Tired of Feeling Tired
October 21, 2011
Author: Carolyn Eagle, Senior Editor, Health Media Today
Category: Health and Wellness
Everybody has those moments when you want nothing more than to lay your head down, no matter where you are, and just take a nice rejuvenating nap. Our lives are busy with work, raising children, social commitments, and so much more. Often we fail to notice when an occasional sleepy day turns into weeks or even months of feeling fatigued. That's when it's time to speak with your doctor.
Women, and moms of younger children in particular, are the biggest culprits for ignoring the signs of constant fatigue. We blame post-baby sleepless nights and weight gain. We promise ourselves that if we could just get to the gym that we would surely perk up. And while a good night’s sleep, exercise, and a healthy body weight are extremely important, there are other health concerns that could be the underlying problem.
Low iron levels are a major cause of fatigue amongst women, and even if you have never had problems with your iron levels before, it's critical to never downplay the way a woman’s body changes after having children or as we enter menopause. Some foods or medicines, such as milk, soy, aspirin, antacids, and stomach acid-lowering medicines can hinder your absorption of iron, as well as the polyphenols found in tea, coffee. If you combine all of this with a lack of iron in your diet and monthly blood loss from your menstrual cycle, you have a perfect recipe for iron deficiency. It is critical, however, not to self-diagnose when it comes to iron supplements, since too much iron can also be quite harmful. Instead, see your doctor and get your iron levels checked. Something as simple as a supplement can drastically improve your energy levels.
Some of the more prevalent signs of iron deficiency are difficulty in concentration, increased irritability, headache, constant fatigue, difficulty in breathing on slight exertion, paleness, increased heartbeat, dizziness or lightheadedness, excessive weakness, dry mouth and throat, brittle nails, hair loss, and in severe cases, Pica (A condition that involves craving for non-eating foods such as paint chips, cigarette butts, ice cubes, paper, clay and so on). If any of this sounds familiar, see your doctor for a simple blood test and they can determine the best method of treatment for you.
Underactive thyroid (or Hypothyroidism ) is another major culprit and can go undetected unless you ask your doctor for a test. The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland, located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam's apple which secretes a hormone (thyroxine) which controls how fast your metabolism runs. If you have a deficiency of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) your metabolism runs slower than usual.
For many physicians, a thyroid test is not part of the yearly battery of tests that are run when you go in for your physical, so you will need to discuss your concerns with your doctor. The signs of an underactive thyroid include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, fuzzy thinking, low blood pressure, fluid retention, depression, body pain, slow reflexes, intolerance to cold, heavier menstrual periods, menstrual irregularities, and muscle aches and tenderness. Women are more likely than men to suffer from this condition, especially as we age, and the symptoms can creep up so slowly that we may not even realize there is a problem until symptoms are more pronounced.
Urinary Tract Infections, which are bacterial infections of the urinary tract system, including the kidneys, bladder and urethra, can be an undiagnosed and surprising source of fatigue for women as well. Although the most common symptoms include a constant need to urinate, lower abdominal discomfort, and a burning sensation, not every woman experiences these typical symptoms. At times, symptoms can be mild enough that women can brush them aside and feel only fatigue. Your doctor can check for infection with a simple urine sample and determine how to best treat your symptoms.
While there are many other potential causes for fatigue that we could discuss, these are three that are incredibly common amongst women in particular and which are often left undiagnosed until the symptoms become pronounced. As busy as any woman’s life can be, it is never worth putting yourself second and ignoring a potential medical issue, particularly when the solution could be so very simple. So, the next time you want to curl up and take that afternoon nap, take a second to reflect on whether this is an occasional bad day or the new status quo, and if you’re not happy with the answer, it’s time to call your doctor.
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