Online Reporter
Dr Tendai Zuze
Health Matters
WE all get tired.
Sometimes there is a good explanation.
You might have stayed up too late, worked a long day, had a particularly stressful week, or simply have not been taking enough time to rest.
A good night’s sleep and a quieter day or two usually sorts things out. But what happens when the tiredness does not go away?
You wake up in the morning and already feel exhausted. You struggle to get through the day. Things that used to be easy suddenly seem like hard work. You drink more energy drinks to keep yourself going, but the tiredness keeps coming back.
At some point you have to start asking if something else is going on.
The first thing to understand is that tiredness is a symptom, not a diagnosis. There are many possible reasons for feeling tired, and sometimes there is more than one reason at the same time. In most instances, the most obvious place to start is sleep.
You may be spending enough hours in bed but still not getting good quality sleep. Loud snoring, repeatedly waking during the night or episodes of gasping or choking during sleep can be clues to a condition called sleep apnoea. Someone with sleep apnoea may wake up in the morning feeling as though they have hardly slept at all.
Then there is lifestyle. Too little physical activity, an unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol, too much caffeine and simply not allowing yourself enough time to rest can all contribute to tiredness. Stress is another major contributor.
When your mind is constantly busy worrying about work, finances, family or other problems, switching off at night can become difficult.
But sometimes the reason is medical.
One of the more common causes we should not overlook is anaemia. If your haemoglobin is low, your body has less capacity to carry oxygen to the tissues. You may feel tired, weak or short of breath, and you may notice heart palpitations or look unusually pale. Iron deficiency is a particularly common cause of anaemia, although there are many other causes.
Another possibility is diabetes. Feeling unusually tired, particularly when accompanied by increased thirst, frequent urination or unexplained weight loss, should prompt a blood sugar check.
The thyroid can also be responsible. An underactive thyroid may cause tiredness together with symptoms such as feeling unusually cold, constipation, dry skin, weight gain and a general slowing down. An overactive thyroid can produce a different pattern, with tiredness accompanied by symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, muscle weakness or a racing heart.
We also should not forget the kidneys, liver, heart and lungs. Chronic illnesses affecting these organs can cause persistent fatigue. Certain infections and inflammatory conditions can do the same. Even some commonly used medicines can make people feel sleepy or lacking in energy.
And then there is the emotional side of health. Stress, anxiety, depression and prolonged emotional strain can all produce very real physical tiredness. This doesn’t mean that the tiredness is all in your head. The symptoms are real. Sometimes the mind and body simply don’t make the distinction that we like to make between physical and emotional health.
So when should you see a doctor? If you have been tired for several weeks without an obvious explanation, particularly if the tiredness is affecting your work, exercise, concentration or normal daily activities, it is worth getting checked. The same applies if the tiredness comes with other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, night sweats, breathlessness, palpitations, excessive thirst, changes in your bowel habits or significant changes in your mood.
The good news is that investigating tiredness does not necessarily mean a long list of complicated tests. A good history and examination often point the doctor in the right direction.
Depending on the circumstances, simple blood tests may be used to look for problems such as anaemia, diabetes, thyroid disease or abnormalities affecting the kidneys or liver.
We live in a world where being busy has almost become something to be proud of. We work late, sleep late, wake early, spend hours on our phones and then wonder why we are exhausted.
Rest is not laziness. Exercise is important, but so is recovery. Eating properly matters. Sleep matters.
Taking time to switch off matters. Regular physical activity can actually improve energy levels over time.
Sometimes tiredness is simply your body’s way of telling you that you need a break; but sometimes it’s your body’s way of telling you that something needs to be checked.
For more on tiredness, contact [email protected]
