Why am I always tired? Five reasons you could be feeling sleep-deprived

This Morning's Dr Chris explains under-active thyroid symptoms

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Waking up feeling like you could do with several more hours snuggled up in bed might be common if you have been burning the candle at both ends. But when you’re statistically getting enough sleep, the feeling of exhaustion might be an indication something is going on with your health.

According to experts from Eachnight.com, it is a feeling that is plaguing the nation, with online searches skyrocketing for “why am I always tired?”

Jasmin Lee, who works for the company, said this could be down to anything from depression and burnout, to stress during the pandemic.

However, mental health is not the only reason why you may be feeling less than rested once your alarm rings into action.

In fact, the NHS says that “unexplained tiredness is one of the most common reasons for people to see their GP”.

Here are five reasons you might be feeling sleep deprived.

Iron deficiency anaemia

According to the NHS, iron deficiency anaemia often results in “tiredness and lack of energy”.

The health service lists it as one potential cause of exhaustion.

Iron deficiency anaemia is caused by lack of iron, often because of blood loss or pregnancy.

Most often, it is treated with iron tablets prescribed by a GP and by including more iron-rich foods into your diet.

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Iron deficiency anaemia

According to the NHS, iron deficiency anaemia often results in “tiredness and lack of energy”.

The health service lists it as one potential cause of exhaustion.

Iron deficiency anaemia is caused by lack of iron, often because of blood loss or pregnancy.

Most often, it is treated with iron tablets prescribed by a GP and by including more iron-rich foods into your diet.

Underactive thyroid

An underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism, can be a very serious condition if left untreated.

According to the NHS, among its main symptoms is feeling tired a lot of the time.

People may also notice weight gain or feelings of depression.

The NHS states: “An underactive thyroid can often be successfully treated by taking daily hormone tablets to replace the hormones your thyroid is not making.

“There’s no way of preventing an underactive thyroid.

“Most cases are caused either by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland and damaging it or by damage to the thyroid that occurs during some treatments for an overactive thyroid or thyroid cancer.”

Sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea is a condition that mainly shows its symptoms while you sleep.

As a result, people with sleep apnoea might find they aren’t having as restful sleep as possible.

The NHS states: “Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep.

“The most common type is called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).”

Along with feeling tired during the day, people with the condition might also find it hard to concentrate, have mood swings and wake up with a headache.

Symptoms at night include breathing stopping and starting, making gasping or choking noises in their sleep, loud snoring and waking up a lot.

The NHS recommends asking someone to stay with you while to sleep to determine whether you have symptoms, as these can be difficult to pick up on. The health service states: “Sleep apnoea does not always need to be treated if it’s mild.

“But many people need to use a device called a CPAP machine. You’ll be given this for free on the NHS if you need it.”

Depression

Depression can be caused by a number of situational and non-situational reasons.

Symptoms vary from person to person, but feeling tired when you wake up can be a key symptom.

According to the NHS: “If you feel sad, low and lacking in energy, and you also wake up tired, you may have depression.”

If you think you are depressed, it is important to speak to your GP.

The NHS adds: “Some people think depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition.

“They’re wrong – it is a real illness with real symptoms. Depression is not a sign of weakness or something you can ‘snap out of’ by ‘pulling yourself together'”.

Emotional shock

Emotional shock can also lead to a disrupted sleeping pattern.

The NHS states: “A bereavement, redundancy or a relationship break-up can make you feel tired and exhausted.”

In particular, people may notice they feel “tired all of the time” or might not be sleeping as well as usual.

Jasmin Lee for Eachnight.com added: “The past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, with fear, illness, and multiple lockdowns stretching our emotional and physical resources to their limit, have had an extraordinary effect on our sleep.

“For many of us, our bodies have been in crisis mode for over a year, dealing with untenable situations such as working full time from home while home-schooling children, the potential grief of losing loved ones to the virus, or simply the grinding loneliness of being unable to meet family and friends face-to-face, which – as human beings – we need for our mental health and stability.”

If you are concerned about unexplained tiredness and think it could be linked to your mental health, it is just as important to speak to a GP as if your symptoms were down to a physical condition.

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