9 Reasons You’re Always Feeling Tired

It’s not uncommon for people to wake up feeling tired, sluggish and run down. Many feel the need for a second coffee by midday to recover from this feeling and get through the day. But have you wondered why you might be feeling tired even after a good night’s sleep? Here are 9 reasons why you might be waking up tired:

1. Diabetes: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition that affects the control of your blood sugar. Without proper control over your energy stores, diabetes can make you feel much more tired than you otherwise would be even after 8 hours sleep.

2. Depression: Mood disorders like depression can have a market effect on the way you feel physically. If your headspace is a bit muddled, it may be a good idea to speak to your doctor about ways to overcome these feelings and achieve a more rested state.

3. Under-active Thyroid: Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland cannot produce sufficient thyroid hormone to control metabolic processes. This can trigger a slowing of metabolic rate and lead to a feeling of fatigue.

4. Chronic Kidney Disease: Impaired kidney function can reduce efficiency in the filtering of the blood. This can lead to mineral imbalances and build-up of toxic by-products in the blood. This can cause excess tiredness even in the presence of adequate sleep.

5. Infection: Bacterial or viral infection can cause large alterations in the function of the body. Resources shift to fighting off the infection, leading to feelings of drowsiness and fatigue. Chronic infections can be subtle and be difficult to identify but may still cause tiredness.

6. Nutritional Deficiencies: Deficiencies in a number of nutrients can have noticeable effects on energy and sleep. Vitamin D, B12, Iron, Thiamine, Folate and Magnesium all play central roles in energy production. Deficiency in one or more of these can manifest in tiredness.

7. Pregnancy: Pregnancy is a huge strain on the body. Hormones fluctuate significantly during pregnancy and can have substantial effects on energy levels.

8. Sleep Apnoea: Sleep apnoea is a common breathing disorder that results in the cessation of breathing multiple times throughout the night. These apnoea events prevent deep sleep from occurring without the individual being consciously aware. Sleep apnoea can cause excessive tiredness and drowsiness even after adequate sleep duration.

9. Anaemia: Anaemia is a complex condition that predominantly affects young women. A lack of iron and other nutritional cofactors can lead to a disruption in haemoglobin production. This can lead to inadequate oxygenation and tiredness.