Do you ever wake up in the morning and just want to dive back into bed? This happens to us all occasionally, but when fatigue prevents us from being productive, something else may be at work. Don’t ignore chronic fatigue. If you’re tired of feeling tired, let’s look at what causes fatigue and when to see Premier Urgent Care.
Three Main Causes Of Fatigue
Your age, factors from disease, and your lifestyle habits can drain your energy and cause fatigue. It could be one, two, or all three, and it’s important to discover which one(s) if you want to regain your vigor.
Get Back Your “Get Up And Go” At Any Age
As we get older we lose muscle mass and mitochondria which are energy producing cells, and we have less ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which is the molecule delivering energy to the cells in our bodies.
Yes, age contributes to slowing down, feeling tired more easily now than when we were 30, or having less stamina when exercising. It’s a fact of life, but we don’t have to succumb.
Anyone can counteract some of these factors by staying active, and you don’t have to run a marathon to improve your muscle mass. 30 minutes a day of mild to moderate exercise can help, and you can break down the time into smaller components. Walk for 15 minutes, climb stairs instead of taking an elevator, or park farther away in a parking lot.
Chronic stress can affect your ATP levels so engaging in simple exercise can help to reduce stress too.
Lifestyle Factors Affecting Fatigue
Simple lifestyle habits can encourage fatigue and makes us feel older than we are.
They include some of the following:
- A poor diet of too many processed foods can zap your energy by causing inflammation and decreasing the production of ATP. Without the proper vitamins and minerals you can sabotage your energy. Stick with whole foods and lean proteins.
- Reduce the amount of sugary drinks you have which gives you a blood sugar spike followed by a drop which causes fatigue. Alcohol can make you dehydrated which causes fatigue.
- Work on getting enough sleep.
- Stay socially active to avoid falling into depression, a well known cause of fatigue.
Pay attention to other factors like your medications, namely antihistamines and cough suppressants. Talk to Premier Urgent Care about what other OTC or prescription meds could be causing your fatigue.
Medical Causes For Fatigue
Fatigue can be a symptom of many underlying medical conditions. Some of them include chronic infections or inflammation, anemia, COPD, emphysema, COVID-19, kidney disease, cancer, MD, obesity, sleep apnea, thyroid diseases, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and liver failure.
Mental health issues like grief, stress, anxiety, effects of divorce, or emotional exhaustion can also present as fatigue.
When To See Premier Urgent Care
If you have chest pain, an irregular or fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, or severe abdominal, pelvic or back pain, make an appointment immediately.
Make an appointment with Premier Health Network and Urgent Care if your fatigue lasts longer than 2 weeks even when eating better, getting enough rest, exercising, and reducing stress.
As always, if you have any further questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call (773) 891-2890.