Why Am I Fatigued?
Why Am I Fatigued?
Why Am I Fatigued?
Do you notice that you are feeling tired, run down and just don't have the energy that you SHOULD have? Many people attribute it to lack of sleep, getting older and daily stress. Although these issues can cause fatigue, it may be likely to be a combination of factors involved in causing your decrease in energy.
Why is this such a problem? Feeling fatigue can cause your mood to be depressed which can affect your work, your family, your friends and your overall mental outlook. This can cause a vicious cycle of low energy -> lack of motivation -> depression -> low energy etc.
- 20% of Americans claim to have fatigue intense enough to interfere with their having a normal life.
- 50% of adults who seek medical treatment complain of feeling tired all the time.
http://adrenal-fatigue-begone.blogspot.com/2007/11/fatigue-statistics-do-they-include-you.html
So what can cause general fatigue?
Obviously not getting enough sleep can cause you to be tired the next day, but not getting enough sleep (or enough RESTORATIVE sleep) on a nightly basis can build up and contribute to something called "adrenal insufficiency". Also, proper sleep allows your body to heal and rejuvenate. When you are not getting this sleep your body does not heal and you can develop pain cycles, inflammation and chronic fatigue.
Stress and Adrenal Insufficiency
Stress is another factor that causes fatigue. Chronic stress can cause an imbalance in your Cortisol, Adrenaline, Noradrenaline and DHEA levels. These are very important hormones that are released in response to stress to let your body "FIGHT or FLEE" from potential danger. Instead of running from tigers in the jungle we are meeting deadlines, dealing with traffic, worrying about finances, etc. The potential "dangers" have changed but our body responds the same way. The imbalance of these hormones is what Adrenal insufficiency really is.
Cortisol is our bodies natural anti-inflammatory. It also regulates sleeping patterns and weight control. When this hormone is out of balance you can develop pain cycles and inflammation, sleeping problems and the dreaded tire around your belly.
Adrenaline makes your heart beat faster and keep your blood pressure stable. When this hormone is out of balance or when we are constantly under stress our hearts are constantly beating faster than it should, we develop heart disease, high blood pressure and panic disorders/anxiety.
Noradrenaline helps to divert blood flow from your digestive tract to your muscles so that when you are FIGHTING or FLEEING your energy and blood is focused on your muscles and not on digesting your meal. When this hormone is out of balance of constantly surging through our blood it can cause digestive problems due to decreased circulation to your digestive tract, and muscle aches and tightness due to over stimulation or too much blood to your muscles.
DHEA is a pre-cursor to your sex hormones. When this hormone is out of balance it can cause problems with fertility, and menstruation problems in women such as cramps.
Other causes of fatigue include:
-Hypothyroidism
-Poor/inadequate diet
-Lack of proper exercise
-Toxins from our environment
-Chronic infection
-Digestive tract disfunction
-Pain
-Fibromyalgia
So what can you do to fix this?
De-stress...
Easier said than done. Don't sweat the small stuff. Most of the time we make mountains out of mole hills. Change the things you can in your life and know what things you can't change and adapt accordingly. Seeking professional help or just talking about your problems with others can help as well.
Cut out the caffeine !
Caffeine causes depletion of the Adrenal glands which can cause another vicious cycle (fatigue -> caffeine -> more fatigue -> more caffeine, etc.).
Work towards getting better quality sleep.
Try a new mattress, maintain regular sleeping hours. Early to bed, early to rise.
Get out of pain.
Pain is another cause of stress and sleeping problems. If you are having pain you must get the problem which is causing the pain fixed. See your chiropractor!
B Vitamins
A B-vitamin complex can help to give you an energy boost and decrease your fatigue levels. You may also want to get a supplement that supports and maintains proper adrenal gland function.
Eating Better!
Eat a healthier, more natural diet. Say away from carbs and sugar. Eat more vegetables, fruits, fiber, and nuts.
If you are suffering from chronic fatigue it is important to see a natural health care practitioner to assess the TRUE CAUSE of the problem. Without this you may be missing a key component to your condition that could get you better.
Antonio Marotta D.C. is a Clifton Park chiropractor.
For questions or comments please contact Dr. Marotta via the information below.
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