Tired all the time? – These could be the causes!
You get up in the morning and can go right back to sleep. You never really feel awake. But you always feel tired and exhausted. You don’t have the energy to accomplish important tasks and your only wish is to be able to sleep again. But where does this constant feeling of fatigue come from?
Often, it’s simply because you’re not getting enough sleep that you always feel tired. However, illnesses can also be the cause of constant fatigue. Triggers can be iron or vitamin deficiencies, but also more serious illnesses like depression or cancer. Here you will find all the important information and an overview of the most common causes.
WHERE DOES FATIGUE COME FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE?
The real purpose of the acute feeling of fatigue is to protect against overwork. During sleep, the body can regenerate and regain its strength. Fatigue is therefore a protective mechanism. Lack of sleep can have two causes. Either we simply sleep too little (quantitative sleep deprivation), or the sleep is not restorative enough (qualitative sleep deprivation).
Chronic fatigue occurs when the body is permanently deprived of sleep. The consequences are tired eyes, loss of concentration or even increased sensitivity to pain. Chronic fatigue can also be a sign of an illness.
CONSTANT FATIGUE AND APATHY - THE CAUSES AT A GLANCE
If you are constantly tired, it may be due to an illness. However, fatigue should always be considered in conjunction with other symptoms. Here are some examples of illnesses that may cause it:
- Iron deficiency (anaemia).
- Vitamin deficiency.
- Infectious diseases.
- Metabolic diseases.
- Psychological causes such as depression.
- Sleep Apnea.
- Cancer.
Anaemia
Anaemia can lead to permanent fatigue. It can be caused by a disorder of blood formation in the bone marrow or, for example, by increased breakdown or loss of red blood cells. A deficiency of vitamin B12, folic acid or iron can also cause anaemia. Iron deficiency is the most common cause. Make sure you eat enough foods such as eggs, milk and meat, but also pulses and whole grain products, to avoid iron deficiency.
Vitamin deficiency as a cause of constant fatigue
A balanced diet is the key to success! Otherwise, a one-sided diet can quickly lead to vitamin deficiency. Because of this deficiency, you will always feel weak and tired. A doctor can check you for deficiencies and prescribe vitamin supplements if necessary.
Infectious disease
If you are always tired, an infectious disease may also be a possible cause. Here are some examples:
- Pneumonia.
- Influenza.
- Pfeiffer’s glandular fever.
- AIDS.
With an infectious disease, the body is weakened, resulting in constant fatigue. Some infectious diseases, such as the flu, are felt relatively immediately, while others may develop undetected over a longer period.
Tired all the time? Metabolic diseases as triggers
If a metabolic disease is present, symptoms such as constant fatigue may also develop. In the case of diabetes, for example, symptoms are related to unfavorable blood sugar levels. An underactive thyroid, on the other hand, can lead not only to fatigue, but also to symptoms such as loss of appetite, brittle nails and hair tips, and increased susceptibility to infection.
Always tired for psychological reasons
Mental illnesses are usually accompanied by depression and apathy. Often, people affected by depression have difficulty falling asleep or cannot sleep at night. In this case, it is not a physical reason but a mental one that explains your constant fatigue. If you think that your constant fatigue may have psychological causes, you should consider seeking medical attention.
Sleep Apnea
If sleep is interrupted by short pauses in breathing, this is called sleep apnea. In general, sleep is no longer sufficiently restorative due to constant awakenings, which makes the body weak and tired. These breathing pauses are due to the relaxation of the throat muscles. They collapse, causing the breathing to stop for a while.
Sleep apnea is favoured by obesity, alcohol consumption or untrained throat muscles.
Cancer as a cause of perpetual fatigue
If all other causes can be ruled out, cancer must also be considered as a trigger. Almost all types of cancer are accompanied by fatigue. However, the affected person usually feels even more weak and helpless. This pre- and post-cancer fatigue is called fatigue.
Unlike fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome is a state of exhaustion that lasts longer than six months. It may be accompanied by additional symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain, sore throat, stomach problems and difficulty concentrating.
TIRED AT WORK
Don’t panic, we all feel this way sometimes (or more often). The body sort of goes into a resting mode because of the constant sitting. You should work standing up for a while, as it stimulates your blood flow and feeds fresh oxygen to the brain – which gets you back in shape. The Standsome is wonderful in this regard – in the blink of an eye, you’ve turned your old desk into a standing desk! When you get tired of standing, you can take the Standsome down just as quickly. This way you get the perfect balance!
Sleep alarm during exams
It’s not just at work that fatigue can lead to a drop in performance! It’s also important to be attentive and focused when studying. Especially during exams, unnecessary fatigue is not something you need. That’s why it’s helpful to think about how you can increase your own concentration.
