As our lives increase their already hectic pace and permeate our time with stress and various sources of anxiety, lack of sleep has almost become an epidemic. And as such, it’s close to impossible to disentangle the causal relationship among so many factors, thus leading to an overwhelming feeling of tiredness that we tend to ascribe mostly to the rhythm of the modern era.
But constant exhaustion can often mask underlying health issues that can remain “below the radar” for a significant amount of time – and no amount of sleep can repair the damage. As a symptom and not only a consequence, fatigue can be a surprising and commonly overlooked link to a number of conditions that need to be addressed immediately.
Depression
As one of the leading mental illnesses across the globe, with about 350 million people affected, depression and anxiety come in many forms. From panic attacks, resorting to alcohol and other substance abuse, all the way to suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem and what can be described as debilitating fatigue, depression also lurks behind many different symptoms.
Often accompanied by a lack of motivation and desire to get out of bed, a need for more sleep than your body requires, or on the contrary, fighting insomnia, all further increase your levels of exhaustion, all of which are related to this mental illness. If you, or someone you know suffers from severe fatigue and other common symptoms, consulting a medical professional can help you not only curb the tiredness, but also restore your health with proper treatment.
Anemia
Deceptively simple to manage, yet so prevalent among people of all ages, anemia is a condition that causes you to have fewer red blood cells than considered normal, and leads to a poor production of hemoglobin, a protein needed to transport oxygen all over your body, your brain included.
It can also be caused by a lack of iron in your blood, or a similar micronutrient deficiency, which causes you to feel constantly tired, weak and unable to focus. Proper supplementation and healthy nutrition are key to managing this illness, and in time, your energy levels will also show improvement.
Hormonal Imbalances
Although they occur in all age groups, hormonal imbalances are among leading causes of fatigue among women over forty, and especially those who enter their premenopausal and menopausal years. They can range from severe thyroid disfunction to mild hormonal issues, and they often go undiagnosed as people tend to treat the symptoms rather than looking for the cause.
Also, a typical western diet is loaded with unhealthy carbs, further exasperating this issue, meaning that our bodies tend to develop insulin resistance, frequent sugar cravings and drops in energy levels that can be linked back to the higher risk of diabetes and other, more severe issues. That is why it’s essential to diagnose any underlying hormonal imbalances and prevent further damage by balancing our diet, regular exercise, and sometimes added medication.
An Infection
Perhaps your immune system indeed is strong enough for you not to experience any severe symptoms such as rashes, breakouts, fever or pain, but fatigue can be a clear indicator that your body is trying to fight off an intruder, often in the shape of an infection.
According to a recent study, this fatigue caused by sickness is a natural defense mechanism of our body, and a useful one at that. It tries to divert energy you would otherwise be able to spend on work and physical activity and uses it to ward off the disease. However, these infections can sometimes persist despite this built-in strategy of your immune system, so you might need a hand in the form of medication and dietary changes.
Dehydration
Most of us aren’t even aware that by the time you feel thirsty, your body is already experiencing mild dehydration. And when we live our lives day by day guided by this feeling and neglecting our body’s need for water, we cause a chronic state of dehydration that depletes our energy supplies.
Overtraining, excessive sugar intake, stress, drinking too much soda or coffee and the like can all contribute to lack of electrolytes and water. As a result, you can find yourself feeling lethargic, sluggish and constantly tired, despite sleeping those famous eight hours every night.
Photo by Toa Heftiba
Luke Douglas
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