Other drugs, such as cigarettes and caffeine, stimulate the nervous system and can cause insomnia. Sleep disturbances — disturbed sleep may occur for a number of reasons, for example, noisy neighbours, young children who wake in the night, a snoring partner, or an uncomfortable sleeping environment such as a stuffy bedroom. Lack of regular exercise and sedentary behaviour — physical activity is known to improve fitness, health and wellbeing, reduce stress, and boost energy levels.
It also helps you sleep. Quick fix foods, such as chocolate bars or caffeinated drinks, only offer a temporary energy boost that quickly wears off and worsens fatigue. Individual factors — personal illness or injury, illnesses or injuries in the family, too many commitments for example, working two jobs or financial problems can cause fatigue.
Workplace-related causes of fatigue Common workplace issues that can cause fatigue include: Shift work — the human body is designed to sleep during the night. This pattern is set by a small part of the brain known as the circadian clock. A shift worker confuses their circadian clock by working when their body is programmed to be asleep. These may include long work hours, hard physical labour, irregular working hours such as rotating shifts , a stressful work environment such as excessive noise or temperature extremes , boredom, working alone with little or no interaction with others, or fixed concentration on a repetitive task.
Workplace stress — can be caused by a wide range of factors including job dissatisfaction, heavy workload, conflicts with bosses or colleagues, bullying, constant change, or threats to job security. Burnout — can be described as striving too hard in one area of life while neglecting everything else. Unemployment — financial pressures, feelings of failure or guilt, and the emotional exhaustion of prolonged job hunting can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue.
Psychological causes of fatigue Studies suggest that psychological factors are present in at least 50 per cent of fatigue cases. These may include: Depression — this illness is characterised by severe and prolonged feelings of sadness, dejection and hopelessness. People who are depressed commonly experience chronic fatigue. Anxiety and stress — a person who is chronically anxious or stressed keeps their body in overdrive.
The constant flooding of adrenaline exhausts the body, and fatigue sets in. Grief — losing a loved one causes a wide range of emotions including shock, guilt, depression, despair and loneliness.
Diagnosing fatigue As fatigue can present a vast range of symptoms and be caused by many different factors working in combination, diagnosis can be difficult.
Your doctor may diagnose fatigue using a number of tests including: Medical history — recent events such as childbirth, medication, surgery or bereavement may contribute to fatigue.
Physical examination — to check for signs of illness or disease. Your doctor may also ask detailed questions about diet, lifestyle and life events. Tests — such as blood tests, urine tests, x-rays and other investigations. The idea is to rule out any physical causes, for example anaemia, infection or hormonal problems. Treating fatigue Fatigue is a symptom —something you can feel and describe — not a condition or disease.
Where to get help Your doctor. More information here. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.
Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. If you find yourself sleeping until the last possible second before dragging yourself out of bed, you may be wondering, "Why am I always tired? Fatigue and a lack of energy are a big problem for many people, but these problems can only be addressed if you know what is wrong. If you are feeling constantly tired, the first thing you should do is see your personal physician for a checkup.
Your doctor can take a careful history, perform a physical exam, and do any needed testing to determine the cause of your fatigue. A few of the possible causes of fatigue include the following:. While a lack of sleep may seem to be an obvious cause of chronic fatigue, it is a surprisingly common reason for feeling tired. Many people go through life feeling too stressed or too busy to slow down and get all of the sleep that they need to feel good. While a lack of sleep isn't a medical condition per se, your doctor may be able to help you learn about ways to reduce your stress or prescribe medications to help you with occasional sleeplessness.
It's helpful to begin by determining your sleep needs. The "average" adult needs around eight hours per night, but few people are average. You may also have a sleep debt you have accumulated, and this requires extra sleep to catch up. Depression is a condition believed to be caused abnormalities in mood-regulating chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brain.
People with depression tend to have problems with sleep and energy level. They may have trouble falling asleep or wake up during the night. Some people with depression may also have trouble waking up in the morning and sleep too long. Depression often makes people feel sluggish and unmotivated.
Some of the other symptoms of depression include feeling sad or empty, losing interest in activities that you once enjoyed, changes in appetite or weight, feeling worthless or guilty, and having recurring thoughts of death or suicide. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. If you feel like you may be depressed, talk to your doctor. She may recommend that you also see a therapist who can help you work through your feelings. Untreated depression not only leads to tiredness but can affect every aspect of your life. When you have anemia, your body either has a lower than normal number of red blood cells or it doesn't have enough hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin is the substance which gives red blood cells their color. It is also involved in carrying oxygen throughout your body.
When you have too little hemoglobin or not enough red blood cells, your body doesn't get enough oxygen so you feel tired or weak. You may also have symptoms such as pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, or headaches.
They may also wake up feeling tired and poorly rested, having been unable to get good quality sleep. In one study on fibromyalgia and sleep, half of the individuals with fibromyalgia also had sleep apnea, which contributes to fatigue. Overweight increases the risk of fatigue by increasing the risk of conditions that have fatigue as a common symptom, such as diabetes or sleep apnea.
Similarly, people with underweight may tire easily, depending on the cause of their condition. Eating disorders, cancer, chronic diseases, and an overactive thyroid can all cause weight loss, as well as excessive tiredness and fatigue. A person with fatigue may not feel able to exercise, and a lack of exercise can cause further fatigue.
A lack of exercise may eventually cause deconditioning, making it harder and more tiring to perform a physical task. Fatigue can also affect healthy individuals after prolonged, intense mental or physical activity. The main symptom of fatigue is exhaustion with physical or mental activity. A person does not feel refreshed after resting or sleeping. It might also be hard for them to carry out their daily activities, including work, household chores, and caring for others. Symptoms tend to get worse after exertion.
They may appear a few hours after activity or exercise, or possibly on the next day. A person can aid their diagnosis by keeping a record of the total hours they sleep each night and how often they wake up each night. The doctor will carry out a physical examination to check for signs of illness and ask the person which medications they are using, if any. Diagnostic tests can help diagnose the underlying cause of the fatigue. Urine tests, imaging scans, mental health questionnaires, and blood tests may be necessary depending on other symptoms.
Tests such as these can help rule out physical causes, such as infections, hormonal problems, anemia, liver problems, or kidney problems. Diet can affect how tired or energetic a person feels. Maintaining a moderate and well-balanced diet can lead to better health and better sleep. Those who have not been physically active for some time should introduce exercise gradually. A doctor or sports therapist can help.
In one study , people with multiple sclerosis who completed 2 months of mindfulness meditation reported that levels of fatigue, anxiety, and depression fell, while quality of life improved. A study into the benefits of yoga found some improvement in symptoms of fatigue and sleep quality in cancer survivors.
The 4-week program included postures, meditation, breathing, and some other techniques.
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