What’s making you tired?

Is it just your busy life – or could something medical be causing your fatigue? There are all sorts of reasons why you might be struggling to find your getup-and-go, but getting to the root cause could help you find the right solution

Low Vitamin D

The clues: you cover up in the sun, and your energy levels are especially low in the winter. “Also, the darker your skin, the more at risk you are of a D-deficiency,” says Dr Riccardo Di Cuffa of Your-doctor.co.uk A deficiency also becomes more likely as you age, as your kidneys become less able to convert the vitamin to its active form, calcitriol. Other symptoms include muscle cramps, joint pain, mood changes and weight gain.

Menopause

The clues: Your periods have stopped or are changing – a sign that you’re perimenopausal. “You may also be suffering with hot, sweaty, restless nights and this could be what is leaving you tired during the day,” says Dr Louise Newson, a menopause specialist at the Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull. “But even if your sleep is not affected, lower levels of oestrogen and sometimes testosterone can affect your energy levels.”