5 Reasons You’re Always Tired (Not Enough Sleep is Not One of Them)
Not getting enough sleep isn’t the only reason you are always tired. If you experience fatigue and overall sluggishness during the day, despite getting a good amount of sleep, you may be overlooking a few important lifestyle factors. Feeling tired when you otherwise shouldn’t can actually be a sign of a serious condition, including anemia, sleep apnea, depression, and even heart failure. However, it could also be the result of something as simple as a lifestyle habit that you normally wouldn’t recognize as the culprit. Check out these 5 common reasons why you’re always feeling tired. Luckily, they’re easy fixes!
1. Hormone Imbalances
A poorly working thyroid can lead to adrenal fatigue. Adrenal glands are what make hormones, one of which is cortisol. Cortisol helps your body deal with stress, but if you experience constant anxiety from work and relationship commitments, your hormones may be out of whack. Common symptoms of adrenal fatigue include having trouble getting out of bed, being chronically tired, and struggling to think clearly and finish tasks. Try to unload the stress and you’ll feel better because of it. Try doing yoga to fight fatigue!
2. Dehydration
Dehydration leads to a drop in blood volume, making your blood thicker and causing your heart to pump less efficiently. This reduces the speed at which oxygen and other nutrients reach your muscles and organs. Constant dehydration can make you feel always tired and fatigued.
3. Skipping Workouts
Sure, exercising can wear you down, but avoiding it on the reg can make you even more tired and sluggish. Exercise boosts the cardiovascular system, mood, and overall strength and endurance. Exercise can improve the quality of sleep, and in the long run, make you feel less tired during the day. Try to incorporate a workout into your daily schedule and feel the difference!
4. Getting Too Much Sleep
Yes, there’s such a thing. Getting too much sleep can actually disrupt your circadian rhythm – the 24-hour physiological cycle of human being. When you sleep longer than you’re otherwise used to, your body’s sleep cycle gets confused as it adjusts to a new rhythm – a lot like the effects of jet lag. The result is your feeling lethargic and fatigued.
5. Iron Deficiency
If you aren’t getting enough iron in your diet, you may start to feel sluggish, irritable, weak, and unfocused. Iron helps transport oxygen to the body’s muscles and cells, and when you’re deficient in iron, you don’t get the necessary oxygen flow to keep you energized and alert.
Iron-rich foods include red meat, pork, poultry, seafood, beans, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruit, and iron-fortified cereals, breads, and pastas. Pair these with foods rich in vitamin C to increase iron absorption.
If you still feel always tired, even after addressing these issues, consult with your doctor to find out if your condition points to something more serious.
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