There are times in a person’s’ life when they may go through their day feeling worn down and tired. This can happen occasionally and it is usually no cause for concern. There are other times when you may start to notice a pattern. There are many different reasons for being tired, some stemming from more serious medical issues, and others for more obvious reasons, like lack of sleep. If you are one of those people who’s noticed a pattern of always feeling tired, here’s what’s happening.
Lack of Sleep
One of the most common reasons you may be feeling tired is you’re probably not getting enough sleep. Studies have shown that adults over age 30 need approximately 7 to 9 hours of sleep https://www.sleepfoundation.org/excessivesleepiness/content/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need-0, and by the time they hit 65, that sleep time reduces to 7 to 8 hours of sleep. There are many reasons one may not be getting the recommended amount of shuteye. Stimulants such as coffee, tea, caffeinated beverages, and energy drinks can alter the bodies way of letting you know that you are not getting the sleep you need, especially when consumed in large amounts or frequently.
When a person goes without the proper amount of sleep for too long they tend to forget what it feels like to have a true good night’s sleep. While there is the recommended amount of sleep for the different age groups, it is important to remember that everyone is different. Finding your own personal sleep gauge can be helpful in determining if not getting the recommended amount of sleep is the issue that is causing fatigue throughout the day. Once you determine this, you can then apply the necessary steps to keeping sleep a priority.
Too Much Stress
Dealing with daily stresses can lead to feelings of tiredness and fatigue. Stress can result from just about anything, from deadlines at work to planning your wedding. When the body gets weighed down with stress, it can react in many different ways. One of the most overlooked of stress responses is the feeling of being worn out and weighed down.
Not only does your body respond to stress by making you feel fatigued, but it can also lead to a lack of sleep, as mentioned in the first example. Going to bed with a full day worth of stressful memories can cause you to toss and turn no matter how tired you may feel. It’s important to calm the mind and body of its daily stress before turning in for bed.
Not Enough Exercise
Many studies have proven that there is a link between regular exercise and fatigue. Aerobic exercise increases oxygen in the blood while releasing endorphins, which increases energy. Even regular lower energy type exercises may help improve energy levels. Not only that, but exercise helps to lose unnecessary weight, which in turn can aid in higher stamina.
During a study at the University of Georgia, it was found that there is a link between sleeping abilities and cardiorespiratory fitness. The longer that a person can perform cardiorespiratory fitness, such as walking and running, the better they are able to sleep. As people age, they begin to lose their cardiorespiratory fitness level. Keeping this in mind and maintaining a consistent and regular fitness level can also aid in a regular sleep pattern.
Unhealthy Diet
Out of all the reason you may feel tired, eating unhealthy foods is often the most overlooked. There have been a variety of studies done which have come to the conclusion that certain foods have a negative impact on the body, and as a result can make you feel drained of energy. Junk food diets that are high in fat can result in low energy and poor physical performance. This can also lead to a variety of other medical conditions.
Studies have shown that eating foods such as whole grains and unsaturated fats will provide your body with reserves to last throughout the day. Whereas refined sugars and white starches will give you a short and temporary boost of energy and then fade quickly, leaving you feeling depleted.
Medical Conditions
There are many different medical conditions that can make you feel tired. One of the most common, and well known, is chronic fatigue syndrome. This is a form of extreme fatigue that is not accompanied with any other condition. The symptoms can worsen with exercise and do not improve with proper sleep.
Other conditions include anemia, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart disease, and sleep apnea, just to name a few. With a growing list of possible medical reasons causing you to always feel tired, sometimes it may just be out of your hands. If your lack of sleep persists, it’s important to seek attention from a professional, which will likely be your primary care physician, doctor, or whoever they may refer you to.