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If you struggle with feeling sluggish on a regular basis, take a look at some possible causes in this article.
Anemia
Fatigue caused by anemia results from a lack of red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to tissues and cells. Weakness and shortness of breath are common problems. Iron or vitamin deficiencies, blood loss, internal bleeding, or a chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or kidney failure result in anemia.
Symptoms: Feeling tired all the time is a significant problem. Others include extreme weakness, trouble sleeping, low concentration, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, and headaches. Simple exercise, like climbing stairs or walking short distances, can overwhelm you.
Treatments: Anemia is not a disease; it is a symptom that something else is going on in your body that needs to be addressed. Therefore, treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause of the anemia. It can be as easy as eating more foods high in iron but talk to your doctor about the right treatment for you. You may also consider What you can sometimes eat Paleo.
Hyperthyroidism
When your thyroid hormones are out of commission, even daily activities take their toll: too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) and metabolism speed up. Too little (hypothyroidism), and the metabolism slows down.
Symptoms: Hyperthyroidism causes fatigue and muscle weakness, which you may first notice in the thighs. Exercises like riding a bike or climbing stairs become more difficult. Other thyroid symptoms include unexplained weight loss, feeling hot all the time, increased heart rate, shorter and less frequent menstrual flows, and increased thirst.
Hypothyroidism causes fatigue, inability to concentrate, and muscle pain, even with less activity. Other symptoms include weight gain due to water retention, feeling cold all the time (even in hot weather), more massive and more frequent menstrual flow, and constipation. Hypothyroidism is more common in women over 50 years old; in fact, no less than 10% of women over 50 will have at least mild hypothyroidism,
Treatments: Treatments for thyroid disease vary, but may include drugs, surgery, or radioactive iodine.
Type 2 diabetes
More than 23 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but another 7.2 million people may not even realize they have it, according to a CDC study. Sugar, also known as glucose, is the fuel that keeps your body running. And that means problems for people with type 2 diabetes who cannot use glucose properly, causing it to build up in the blood. Without enough energy for the body to function correctly, people with diabetes often note fatigue as one of the first warning signs, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Symptoms: In addition to feeling permanently tired, other signs of diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination, hunger, weight loss, irritability, yeast infections, and blurred vision.
Treatments: Your doctor will advise you on managing your symptoms with diet changes, oral medications, and insulin. Check out the right Candida diet menu for you to stay free of diabetes.
Depression
More than “sadness,” depression is a significant illness that affects how we sleep, eat, and feel about ourselves and others. Without treatment, symptoms of depression can last for weeks, months, or even years.
