Seven Reasons Why You Feel Tired all the Time

Life today is not what it used to be thirty or even twenty years ago. Most people we know are juggling multiple roles and trying to fit many tasks into a day that still lasts only 24 hours. We are always on the go and any feeling of tiredness or lack of energy can throw things out of sync and wreak havoc on our lives.
You might notice that you have been feeling tired constantly. Rather than hoping that the condition would pass on its own, a simple medical test like a blood test might reveal an underlying medical issue that when treated properly can make you feel energetic again. Here are a few medical issues that can make you feel constantly tired:

1. Anemia
One common reason why you might be feeling tired is anemia or low levels of iron in blood. Generally, this is seen in 5 per cent of men. It is characterized by general reluctance to get going, heaviness in the muscles and tendency to tire easily. A simple blood test can easily tell you if you are anemic.

2. Chronic fatigue syndrome
If you have been constantly feeling tired for six months or more, you might be having chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME). Other symptoms of CFS are joint or muscle pain, headache and sore throat.

3. Sleep apnea

You might think that you are getting good sleep if you spend at least eight hours in bed, but you could be wrong. The quality of the sleep you get matters just as much as the number of hours. However much time you spend sleeping, if your sleep gets interrupted through disruptions in breathing, you are not getting the kind of rest you need. Snoring and sleep apnea may be a laughing matter to those who don’t have it. It is, however a serious medical issue and is most commonly seen in middle-aged men who are overweight. In the most common form of sleep apnea called obstructive sleep apnea, the upper airway actually closes or collapses for a few seconds causing the brain to become alert and wake you. This happens every few seconds and minutes and the disorder can over time lead to more complicated issues like heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. If your spouse accuses you of snoring, don’t laugh it away. Get yourself tested at a sleep clinic and take steps to get proper treatment. Smoking and drinking can aggravate the disorder, so this might be a good reason to stop such habits if you have them.

4. Thyroid Issues
Getting your thyroid checked might be a good idea if you are constantly feeling tired. If your thyroid is underactive, there is too little thyroid hormone (thyroxine) in your body and food is not metabolized properly. Symptoms include constantly feeling tired, putting on weight and aches and pains throughout the body. Again, you need only a blood test to get thyroid issues diagnosed.

5. Diabetes
The World Health organization’s most recent comprehensive report on diabetes projects that there are at least a million people with diabetes in the UAE. One notable symptom of diabetes along with feeling very thirsty and going to the toilet a lot is the feeling of extreme tiredness. A fasting blood test will be useful to check if your blood sugar levels are normal.

6. Stress and depression
One of the most distinctive features of depression is general lack of energy. Stress can make it difficult to fall asleep at night and can cause you to wake early. This will make you feel tired throughout the day.

7. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition in which your body’s own immune system attacks healthy joint issue, causing sometimes irreversible damage to joints, bones and cartilage. This can lead to extremely low levels of energy through the day, accompanied by stiffness in and around the joints.