Tired all the time? As you probably know, you're far from being alone. In fact, a lot of women, especially those over 40, schedule appointments for persistent fatigue or bring it up a their annual exam.
Much of the time, tiredness is caused by a too-busy lifestyle. But those "I'm tired all the time" complaints should be taken seriously and not just brushed off. Why the concern? "The bottom line is that fatigue could be a sign of a medical condition that can be treated," says Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD, a physician in private practice in Atlanta. "It's very easy for someone to say, 'I'm just feeling tired because I'm run-down and have too much going on,'" says Fryhofer. Her advice: Give yourself about 2 to 3 weeks to make some lifestyle changes. Get more sleep, trim your social calendar, eat more wholesome foods, drink more fluids and cut back on caffeine and alcohol. "If you've made the changes that make sense, and you're still feeling the symptoms of fatigue, then you need professional help," she says.
ANEMIA
The fatigue caused by anemia is the result of a lack of red blood cells, which contain hemoglobin, a protein that bring oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and cells. In addition to feeling tired, you may feel weak and short of breath.
Anemia may be caused by an iron or vitamin deficiency, blood loss, internal bleeding, or a chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer or kidney failure. In some cases, anemia may be a side effect of a medication you're taking, such as chemotherapy for cancer patients.
Women of childbearing age are especially susceptible to iron-deficinecy anemia because of blood loss during menstruation and the body's need for extra iron during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
The symptoms: Anemia may be the first sign of a serious illness, so it's important to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment as soon as possible. Fatigue is a major symptom. Others include extreme weakness, difficulty sleeping, lack of concentration, rapid heartbeat, chest pains and headaches. Simple exercise, such as climbing the stairs ot walking short distance, can cause fatigue.
DIABETES
The symptoms of diabetes extreme fatigue is one of the early warning signs that your blood sugar level is out of control. Other symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, weight loss, irritability, vaginal yeast infections, and blurred vision.
THYROID DISEASE
The thyroid gland, about the size of the knot on a man's tie, is found in front of the neck. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) produced by the pituitary gland causes the thyroid gland to secrete 2 hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), that control metabolism. Too much of the thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), and metabolism speeds up. Too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), and metabolism slows down.
The symptoms: Hyperthyroidism causes muscle fatigue and weakness, which you may notice first in the thigh muscles. Exercise such as riding a bike or climbing stairs becomes more difficult. Other symptoms include unexplained weight loss, feeling warm all the time, increased heart rate, shorter and less frequent menstrual flows, and increased thirst.
Hyperthyroidism is most commonly diagnosed in women in their 20s and 30s, but it can occur on older women and in men too.
Hypothyroidism causes fatigue, an inability to concentrate, and muscle soreness, even with minor activity. Other symptoms include weight gain due to water retention, feeling cold all the time (even in warmer weather), heavier and more frequent menstrual flows, and constipation. Hypothyroidism is most commonly diagnosed in women past the age of 50.
DEPRESSION
More than "the blues," depression is a major illness that affects the way we sleep, eat, and feel about ourselves and others. Without treatment, the symptoms of depression may last for weeks, months, or even years. So it's important to recognize the warning signs and get help.
The symptoms: We don't all experience depression in the same way. But commonly, depression can cause decreased energy, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, problems with memory and concentration, and feeling of helplessnesss, worthlessness, and negativity.
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that involves inflammation in the lining of the joints. It happens when he body's immune system turns against itself and attacks healthy joint tissue, sometimes resulting in irreversible damage to bone and cartilage.
The symptoms RA is not always easy to diagnose early, because many symptoms (such as fatigue, low energy, loss of appetite, and jonit pain) are shared by other health conditions, including other forms of arthritis such a s fibromyalgia and lupus. And anemia and thyroid disorders, which also cause fatigue, are even more common in people with RA. A thorough physical exam by a rheumatologist can provide some of the most valuable evidence of rheumatoid factor, an antibody found in the blood. About 80% of people with RA test positive for this antibody, but the test is not conclusive. You can test positive and not have RA, and test negative when you do have RA.