What’s causing your constant fatigue
Q: I’m dragging around with no energy these days. I never used to feel this way. What could cause me to be so tired all the time? I am 47 and in pretty good shape. -- Kevin G., Milwaukee
A: Chronic fatigue -- that’s what being tired all the time is called -- is something that 20% of folks ages 45 to 86 contend with according to a study in BMJ Public Health -and around 60% of those folks haven’t been able to pinpoint the cause.
What we do know is that fatigue can be the symptom of many things, from sleep apnea and insomnia to hormonal changes, depression, stress, drinking too much, being sedentary, and obesity. Obsessive use of social media or other digital snares can deprive you of needed sleep and fuel fatigue.
Certain medications such as beta-blockers (for high blood pressure), anticonvulsants, sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs can also cause daytime weariness. Chronic fatigue is also associated with specific medical conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome (duh!), Lyme disease, mononucleosis, heart disease/failure, anemia, and respiratory conditions like COPD.
As a first step, ask yourself if there are lifestyle choices that you’re making that are fueling your fatigue. If so, determine if you can address them yourself (with help from the support and information at Longevityplaybook.com) by adopting a smart sleep schedule (7-8 hours nightly), getting more physical activity daily (30-plus minutes), improving your nutrition (go plant-based, avoiding highly processed foods), and/ or avoiding excess alcohol. You may also want to check out the iherb.com blog, “Constant Fatigue: Common Causes + the Best Foods and Supplements to Boost Energy.”
But if your tiredness doesn’t improve with lifestyle changes, or it came on suddenly, you’re losing weight unintentionally, it is accompanied by other symptoms such as sore muscles or headache, or you’re over age 65, it’s important to consult your doctor to determine if there’s an autoimmune condition, hormone imbalance, or chronic disease causing your symptoms. Good luck!