been demonstrated that the COVID peak symptoms might occasionally appear 14 days later.

According to Dr. Price, long COVID often develops two months after a person has COVID. According to her, if you still feel exhausted two months after catching the novel coronavirus, it may be long COVID.

The strongest defense against COVID and its long-term effects is vaccination, booster shots, and continued use of preventative measures like disguising up in public and maintaining social distance. According to CDC recommendations, your doctor may provide nutrients and drugs to treat the symptoms of long-term COVID while research on a treatment is ongoing. Dr. Price advises speaking with your primary care physician about your symptoms if you think you could have extended COVID

They can assist you in determining what actions to do next

When low energy and fatigue are present, you should see a doctor.

While occasionally feeling exhausted is quite common, perpetual weariness is not. Dr. Khan advises contacting a doctor if you're having trouble. To try to determine what, if anything, is going on, they'll probably want to do a number of tests, including a physical examination and blood work.

Dr. Price advises patients to consult their doctors at any time. The doctor might investigate further what you initially believed to be a small issue. Talking to your doctor can provide you with comfort and certainty if, for example, you started googling things and, of course, Google would tell you that you are dying.

Dr. Price continues.

The benefit is that you can get answers and return to your revitalized and energized self more quickly if you seek assistance sooner rather than later.