Why Am I Always Tired? 7 Reasons Why You Might Be Feeling Fatigue
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I always tired?” » Well, know that you are not alone. It seems like everyone is extremely tired these days, and that’s not just part of being an adult.
It’s easy to think of fatigue as “one of those things,” but there comes a time when it’s not so simple. When you feel tired all At this point, it may mean your body is trying to tell you something. And while exhaustion doesn’t necessarily indicate an underlying health problem, it’s worth seeing your doctor if fatigue is preventing you from living life the way you’d like.
Here, experts detail some potential causes of your fatigue as well as ways to combat fatigue.
1. You’re not getting enough sleep.
Lack of sleep is probably the most obvious (and common) reason we feel exhausted. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, it is recommended that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. And yet, most adults don’t consume enough quality sleep.
The solution? It’s simple: sleep more. Of course, this is easier said than done. First, it’s important to identify the cause that’s keeping you from sleeping (whether it’s stress, too much screen time, or poor sleep hygiene), and then you can do something about it. If you’ve tried everything under the sun and you’re still having trouble sleeping, it’s time to talk to an expert.
2. You lack energy.
This is different from feeling tired or sleepy. “Fatigue is when you’re seriously lacking energy,” says William Christopher Winter, MD, a sleep researcher and neurologist. “Normal” fatigue improves when you rest. Think of it this way: your arm gets tired after doing several bicep curls, but you feel better 10 minutes later.
In most cases, fatigue means your body is telling you to slow down, and you should probably listen to it. But when fatigue regularly prevents you from doing the things you want to do, then that’s a problem, says Dr. Winter. “That doesn’t mean I can’t run 38 miles because I’m tired,” he explains. “It’s more like ‘I have trouble going up and down the stairs’ or ‘Walking from the parking lot to my office exhausts me.’”
The solution? Rest. Get away from your screens, away from any distractions and just rest. If you still don’t feel refreshed after a nap or some quiet time, it’s worth seeing a doctor to see if there is an underlying problem.
3. You have an underlying health condition.
When Dr. Winter sees patients who say they are tired, he often tries to distinguish whether they are sleepy or tired. “Drowsiness is pretty simple: it’s a defined group of problems,” he says. “But if they talk about fatigue, you could come up with a list miles long of what could be causing it.” This list includes B vitamin deficiency12 or D, multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, to name a few.
Other conditions associated with fatigue include anemia, thyroid problems, or even leukemia, all of which can make people incredibly run down, says Yvonne Bohn, MD, a gynecologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California.
The solution? If the feeling of exhaustion comes out of nowhere or doesn’t improve with rest, that’s when you should see a doctor. Whether it’s an undiagnosed illness or the result of lifestyle factors that might need some adjustments, they may be able to help.
4. You are seriously stressed.
Of course, many health conditions can cause fatigue, but it can also be being overwhelmed for months or experiencing a big change in your life that disrupts your sleep and stress levels. “Under stress, we tend to produce more of the hormone cortisol,” says Sophie Bostock, sleep expert at retailer Bensons for Beds. “Cortisol is great for fueling action, but before bed it increases our arousal level at a time when we need to wind down.”
