Fatigue is one of the most common problems. The causes of fatigue are very different, with the most common being sleep deprivation or poor sleep quality and over-occupation. But what if you sleep like a baby 8-9 hours, without interruption, during the day you get to rest, exercise moderately with enough breaks between workouts and still feel tired? Experts say that the occasional feeling of fatigue despite good nutrition and good quality sleep is ok, but if fatigue lasts for more than a week without obvious causes, it’s time to check your health.
Here are 7 hidden causes of fatigue. So if you have been feeling tired for a long time and you are otherwise sleeping well and not overtrained you may have:
1. Anemia
2. Hypothyroidism
3. Infection
4. Too much caffeine
5. Food intolerance
6. Sleep apnea
7. Heart disease
Anemia – anemia can be a cause of fatigue, as well as dizziness, cold and drowsiness. However, if you are not female or if you are female, but do not have extensive menstruation, the chances of anemia are very low. Especially if you’re on a low carb diet with lots of meat and green vegetables. However, do not forget that anemia can be a consequence of chronic inflammation of the stomach, as well as the existence of hemorrhoids, and if you have problems related to these two conditions, still check your blood count. Also, do not forget that vitamin C is necessary for the absorption of iron, so with a slice of chicken white should also eat some fresh salads.
Hypothyroidism – If you have a feeling of flatulence, depression and general drowsiness with a feeling of fatigue, you may have a slow thyroid function. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroiditis. It is usually followed first by signs of increased gland activity (sweating, weight loss, rapid heartbeat), and only then followed by decreased gland function. How common is hypothyroidism is the fact that about 20% of people under 60 have an unrecognized reduced gland function. T3, T4 and TSH hormone findings will tell you if you have this condition.
Infection – prolonged infection can lead to anemia and thus fatigue but some infections themselves lead to this condition. CMV, EBV, Coxackie virus infections, as well as unrecognized urinary infections, can cause long-term fatigue. Viral infections are often accompanied by fever (often not higher than 99.5°F (37.5°C) and urinary tract infection is recognized by frequent urination (without previously increased fluid intake). If you recognize these symptoms, please tell your doctor.a
Caffeine overdose – many of us crave coffee as an energy source. However, if we overdo it with coffee, it turns into the opposite and becomes a source of fatigue. And if we do not understand what we are talking about, and we continue to consume 5-6 cups of coffee trying to recover, and in fact we do ourselves a disservice. The easiest way to tell if you have overdosed by caffeine is to stop taking it, as well as all caffeinated drinks and hot chocolate. If you feel better, you will know what it is about.
Food Intolerance – Food should provide us with energy, but doctors believe that some hidden food intolerance can actually make us tired. If we continue to eat certain foods that we do not tolerate, we will simply feel exhausted. The proposal is to eliminate foods that start to make us drowsy and tired some 10-30 minutes after we have eaten. Watch carefully the reaction to the food, eat simple meals, not too many foods, and you will recognize very well what makes you tired and what food you are intolerant of.
Sleep apnea – a name that indicates a disorder in which after falling asleep breathing repeatedly stops and starts. This disorder is very common but very rarely diagnosed. During these breathless moments, sleep is interrupted and its quality is significantly reduced. One of the first signs of sleep apnea is a feeling of tiredness despite having enough hours of sleep. This disorder is common in obese people and snoring may be one of the first signs. If you suffer from sleep apnea, your doctor will recommend that you lose weight and stop smoking.
Heart Disease – As athletes, you are the least likely to be tired of undiagnosed heart disease. But it does not hurt to check this vital organ, especially if you have a positive family history of heart or brain (stroke) infections as well as other blood vessel diseases. Also, infection of the heart valves (endocarditis) can lead to fatigue. A simple examination of the heart with ultrasound scan will reveal cardiac disorders that could possibly lead to fatigue.
