The Three Major Causes of Fatigue
Do you always feel groggy and drowsy? Do you lack the energy to do anything? If these problems persist, you should identify the potential causes of this condition. Here are the three major causes of fatigue, see which one applies to you.
People living in modern cities often feel exhausted, to the point where this phenomenon has a special acronym: "TATT" (tired all the time), which means "always feeling tired." A doctor from South London stated that among patients, fatigue has become one of the most common complaints. A large number of patients report feeling tired frequently, even with good sleep quality. While the TATT symptom might be a common problem, it doesn't mean it's normal. If you're concerned that this condition will worsen, you can consult a doctor for advice to find the cause and eliminate your worries.
According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, one in five people often feels abnormally tired, and one in ten suffers from chronic fatigue. Women are often more prone to fatigue than men. Abnormal physiological phenomena are not usually the cause; in most cases, fatigue is linked to emotions and the accumulation of numerous small stresses in life. A blood pressure test can often rule out fatigue caused by physical conditions, such as anemia or thyroid problems. However, if there are other symptoms like unexplained weight loss, changes in bowel habits, hair loss, or extreme thirst, there is a high probability of an underlying physical cause.
Physiological Causes of Fatigue
Many health issues can make you feel tired, not just common ones like anemia and thyroid problems, but also surprising conditions like diabetes and anorexia can also lead to fatigue.
Being overweight or underweight can cause fatigue. This is because your body has to work harder than normal during daily activities. If a person is underweight, their muscle strength is also lower, which may accelerate the onset of fatigue.
Pregnant women (especially in the first 12 weeks) and breastfeeding women also consume more energy, experiencing symptoms of pregnancy fatigue and breastfeeding fatigue.
Psychological Causes of Fatigue
Psychological fatigue is often more common than physical fatigue. One key reason is anxiety, which can cause insomnia, leading to persistent fatigue. A recent survey by the Mental Health Foundation found that nearly a third of the population suffers from severe sleep deprivation due to worries about work and money.
Daily worries and stress can be exhausting. Even for positive events like moving or getting married, you might feel listless. Emotional shocks, such as bad news, the loss of a loved one, or a breakup, can leave you feeling drained. A person with mental health issues like depression or anxiety will be even more exhausted, and these problems can prevent you from getting a peaceful night's sleep.
Lifestyle Causes of Fatigue
Fatigue can often be attributed to lifestyle factors, such as excessive drinking or poor dietary habits. If you drink alcohol at night, it can wake you up in the middle of the night; if you drink frequently, it can make you feel depressed and affect your sleep. Therefore, it is often found that many patients who complain of fatigue are doing so because of excessive alcohol consumption.
If your sleep pattern is disrupted, it's difficult to get good quality sleep at night, for example, if you work night shifts and sleep during the day or care for children, you will naturally feel tired during the day.
If you want to understand what is making you feel tired in the first place, the following points might help you think about it: 1. A part of your life, such as work or family, may be making you feel particularly tired; 2. Unexpected events may leave you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, such as the pain of losing a loved one, or the breakdown of a friendship or romantic relationship; 3. Your lifestyle may be making your body tired.