Excessive tiredness usually indicates a lack of time to rest, but it can also be a sign of some diseases such as anemia, diabetes, thyroid disorders or even depression. Normally, in cases of illness, the person feels tired and without strength, even after having a night's rest.
Thus, in the presence of signs and symptoms other than sleep and excessive tiredness, such as muscle weakness, mood swings and dizziness, for example, it is important that the doctor is consulted so that the cause is identified and treatment started more suitable.
Also, it is important to set aside a time in the day to rest, try to go to bed earlier than usual and practice physical activity, for example.
The main causes of tiredness and excessive sleep are:
1. Diabetes
Decompensated diabetes causes frequent tiredness because blood glucose does not reach all cells and therefore the body lacks energy to carry out everyday tasks. In addition, excess blood sugar makes the individual urinate more, leads to weight loss and muscle reduction, so it is common for diabetics with hyperglycemia to complain of muscle fatigue.
Which doctor to look for: Endocrinologist and nutritionist, so that fasting glucose tests and the glycemic curve test are indicated, establishment of the nutritional plan according to the test results and follow-up of the treatment.
What to do to fight diabetes: You should take the medicine prescribed by your doctor and be careful with your diet, avoiding foods rich in sugar, in addition to being important to practice physical activity on a regular basis. See what to eat in diabetes.
2. Anemia
Lack of iron in the blood can cause tiredness, drowsiness and discouragement. In women, this fatigue becomes even greater at the time of menstruation, when the body's iron stores decrease even more.
Which doctor to look for: General practitioner or gynecologist, in the case of women, to verify that the menstrual flow is normal and that there are no changes such as menorrhagia, for example. To identify anemia, it is necessary to perform a blood count.
What to do to fight anemia: Food rich in iron, of animal and vegetable origin, should be consumed daily, such as red meat, beets and beans. In addition, in some cases it may be necessary to use an iron supplement, which must be recommended by the doctor or nutritionist. See a good home remedy for anemia.
3. Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is characterized by the cessation of breathing during sleep, which can happen for brief periods and several times during the night, impairing the individual's sleep and rest. When sleeping poorly, it is normal to wake up very tired, have muscle fatigue and feel sleepy during the day. Learn about other signs that help identify sleep apnea.
What doctor to look for: A doctor who specializes in sleep disorders, who may order a test called polysomnography, which checks how a person sleeps.
What to do to combat sleep apnea: It is important to discover its cause so that the doctor can indicate the best alternative to improve sleep. Thus, if the apnea is due to excess weight, dieting and the use of a CPAP mask suitable for sleep may be recommended. If it is due to smoking, it is recommended to avoid, as well as the consumption of alcohol and sedative or tranquilizing drugs, it is important to seek medical advice to adjust the dose or change the medication.
4. Depression
One of the typical symptoms of depression is frequent physical and mental fatigue, in which the individual is not motivated to carry out their daily tasks and even to work. Despite being a disease that affects the mental part of the person, it also ends up affecting the body.
Which doctor to look for: The most appropriate thing is the psychiatrist, because that way it is possible to identify the indicative signs of depression and start the appropriate treatment, which is usually done with medication and therapy.
What to do to fight depression: It is advisable to be accompanied by a psychologist and a psychiatrist who may indicate the use of medication, in some cases, however it is also important perform activities that were previously pleasurable, as it is possible to modify the brain response and improve mood. Understand better how depression is treated.
5. Fibromyalgia
In fibromyalgia, there is pain in the whole body, especially in the muscles, and it is associated with frequent and persistent tiredness, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, difficulty performing daily tasks, which may interfere with professional performance, in addition to being able to affect sleep, so that the person wakes up tired, as if I had not had any rest during the night. Here's how to identify fibromyalgia.
Which doctor to look for: Rheumatologist who may order a series of tests to exclude other causes, but the diagnosis is made by observing the signs and symptoms of the disease and performing a specific physical examination.
What to do to fight fibromyalgia: It is recommended to take the medicine prescribed by the doctor, do exercises such as Pilates, Yoga or Swimming, to promote the stretching of the muscles and keep them properly strengthened to become more resistant to pain.
6. Heart disease
Arrhythmia and heart failure can cause frequent tiredness and dizziness. In this case, the heart does not have enough strength to make a good contraction to send blood to the whole body and therefore the individual is always tired.
Which doctor to look for: Cardiologist, who may order a blood test and electrocardiogram, for example.
What to do to fight heart disease: Go to the cardiologist and take the medicine prescribed by him. In addition, take care of food, avoiding fats and sugar, and practice supervised and regular exercises. Check out 12 signs that may indicate heart problems.
7. Infections
Infections such as flu and colds can cause a lot of fatigue because, in this case, the body tries to use all its energies to fight the microorganisms involved. In the case of infections, in addition to tiredness, other symptoms can be observed, such as fever and muscle pain, which should be investigated by the doctor.
What doctor to look for: General practitioner, who may order blood tests or more specific ones, depending on the symptoms involved. According to the test result, the person can be referred to a more specialized doctor, such as an infectious disease specialist.
What to do to fight infections: After finding out what the infection is, your doctor can prescribe medication to cure the disease. By following all medical recommendations, a cure can be achieved and all symptoms related to the infection, including tiredness, disappear.
8. Thyroid changes
As thyroid hormones are responsible for keeping metabolism at its normal rate, when they are affected, there may be fatigue in response to the change. Here's how to know if you may have a thyroid disorder.
Which doctor to look for: Endocrinologist, who may order TSH, T3 and T4 blood tests to check the functioning of the thyroid gland.
What to do to combat thyroid disorders: It is important to take the medications prescribed by your doctor to keep your hormone levels under control, so that your metabolism returns to normal and the fatigue disappears.
