I Am So Tired & I Don't Know Why!

You believe you are getting a good night’s sleep, you are eating healthy, and you are active, but you still suffer from lack of energy. So, what’s going on?

According to medical specialists, here is a sample list of possible health conditions that may be contributing your fatigue:

Acute liver failure — Research indicates that fatigue stems from changes in neurotransmission within the brain. One suggestion is that a patient’s psychological well-being can manifest in feelings of fatigue after a diagnosis of cirrhosis or liver failure is confirmed. Less than 2% of the US population is currently diagnosed with and/or being treated.

Anemia — Fatigue may develop due to your body being starved of oxygen, when you don’t produce enough red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout your body efficiently. Anemia affects almost 6% of the U.S. population.

Cancer — Tumors can produce cytokines that cause tiredness. Other cancers can slow down the production of red blood cells, which can result in anemia. Roughly 2 million people are diagnosed with some form of cancer each year.

Chronic fatigue syndrome — The fatigue caused in this disease may stem from immune system problems, hormonal imbalances or viral infections. There are an estimate 3+ million people diagnosed each year with CFS. The number has been growing as more people are being evaluated for the condition.

Chronic kidney disease — Fatigue may manifest as a symptom of chronic kidney disease due to anemia and inflammation. About 15% of the US population has chronic kidney disease. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 adults with chronic kidney disease are unaware they have it.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — Patients suffering from COPD develop fatigue due to impaired lung function, which may impact their quality of life. COPD effects more than 11 million people.

Concussion — Suffering from a concussion may give you mental fatigue. You may feel that your reactions are slower or that routine tasks suddenly become difficult. You should not wait to be examined for any head injury. Mild concussions are not to be confused with Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBI. It is estimated that over 20% of teenagers have experienced at least one concussion event from sports related activities. On an average, 5% of head injury victims die from complications each day.

Depression — Negative feelings such as sadness, hopelessness and helplessness can lead to sleep problems, which eventually lead to fatigue. It is estimated that over 47 million adults suffer from depression. Recent higher figures being attributed to Covid.

Diabetes — This metabolic disease can cause dehydration or kidney disease, both of which can eventually cause fatigue. About 30 million people have Type 1 diabetes and it is estimated over 84 million have pre-diabetes.

Emphysema — Shortness of breath is one the most common symptoms of this condition, which can eventually make you feel tired since you’re lacking energy. Emphysema has four different stages and effects more than 4 million people.

Fibromyalgia — The pain in your muscles when fibromyalgia strikes can result in fatigue afterward. Whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, fibromyalgia is often mistaken for normal aches and pains. Up to 6% of the US population is affected by fibromyalgia.

Grief — According to a report from The Atlantic, bereavement can weaken the immune system due to the stress you may be experiencing from the loss of a loved one, and leave you feeling excessively tired. Grief is not something that has an expiration date for most people. It many times takes a while, however the pangs should subside. Grief Counseling is advised. About 5 million people suffer from the loss of a loved one each year.

Heart disease — Defects in the way your heart works, such as a cardiac infection, can cause weakness or fatigue. If unmonitored or left unchecked during your annual physical, be sure to advise your healthcare provider of any chest pains or shallow breathing concerns. Heart disease is the number cause of death in the US, with more than 600,000 deaths each year.

Hyperthyroidism — An overactive thyroid may cause muscle weakness, which directly leads to fatigue. It is estimated than over 20 million people in the U.S. are affected by hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism — An underactive thyroid can affect your biological processes in many ways, such as making you feel tired all the time. About 5% of US thyroid complications are hypothyroidism.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two diseases that make up IBD, can cause fatigue due to the pain experienced by the patient. In other cases, it is a side effect of inflammation or a nutritional deficiency. IBD effects between 25 and 45 million people each year. The reason for the gap in numbers is based upon reported patients and unreported estimates. Two out of three IBD sufferers are female.

