Darrick Robles Is it normal to be tired all the time? Or does the persistent tiredness have a medical cause? This is sometimes not so easy to recognize. Here you can find out how to get to the bottom of the causes of your tiredness and what you can do when you are exhausted.
It’s perfectly normal to feel tired from time to time. Maybe you’ve had a long night, are lacking sleep due to an emotional challenge, or have been working late. Fatigue is usually a signal from your body to rest. Certain medications, pregnancy or being overweight can also make you more tired.
However, this type of tiredness usually goes away with the help of adequate restful sleep. However, if you’re consistently tired for more than four weeks and resting doesn’t help, there may be a medical reason for your tiredness.
What is the difference between tiredness and morbid exhaustion?
Fatigue is normal. We usually know the reason: we haven’t slept enough. Sufficient sleep or sometimes just a little rest can help. There is no uniform definition of pathological exhaustion, which is also referred to as fatigue in technical terms. However, one characteristic is that normal rest and sleep do not improve fatigue. All possible causes are possible: physical, cognitive, mental and emotional factors play a role.
Why am I always tired?
Although severe fatigue is very common, it is still not very well known as a clinical picture. There are many natural and obvious root causes of fatigue. Many are related to lifestyle, including:
- revision
- Problems at home or at work
- lack of sleep
- stressful experiences
- Too much alcohol
- Too much caffeine
- Prescription drugs such as antidepressants or sleeping pills
- Exhaustion after having a baby
Fatigue can also be caused by too much screen work making it difficult to fall asleep. And it can also be caused by a recent illness, including viral infections like the flu or Covid-19 and bacterial infections like pneumonia or urinary tract infections .
Why do we feel more tired in winter?
“It’s normal to be more tired in winter. Winter fatigue is related to the shorter days and lower temperatures, the associated stress on the body and more infections,” explains Med-Healths doctor Dr. Guyomar.
In winter, you usually need half an hour to three quarters of an hour more sleep every night.
What are other causes of fatigue?
Sometimes tiredness and fatigue can be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as B. for chronic infectious diseases, hormone and metabolic diseases (especially when our hormone balance gets out of balance), autoimmune diseases and sleep disorders . These medical conditions and physical factors may include but are not limited to:
1. Iron deficiency anemia
If you are often tired and lack energy and even rest breaks do not lead to recovery, iron deficiency anemia could be behind it.
This is caused by an iron deficiency , which causes your body to produce too few red blood cells. This is because your body needs iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.
Typical symptoms are tiredness, shortness of breath, palpitations and paleness – both on the skin and on the nails and eyelids.
Less common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, brittle hair, painful cracks at the corners of the mouth, spoon-shaped nails and restless legs.
The reason for anemia can be a low-iron diet , but it can also be caused by operations , certain diseases (e.g. stomach ulcers or Crohn’s disease), or blood loss, such as in women with heavy menstrual bleeding . Pregnancy or childbirth can also promote anemia.
What you can do about it A blood test can quickly determine whether you are suffering from an iron deficiency. Your doctor will then prescribe you appropriate iron tablets.
You can support your iron balance with the help of the right diet. Foods that are particularly rich in iron include dark green leafy vegetables, legumes such as beans and lentils, pumpkin seeds, whole grains, fish, and lean red meat . If you’re vegan or vegetarian, you may need additional iron supplements.
2. Nutrient Deficiency
Constant tiredness can also be a sign of a deficiency in another nutrient. Here are some of the most common ones that can cause fatigue.
Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12 is also essential for the production of red blood cells. A deficiency can lead to anemia, but it can also cause symptoms beforehand. In addition to extreme tiredness, these also include visual disturbances, tingling, muscle weakness, irritability, depression, and poor memory and concentration . Here, too, a blood test can provide clarity.
Treatment is usually with injections or vitamin B12 tablets. Foods that contain vitamin B12 include meat (especially liver), herring, mackerel, cod, cheese, and eggs . Those following a vegan or vegetarian diet may need to take a dietary supplement.
