What’s Making People Tired? Top 3 Reasons for Adult Fatigue

If you have been tired lately, a number of different things could be causing it, whether it’s a lack of sleep because of a new baby or a physically demanding job that leaves you drained at the end of the day. Sometimes, feeling more tired than usual could be the sign of something a little more serious, like a medical condition of some sort.

There are many reasons why people get tired. The following are some of the commons reasons people experience fatigue:

Medical Conditions

For the most part, consistent tiredness or fatigue is the result of lifestyle habits such as not enough sleep, staying up late and relying on caffeine to keep you awake. However, sometimes fatigue could be the result of an illness. Many illnesses, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, diabetes, sleep apnea and thyroid conditions, to name a few, have fatigue as a main symptom. If you are consistently tired despite getting enough sleep, and you have other medical symptoms, see a doctor.

Many medications also have fatigue as a side effect. If you take or have started taking a medication that is making you tired more than usual and you are still getting enough sleep, consider talking to your doctor about getting a new medication or getting on a different schedule for taking it.

Sleep Habits

Your sleep habits are probably the biggest factor in whether or not you are getting the proper sleep. Do you have a sleep routine? Going to bed late and getting up early, taking naps throughout the day and getting up throughout the night can keep you from being alert and rested. Going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning is helpful if you want to get your body on a schedule.

Sometimes, you can’t affect your sleeping habits. This is especially true for shift workers, parents of young children and students. When this is the case, and don’t stress too much about sleeping. Sometimes worrying about whether or not you are getting enough sleep actually keeps you from sleeping.

Diet

Your diet might be affecting your sleeping habits as well. Skipping breakfast is a big culprit. Even if you’re not hungry, eat something for breakfast, even if it’s just a piece of fruit or some toast. Eating breakfast helps keep your metabolism and your blood sugar up, which in turn keeps you from feeling sluggish and tired during the day.

Eating the wrong things has also been known to cause fatigue. Too much sugar, caffeine, alcohol and fattening foods can also make you tired. Sugar and caffeine, while they will perk you up temporarily, can also cause your sugar and energy levels to plummet once they exit your system, leaving you more tired later on. Fattening foods sit in your stomach longer, slowing down blood flow, which in turn leaves you tired. In addition, eating the wrong foods could also cause weight gain and fatigue.

Sluggishness and feeling tired during the day are brought on by a number of things, whether lifestyle related or medically induced. However, the areas mentioned above are the most common things that make people tired. More often than not, fatigue is the result of lifestyle and sleep habits rather than medical conditions, which means it can be remedied.