Excessive Tiredness: What You Need To Know



Managing tiredness should, all things being equal, be simple. You feel tired, you go to bed, drift off into a relaxing and restorative slumber, then awaken the next morning feeling completely refreshed.

However, for some people, the above pattern simply never develops. You may find that, rather than feeling restored by a night’s rest, you still feel tired when you wake up. You struggle through each day feeling persistently exhausted, sometimes to the point that you experience problems going through the motions of day-to-day life.

If the above description sounds familiar to your experience, then it’s definitely worth finding out what might be causing the issue and which treatment options may be able to provide relief.


Lifestyle causes of excessive tiredness


  • Lack of a structured sleep routine can cause daytime cause issues with excessive tiredness, especially if you - like many people - like to sleep for longer on weekends. You may find it beneficial to keep your sleep schedule more consistent; go to sleep and rise at roughly the same time each day, regardless of what day of the week it is.
  • Caffeine is often associated with helping people to feel more alert and awake but, while it can have this effect, drinking caffeine during the day can also prevent you from sleeping well at night - which can lead to higher levels of tiredness the next day. You may want to try switching to decaf coffee or herbal teas such as those listed on developgoodhabits.com to see if doing so improves your sleep and subsequently alleviates your tiredness concerns.
  • Food is fuel for your body, so often, problems with excessive tiredness can be traced back to what you eat. Many foods can cause blood sugar to rise and fall steeply; the rise can create feelings of energy, but the fall can cause tiredness. Attempting to eat low-carb or reducing the amount of sugar in your diet could help to prevent this, though always discuss changes to your diet with your doctor before proceeding.


Medical causes of excessive tiredness


Deficiencies are a common cause of excess tiredness, with anemia (iron deficiency) and B12 deficiency particular associated with high levels of fatigue. Your primary care doctor can order a blood test to check for any deficiencies and, if necessary, advise on any supplements you could benefit from taking.


  • Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (which causes people to momentarily stop breathing during sleep) may also be responsible for unusually high levels of tiredness; the likes of novapulmonary.com can arrange a sleep test that can diagnose these disorders and provide subsequent treatment.
  • Mental health conditions - such as anxiety, stress, or depression - can all cause excessive tiredness even when you have slept well. Treatment options for these conditions varies, so it’s usually best to seek the advice of a specialist to help decide the best treatment for your needs.


In conclusion

Tiredness is a part of life, but if you seem to be experiencing excessive levels of fatigue, then discovering the cause and treating the condition will always be the right choice.

1 comment