12 reasons why you always feel tired.

Two out of five Americans surveyed reported feeling tired for almost an entire week. Additionally, research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one in three people suffer from sleep deprivation.Men's HealthThe following 12 reasons partly explain why your body is always feeling sluggish and irritable.

The mattress and pillows are too old.

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends replacing your mattress after about 9 or 10 years and your pillows once a year.

High bedroom temperature

The ideal temperature for a bedroom is around 18-19 degrees Celsius.

Using your phone too much

Dr. Richard L. Hansler from John Carroll University says that exposure to phone light in the evening prevents the body from producing melatonin, the sleep hormone. To sleep well, you shouldn't keep your phone in the bedroom.

Using alcohol as a sleeping pill.

Alcohol affects sleep quality. Hansler explains that in the first few hours after alcohol is metabolized, it induces sleep, but through a different mechanism than normal sleep, as there is no rapid eye movement. Therefore, you should not drink alcohol before bed.

Drink too little water.

Dehydration affects mood and energy levels. Many researchers believe the human brain shrinks when dehydrated. Even a small amount of water loss can make you feel sluggish.

Anemia

Iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, blood loss, internal bleeding, or chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or kidney failure can all lead to anemia. When you have anemia, you often experience fatigue, exhaustion, difficulty sleeping, lack of concentration, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, and headaches.

It's important to note that anemia is not a disease, so treatment depends on identifying and addressing the underlying causes of the symptoms. Complete treatment requires blood tests and a comprehensive examination.

Thyroid disease

When thyroid hormones aren't functioning properly, even everyday activities can leave you exhausted. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism affect the body's metabolism.

Hyperthyroidism causes fatigue, muscle weakness, weight loss, increased body temperature and heart rate, increased thirst, and decreased menstrual flow. Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, causes fatigue, weight gain due to water retention, decreased body temperature, increased menstrual flow, and constipation. The condition can be detected through blood tests and treated with medication, surgery, or radioactive iodine.

Diabetes

More than one million people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each year. Sugar, or glucose, helps the body maintain normal life functions. In people with type 2 diabetes, glucose builds up in the blood, leading to fatigue, thirst, frequent urination, hunger, weight loss, irritability, fungal infections, or vision loss.

To find out if you have diabetes, you can take a fasting glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test before and two hours after taking glucose syrup. Your doctor will advise you on how to manage your symptoms through dietary adjustments, medication, or insulin.

Depression

If left untreated, depression can last from weeks to years. Typically, depression causes loss of energy, changes in daily routines, memory and concentration problems, along with very negative emotions, and even thoughts of death.

There is no blood test for depression; doctors identify the condition through questioning. If you experience the symptoms mentioned above for two weeks or more and your life is disrupted, you should proactively seek medical attention. Most patients with depression report positive improvements when combining talk therapy and medication.

Chronic fatigue

When suffering from chronic fatigue, patients tire very quickly, even with normal activities. Prominent symptoms include headaches, muscle and joint pain, weakness, swollen and tender lymph nodes, and difficulty concentrating. This syndrome remains a mystery as its cause has yet to be identified.

Before making a diagnosis, doctors need to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. There is no specific cure for the disease; instead, it requires self-care, medication, talk therapy, or participation in support groups.

Sleep apnea

This type of sleep disorder makes you feel tired after waking up because your brain is awakened to restart the breathing process. This condition manifests as snoring and can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Patients may need to wear a continuous breathing device to supplement air while sleeping. Depending on the severity, the doctor may recommend surgery.

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 is crucial for brain health, the immune system, and metabolism. However, aging, diabetes medications, digestive issues, and a plant-based diet can easily lead to vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause itching in the hands and feet, memory loss, dizziness, anxiety, and impaired vision. Through blood tests, doctors can recommend supplementing your diet with B12-rich foods or taking vitamin B12 supplements alone.