Medications — Many medications can cause fatigue as a side effect. Common examples include antihistamines, antidepressants, anxiety medications, beta-blockers and opioids. Over the counter, or OTC, medications may have unexpected side effects as well. Be sure to monitor any changes when beginning any changes to your medication regimen. Over 9.5 million people experience adverse side effects from prescription medications each year.

Multiple Sclerosis — Eighty percent of people affected with MS develop fatigue as a complication, and it can reach a point where it affects a person’s quality of life and ability to work. It is estimated that over 2 million people in the US have been diagnosed with MS. Half of this population is believed to be over the age of 18.

Obesity— Having excess weight in your body can make normal activities harder to do, which can tire you out quicker. It can also cause joint and muscle pain. Over 35% of adults and 17% of all children are considered obese in the US, with this number growing each year.

Stress — Emotional stress can take a toll on your physical well-being, which can lead to fatigue. Do not underestimate the effects of stress on your health! Over 40 million people are affected by stress each year, with anxiety accounting for 40%.

Traumatic brain injury — Fatigue is a common complication after experiencing a brain injury. Mental fatigue can occur because the brain is trying to process plenty of information but cannot do so efficiently. TBI's often have long-term, unexplained physiological an psychological implications. Always keep your healthcare provider updated on any changes in habits, physiological or emotional conditions as these may be indicators of additional uncovered complications from the original head injury. Over 1.5 million people in the US will experience TBI each year, with about 150+ deaths reported per day.

Why is all this stuff going on?

Here is a sample what’s going on in your body without your knowledge:

When you visit your healthcare provider for your annual checkup, they will typically do a series of baseline tests to check your overall health. Unless you specifically complain about not feeling well after maintaining what you believe to be a healthy lifestyle, the provider will most likely order a series of blood tests to help eliminate immediate serious problems. If the results identify any abnormalities, you will most likely be placed on some medical prescriptive protocols or additional testing may be required.

While the search for wassup with your health anomalies continues, valuable time may be lost to getting to the root cause of your symptoms. Your health problems may be due to multiple systems fighting for dominance and possibly an undiscovered emergency health condition or a prolonged illness that has yet to be detected.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) testing may help identify immediate health abnormalities and provide information about specific conditions that are creating your symptoms. ANS testing is a relatively fast, non-invasive and safe examination of your Sympathetic and Parasympathetic (review above chart for more details).

The reason most healthcare providers do not order or provide ANS testing is because it has historically been a complicated and expensive diagnostic examination. While ANS testing is covered by most all insurance carriers as a standard of care, few doctors know how much valuable information is revealed from such testing. Additionally, such testing facilities looked more like an image out of a scary sci-fi movie and may take several hours.

Today, ANS testing takes about 30 minutes and the report of findings is typically available almost immediately after the examination. A simple, easy to read and understand report is available for the patient and a more detailed complicated report with all of the charts and references for the referring physician or specialist are provided.

While many cities have healthcare providers and clinics providing Autonomic Nervous System testing, getting a referral for an appointment can be complicated or inaccessible.

Fortunately, today patients have more rights to manage and monitor their health. A doctor’s referral is no longer a requirement to have ANS Testing done. If you experience any of the following symptoms:

A.  Feeling tired

B.  Stressed out

C.  Not sleeping or eating well

D.  Unexplained pain or cramping not managed by OTC or prescriptive medications

E.  Unexplained headaches or dizziness

F.   Or any of the other unexplained health concerns

You have the right to choose how you get to the root cause of the problem.

In the Greater St. Louis Missouri Region, Heartland Diagnostics of Missouri offers same day ANS testing and clinical reports. Here is an example of what tests are performed:

Heartland Diagnostics of Missouri can be reached at: www.heartlanddiagnostics.com

Similar clinics may be found in other major metropolitan areas.

*Disclaimer: Heartland Diagnostics of Missouri, LLC provides the information and materials on this site for general information purposes only. You should not rely on the information provided as a substitute for medical advice, care, or treatment. This article is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services. If you believe you have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.