Sometime the answer to this question is very simple – You just didn’t get enough sleep. But I just read an interesting article in our local paper that says the answer may actually be more complex. Here are some common medical problems that have fatigue as one of their prime symptoms:

Sleep Disorders - Two very common sleep disorders – obstructive sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome could interfere with your sleep patterns. Sleep apnea is a breathing abonormality caused by intermittent obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. One of the major symptoms of sleep apnea is snoring. Though not all snorers have sleep apnea. After the really loud snore it seems as though the person has stopped breathing for a moment and then they resume snoring. My father-in-law had this problem and was constantly falling asleep. He was diagnosed and the doctor prescribed a special breathing mask to wear at night. I have to say it really helped with the sleep apnea. My father-in-law didn’t snore anymore and was less tired.

Restless legs syndrome is periodic jerking motions and discomfort in the legs which causes you to wake up frequently. The condition can be hereditary, caused by pregnancy or an iron deficiency. The National Institutes of Health say 12 million to 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, and up to 10% adults have restless legs. Apparently according to medical statistics sleep disorders are vastly undiagnosed so if you feel either of these conditions might be your problem – get it checked out. An overnight sleep study can help your doctor diagnose your problem. Most sleep disorders can be treated.

Thyroid Conditions - Your thyroid is a gland that affects your metabolism, growth rate, heart rate, body temperature, energy levels, mood, cholesterol levels, and growth of hair, skin and nails. Thyroid disorders are among the most common glandular disorders. Thyroid disorders affect more than 20 million Americans, with perhaps an additonal 13 million undiagnosed. Women suffer more from thyroid disorders than men do. Both underactive and overactive thyroid can make you feel tired. Thyroid imbalances are initially diagnosed with a TSH blood test. If that test comes out abnormal your doctor will do further testing. Most thyroid problems can be treated with medication.

Diabetes – Diabetes affects 23.6 million Americans. Type I diabetes, generally diagnosed in children and young adults, is the kind where the pancreas is unable to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes which is much more common is the kind where the pancreas continues to produce insulin but body does not respond to it. When the body loses its responsiveness to insulin it is called “insulin resistance.” Fatigue is a symptom of both type of diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association reports that 24% of people don’t even know they have diabetes and 57 million are “pre-diabetes.” Those figures translate to almost 1 in 4 Americans who are pre-diabetic or diabetic. Other common symptoms of the disease are weight gain (especially abdominal), increased appetite, thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision.

Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with diet, exercise and weight loss. Type I requires insulin therapy. Diabetes can be detected with a simple blood test. My father-in-law went to one of those health fairs where they did free or low cost blood tests and that is how he found he found out he was diabetic.

Depression - Sometimes you know you are depressed because you are tired but other times fatigue is a symptom of depression. Depression affects more than 20 million Americans. Depression is a difficult thing to diagnose but psychology has come a long way and treatment for depression is more affordable and available these days. Many people have success with anti-depressant drugs and various forms of therapy. The two major types of therapy are cognitive behavoiral therapy which focuses on helping change negative thinking patterns and interpersonal therapy that focuses on working through difficult relationships. I am a big fan of cognitive therapy because you can do it yourself. My favorite book on the subject is “You Can Be Happy No Matter What” by Dr. Richard Carlson. I have read it many times and I get something new from it every time I re-read it.

Anemia - Anemia occurs when there is a reduced number of red blood cells. Red blood cells job is to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the rest of your body. Because less oxygen is delivered to the muscles and tissues, you feel tired. Mostly anemia is caused by low levels of iron. One in five women, half of pregnant women, and 3% of men in the U.S. have anemia due to low levels of iron. In women, heavy menstrual cycle can cause iron deficiency. Other causes are slow internal bleeding from an ulcer, a colon polyp, or even early colon cancer.

A simple blood called a CBC (complete blood count) – can detect anemia. I found out I was anemic when I went to give blood. You can take a iron supplements and eat more foods that are rich in iron such as spinach.

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