What is Always Being Tired a Symptom Of?

Always being tired can be a symptom of hundreds of different illnesses. Some people may be tired due to stress, long working hours or inadequate amounts of sleep. However, always being tired may also be indicative or serious medical conditions. Some common causes of tiredness include sleep disorders, hypothyroidism, anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes and depression.

Sleep Disorders

• You may be extremely tired if you have a sleep disorder. Insomnia is the inability to either get to sleep or stay asleep. Insomnia may be treated with medications and improved sleep routines. Another sleep disorder that often leads to daytime sleepiness is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when breathing stops momentarily during sleeping hours. If you are especially tired and also snore loudly at night, you may want to talk to your doctor about sleep apnea. Other sleep disorders that lead to tired are restless legs syndrome and narcolepsy. Restless legs syndrome is characterized by involuntary leg movements during the night and narcolepsy is a condition that causes extreme daytime drowsiness and unpredictable dozing off during waking hours.

Hypothyroidism

• Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when the hypothyroid is unable to produce adequate amounts of hormones needed to regulate metabolic processes in the body. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include tiredness, constipation, pale skin, dry skin, hoarseness, high cholesterol levels, muscle and joint aches, brittle nails, brittle hair and depression. Hypothyroidism is easily controlled with medication.

Anemia

• Anemia is a condition that occurs when the body does not have enough iron to manufacture adequate amounts of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin enables your red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. The primary symptoms of anemia are tiredness, weakness and pale skin color. Other possible symptoms of anemia are headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, irritability, tongue soreness, heart arrhythmias and cold feet and hands.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Chronic fatigue syndrome is a mysterious illness that may or may not have an identifiable underlying cause. In addition to severe fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome may cause memory loss, concentration difficulties, sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes, joint pain and headaches. If you have chronic fatigue syndrome, you may also experience chest pain, abdominal pain, bloating, allergies, coughing, dizziness, dry mouth, earaches, jaw pain, nausea, night sweats, irritability, shortness of breath and blurry vision. Chronic fatigue syndrome often occurs along with fibromyalgia, which is another disorder characterized by tiredness.

Diabetes

• Diabetes is a serious medical condition that occurs either when the body is not able to produce adequate amounts of insulin or when the body becomes resistant to insulin. Insulin is needed to control the levels of glucose present in the blood. Symptoms of diabetes include tiredness, hungriness, thirstiness, increased frequency of urination, blurry vision, weight loss and regularly occurring infections. Diabetes needs to be monitored and managed diligently to prevent serious complications.

Depression

• Tiredness or fatigue may sometimes be the result of a psychological issue such as depression. If you have depression, you may have trouble sleeping and fatigue. Other symptoms of depression include prolonged sadness, hopelessness, disinterest in daily life, concentration difficulties, restlessness, irritability, back pain, and headaches. Depression can be treated with medications and therapy.