Vitamin D3 According to a 2015 study by Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Iran, there is a strong link between vitamin D3 deficiency and fatigue. Sunlight on the skin is the best source of vitamin D, you can read more about this in our article Vitamin D deficiency: 5 typical signs . Foods that contain vitamin D3 include oily fish, mushrooms, egg yolks, and fortified foods such as vitamin drinks.
Magnesium We need magnesium to convert food into energy. Research shows that an early symptom of magnesium deficiency is fatigue. Other symptoms include muscle weakness, spasms, and abnormal heart rhythms. Foods rich in magnesium include green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, broccoli, and beans .
A nutrient deficiency can be determined with the help of a blood test.
3. Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
If you feel constantly exhausted and also have other symptoms such as weight gain, depression, muscle aches, joint pains, dry skin, brittle nails, thinning hair, loss of libido, and irregular or heavy menstrual periods (in women), you may have an underactive thyroid. Your thyroid then doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones, which causes your entire system to slow down – and makes you constantly tired.
A thyroid function test is required to diagnose hypothyroidism. The level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and, if necessary, thyroxine (T4) in the blood is examined.
An underactive thyroid is usually treated by taking thyroid hormone replacement pills daily. Certain foods can help support your thyroid function, including organic lean meats and fish . Learn more about identifying thyroid problems here .
4. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
If you’ve been suffering from regular fatigue for 6 months or more, it could be due to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
“Apart from extreme exhaustion, this disease often manifests itself in the form of joint pain, headaches, sleep disorders, concentration and memory disorders and an increase in symptoms after physical exertion,” explains Dr. Guyomar. It only affects between 0.2% and 0.4% of the population, but is three times more common in women than in men. The outbreak usually occurs suddenly, often after a viral infection.
One of the difficulties for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome is the lack of a clear medical cause. The doctors suspect a combination of various factors. The symptoms can lead to severe impairments and fears, and those affected often encounter a lack of understanding for their symptoms in the work environment, in the family, but also from doctors.
5. Covid-19
“It’s normal to feel tired after a viral illness like Covid-19,” said Dr. Guyomar. This condition is sometimes called post -viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS) and can last anywhere from 1 week to 4 months.
If the fatigue persists for more than a few months, a doctor may do further tests to rule out other causes – Long Covid being one of them .
Other medical causes of fatigue
The above list is by no means an all-encompassing enumeration of all possible medical causes of fatigue.
Your doctor will ask you questions about the symptoms accompanying your fatigue and may run tests. He/she can also search for diseases other than those mentioned above. This includes:
- inflammatory conditions like celiac disease, where your immune system responds to a protein in gluten
- Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, where you wake up multiple times during the night because your breathing stops and starts again
- psychological illnesses , such as depression or general mental exhaustion – talk therapy can be recommended here
What helps against tiredness?
If there is no pathological cause behind the symptoms, these small tips often help against exhaustion.
- Make sure you get enough and restful sleep: Avoid alcohol and stimulants such as tobacco and caffeine in the evening. A personal ritual to end the day in a relaxed manner and to prepare for the night also helps to sleep better.
- Eat a balanced, healthy diet and don’t skip meals.
- Make time for regular exercise. But especially in the evening you should not exhaust yourself completely, then the body will not rest.
- Strive for daily moments of relaxation. You could also try yoga, relaxation therapy, or meditation.
- Take a short nap in the afternoon. A short nap (power nap) helps against the midday slump.
When should I see a doctor if I’m tired?
Talk to a doctor if
- the constant need for sleep can no longer be alleviated with sufficient sleep and rest breaks
- Tiredness affects you in everyday life or puts you under psychological strain
- if the symptoms persist for more than 6 months
- if you have other symptoms, such as fever , unintentional weight loss or gain, pain, excessive thirst or loss of appetite
In some cases, the unexplained fatigue can be a symptom of a more serious condition. Our doctors can give you an initial assessment of your symptoms and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist practice.
