| men, we all know how quick we are to overdo it... | | | | the culprit behind your lingering fatigue - especially |
| work, home, family, stressful commutes, lack of | | | | if you get exhausted after activities that used to |
| sleep all contribute to the sensation of | | | | be easy. If you're wiped out after ordinary tasks, |
| “always feeling tired” that seems | | | | like vacuuming, doing yard work or at the end of |
| to dog us these days. | | | | your workday, it's time for a visit to your doctor. |
| Consistently getting 5 to 6 hours of sleep a night | | | | Heart disease is the leading cause of death in |
| is going to catch up to you sooner or later, and | | | | women. These signs, though likely nothing to |
| your body will force you to rest. If you're getting | | | | worry about, may be your first clue that |
| a good 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night, and still | | | | something is amiss, and your best chance to get |
| feeling sluggish and tired it's time to look for | | | | the medications or treatment that help to correct |
| another explanation, beyond lack of sleep, that | | | | the problem and restore your energy. |
| might be causing your fatigue. | | | | 5) Hypothyroidism - by age 60 about 17% of |
| Fatigue that lasts for a week (or longer) can | | | | women will have a thyroid disorder and not even |
| actually be a sign of serious illness... or it can signal | | | | know it. If you find that you're fatigued, generally |
| a minor problem that's easy to correct. | | | | sluggish, run down and maybe a bit depressed to |
| Whichever the case, you need to know, or you'll | | | | boot the cause may be hypothyroidism. Your |
| never feel rested and refreshed. There's no | | | | thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in your neck |
| reason to delay finding out what's happening. A | | | | that controls the speed at which your body |
| visit to your doctor will give you the answer (and | | | | works... also known as your metabolism. Blood |
| reassurances) that you need. | | | | tests for both T3 and T4 are the best way to |
| Here are some things your doctor may consider | | | | detect this condition, safe synthetic hormones can |
| as contributing to your fatigue... | | | | then be administered. |
| 1) Anemia - especially if you're in your | | | | 6) Sleep Apnea - can be a problem if you're |
| reproductive years, can be a cause of fatigue. | | | | getting enough sleep but continue to feel constant |
| The monthly blood loss leads to a deficiency of | | | | fatigue. This sleep disorder causes you to |
| hemoglobin - the iron rich protein in red blood cells | | | | momentarily stop breathing often over and over |
| that delivers oxygen to all parts of the body. | | | | again during the night. Each time your breathing |
| Fatigue is a sign that the tissues and organs are | | | | stops, your sleep cycle is disturbed as you are |
| not getting enough oxygen. The solution is an iron | | | | jolted awake, though you're usually not aware this |
| supplement or adding iron rich foods like broccoli, | | | | is happening. A visit to a sleep lab or care by a |
| spinach and red meat to your meal plan. | | | | specialist who focuses on sleep apnea are the |
| 2) Caffeine Overload - the well used stimulant of | | | | best ways to get diagnosed and be on your way |
| our times can turn on you, and instead of giving | | | | to the restful, restorative sleep your body needs. |
| you that quick burst of energy, it can have | | | | 7) Urinary Tract Infections - can sometimes |
| exactly the opposite effect. A study published in | | | | present without the hallmark burning and urgency, |
| the journal US Pharmacist by W. Stephen Pray, | | | | fatigue being the symptom that brings a patient |
| PhD., RPh, found that continued doses of caffeine | | | | to her doctor. UTI's are caused by bacteria being |
| led to fatigue. Add more caffeine and the fatigue | | | | brought into the urinary tract (a risk when you |
| gets worse too. The best (though hardest) thing | | | | wipe back to front) and causing problems. If your |
| you can do for yourself is to reduce your intake - | | | | doctor suspects an infection without the |
| cutting coffee, chocolate, tea, soda and any over | | | | customary symptoms, a simple urine test can |
| the counter medication that contain caffeine. But | | | | deliver the answer and then antibiotics can be |
| do so gradually, so as to avoid the unpleasantness | | | | prescribed. If you're a woman who suffers |
| of sudden withdrawals. | | | | chronic UTI's, you might want to ask about low |
| 3) Food Allergies - are believed by some doctors | | | | dose antibiotic therapy to prevent the infection |
| to take energy away from the body, and even if | | | | from coming back. |
| they're mild, these intolerances can make you | | | | If, after checking out all these physical possibilities, |
| tired. Eat the troublesome food a lot, and you'll be | | | | you have no answers, don't despair. Maybe your |
| fatigued all the time. If you think allergies to | | | | body is trying to let you know you're doing too |
| certain foods may be the source of your | | | | much... pushing to hard. After all, complaints of |
| exhaustion, try an Elimination Diet to cut out | | | | always feeling tired is common in our ‘got |
| foods and additives for a time, then reintroduce | | | | to be everywhere and do everything world'. |
| them one at a time and watch for the fatigue to | | | | Recognizing your limitations, letting go (or saying |
| return. You might also speak to your doctor | | | | “no” judiciously) and slowing down |
| about a food allergy test, or try a home test like | | | | accordingly, might just be enough to help lift the |
| ALCAT. | | | | fatigue that's become a part of your life. |
| 4) Heart disease - as yet undiagnosed, could be | | | | |