5 Reasons You Feel Tired All the Time (and It's Not Lack of Sleep)

Tiredness and bone-deep fatigue getting to be too much? It's normal to feel tired after a long weekend or a busy few days, but when it feels like the fatigue never goes away and you just can't seem to recover from it, it's time to consider if something else is at play. Here, we take a look at five reasons you feel tired all the time, and none of them have anything to do with a lack of sleep!

Why Do You Feel Tired All the Time?: 5 Causes of Fatigue

You may have noticed that many of our peers (including ourselves) blame poor sleep for not feeling energetic and enthusiastic in the morning. And sure, while there can be some truth to this, many people still complain of weariness even after they have had 8 hours of consistent sleep. So, if it's not a lack of sleep, what could be causing this? Let's take a look at some of the most overlooked reasons for tiredness:

1. Nutrient deficiencies

There's a good reason we all remember being constantly nagged by our parents to eat a proper diet when we were younger. A balanced diet should consist of all the nutrients the body needs to function optimally. However, busy (and stressful) lives mean that many of us don't eat a varied enough diet. Combine takeaways and processed foods with poor-quality fruit and vegetables available in supermarkets, and it's a recipe for nutrient deficiencies, which can quickly lead to chronic fatigue. Some key nutrients that are important for giving our cells energy are vitamins B9, B12, D, iron, magnesium, and coenzyme Q10.

B vitamins are heavily linked to energy production and cellular function. Vitamin B9, in particular, assists in red blood cell formation, which helps transport oxygen to the body, which is essential for energy production. Similarly, vitamin B12 is also a key player as it converts carbohydrates to glucose, which is a great source of energy for the body. You may be aware that vegetarians are often told to supplement their diet with B12—this is because it is only available in animal products and in fortified foods, such as cereals and yeast spread.

Couple B vitamins with magnesium and coenzyme Q10 (both of which are responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in our bodies), and your chances of falling short of energy reduce significantly.

2. A build-up of stress

There's no way around it—stress is an unavoidable component in our lives. Whether it originates from our professional lives or personal lives, stress is a known cause of fatigue. But why does stress impact how tired we feel? When our body experiences a stressful situation, it releases a hormone known as cortisol. This hormone assists our body in managing said stress effectively, but also results in disrupted sleep, increases irritability, and can make us feel tired, as all energy goes into dealing with the stress, diverting energy from other body processes.

For someone with a demanding professional career or with a hectic daily schedule, chronic stress can become a 'normal' part of life. Unfortunately, chronic stress can, in turn, lead to chronic fatigue, which is not great for overall health in the long run either. If you are someone who feels chronically stressed, it can be beneficial to work on finding ways to wind down and relax—it may be the best thing you can do for your health.

3. Underlying medical conditions

Sometimes, our body may seem healthy on the surface, but there can sometimes be an underlying medical issue that can go unnoticed. Symptoms such as fatigue and constant tiredness can act as indicators for such problems. People with diabetes, sleep apnea, coronary heart disease, or autoimmune disease quite often experience tiredness as one of the first symptoms.

For people who experience tiredness without any apparent reason and are generally considered to be healthy, a consultation with a good GP can be beneficial. They may be able to detect the root cause of your tiredness, which can help with early prevention and management.

4. Inflammation

You may be surprised to learn that inflammation is another overlooked cause of feeling tired all the time. While people often associate inflammation with pain, swelling, and discomfort, fatigue is another common symptom of inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the immune system is in a constant state of vigilance. This results in a lot of energy being used up, which subsequently results in tiredness. Additionally, the release of cytokines also affects your sleep and metabolic process, which may further contribute to feelings of fatigue. 

5. Sedentary lifestyle

As strange as it may sound, a sedentary lifestyle often is one of the leading causes of tiredness. For many of us, our lives are heavily linked to screens, which comes at the cost of being active—after all, it's possible to access anything and everything without ever having to leave the home.

The reason why it is tricky to consider a sedentary lifestyle a cause for tiredness is because one is the outcome of another. You see, with a lack of physical activity, the body's endurance reduces significantly, thereby leaving less energy for things that keep you healthy—such as walking, playing, and other physical activities. This can be thought of as a vicious cycle, which even the smartest of us fail to recognise.

Is there a way to beat tiredness?

Now that we know the top reasons for your tiredness, the real question that needs answering is: Can you beat tiredness? 

Thankfully yes! With our busy lives constantly trying to keep us occupied, our body chomps through its fuel faster than can be replenished—which means that it runs out of its nutrient reserves quicker than normal, leading to fatigue. To curb this, your doctor may suggest you make changes in your diet and lifestyle. This acts as a first line of defence which you can adopt by choosing a balanced diet, practising relaxation techniques to reduce stress, and prioritising tasks based on energy levels and exercise to keep yourself active. 

However, for someone with a more hectic lifestyle, changes to diet alone may not be enough to have a significant effect. This is where external supplementation comes in. External supplementation in the form of tablets and pills has been popular and is a good source of nutrient replenishment for the body. But are oral supplements even effective? Sadly, only about a third of oral supplements get absorbed by our body, which means it takes a long time for them to build up in the body. 

IV drips, also known as IV nutrient therapy, solve this problem easily. An IV drip directly delivers high doses of nutrients into the bloodstream by bypassing the gut altogether, making it an effective alternative. Almost all the nutrients delivered in an IV drip can be utilised by the body. For those with gut issues, severe deficiencies, or those who want instant results, it can be a fast and effective way to replenish the body's nutrient reserve. But still, it is highly recommended to consult your GP before you undergo any medical treatment as they understand your body better than anyone else.

Get Back Your Life Today

Feeling tired occasionally is a normal part of life. However, it becomes a cause for concern when it doesn't go away even after resting. Could any of the above be the reason(s) you're feeling tired all the time? If you think any of the above might apply to you, you can adopt lifestyle changes to improve your fatigue. If you feel like you need an extra helping hand, choosing to undergo external supplementation with IV drips may prove beneficial. Finding an IV drip in London has never been easier, with specialised clinics now offering bespoke treatments. What are you waiting for? Go get your energy back today!