Why Am I so Tired?

If you are asking yourself, "Why am I so tired?" you may be worried that you suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia or that it is a symptom of a more serious disease. For the vast majority of Americans, being tired is attributed to lifestyle choices that drain the body of natural energy and can be easily reversed by modifying sleeping, eating and activity levels. Finding the source of your fatigue may take a little detective work.

Lack of Sleep

Let us face it, Americans lead busy lives. Holding down a fulltime job, caring for a family and participating in community activities leaves little time for sleep. For many that means giving up sleep in order to participate in other activities. When giving up sleep becomes a habit, a sleep debt is created. Until the debt is met, you will experience being tired during the day, perhaps even dozing off in that late afternoon meeting or even worse at the wheel on the way home. You may think that sleeping in on the weekend will restore the sleep you need, but it is rarely the solution. To eliminate sleep debt, you need to allow for adequate sleep on a daily basis.Seven to eight hours a night is generally adequate, but individual needs vary.

For many Americans sleep disorders disrupt the body's ability to get adequate sleep and result in feeling tired all day or experiencing extreme fatigue at certain points throughout the waking hours. Sleep apnea, a condition that causes you to temporarily stop breathing in your sleep, often associated with loud snoring may have you asking, "Why am I so tired?" People with sleep apnea may stop breathing for a few seconds and then awaken as they resume breathing. Generally, you will not remember waking up in the night, but will experience fatigue during the day. (For more detailed information about sleep apnea, see my article Sleep Disorders: Sleep Apnea Symptoms Here.) If you suspect sleep apnea, an evaluation by your doctor is in order.

Insomnia contributes to the feeling of being tired all day. Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep even when tired. This condition affects millions of Americans, in fact, nearly everyone experiences insomnia at some point in their lives. Measures should be taken to address the underlying causes of insomnia to restore healthy restful sleep. (For more detailed information about the symptoms, causes and cure for insomnia see my article Insomnia: Symptoms Diagnosis and Cures Here.)

Stress

We all know that stress can wreak havoc with our lives, but few realize just how much energy stress drains from the body causing you to ask, "Why am I so tired?" Everyone experiences the stress. Worrying about your children, getting the bills paid on time and simply working too long or too hard cause stress. For millions of Americans fears associated with a failing economy, uncertainty about keeping your job or facing unemployment and simply trying to make ends meet causes extreme stress. Learning techniques for relieving stress reduces its toll on the body and restores energy.

Dehydration

Lack of adequate fluid intake or dehydration causes fatigue. Without a supply of water, organs and body systems cannot function properly. For many, relief from fatigue and exhaustion may be as simple as increasing fluid intake. Keep a bottle of water at your desk or workstation and sip from it even if you do not feel thirsty. When you body has the fluids it needs to function properly, fatigue is relieved and cognitive functions improve.

Exercise

For the person who suffers from chronic fatigue, exercise may be the last thing on their mind. It is difficult to motivate yourself to get out there and get some exercise when you are dragging and would rather be sleeping, but exercise may be just what you need to restore your energy level.

Develop a regular routine of moderate exercise at least three times a week. A quick walk when you are feeling lethargic will get the blood flowing and restore oxygen levels to your muscles and brain. Avoid strenuous exercise in the evening. A short walk may be relaxing and reduce stress, but vigorous exercise before bed may actually inhibit sleep.

Medications

Fatigue or feeling tired during the day is a common side effect from many prescription medications. For some, side effects are not immediately apparent making it difficult to determine if your symptoms are related to medication. If you suspect medication are causing you to ask, "Why am I so tired?" discuss the possibility with your doctor. A change in meds may bring relief for your symptoms.

Eating

A well balanced diet that provides the vitamins and minerals you body requires goes a long way to reducing fatigue. Keeping blood sugar levels in check is important for everyone, even if they do not have diabetes. Excessive amounts of sugary drinks or treats or high carb meals raise blood sugar quickly and may leave you lagging in energy in the late afternoon when levels drop. Get in the habit of making healthy food choices to fuel the body to prevent feeling tired.

Caffeine

For millions of Americans, reaching for that high caffeine drink to combat fatigue is a daily occurrence. Although it provides a temporary lift in energy levels and alertness, too much caffeine interferes with normal sleep patterns leaving you feeling tired and drained during the day. Avoid caffeinated drinks after 3pm.

Waking up tired and dragging yourself through the day may seem like a normal consequence of your busy lifestyle, but you do not need to feel tired everyday. For most of us, fatigue is the result of a combination of poor lifestyle choices that can be changed easily. The next time you ask yourself, "Why am I so tired?" take a moment to evaluate your lifestyle choices and chances are you will find a perfectly logical reason for your fatigue.

Sources:
Sleepless at Stanford
Tired of Being Tired: Tips for Controlling Fatigue
Tiredness