According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, "Sleep is as essential for your well-being as food and water." You probably remember staying awake all night studying for a big exam, or getting up in the middle of the night to catch the first flight of the day and then the feeling of exhaustion hits the next day. However, when you feel extremely tired or sleepy all of the time and don't know why, you may need to see a doctor. There are many causes for excessive sleepiness and some simple lifestyle changes may improve your life significantly.
Significance
Feeling tired all of the time can impact your quality of life. You may no longer have the energy to enjoy the activities that had previously provided you pleasure. Your exhaustion and lack of enjoyment with life may lead to depression, which can exacerbate your sleepy feeling.
Medical Causes
According to the National Sleep Foundation, "One of the primary causes of excessive sleepiness among Americans is self-imposed sleep deprivation." You may feel that you can get more done if you limit the amount of sleep you get. The Foundation states that on average, people get roughly 20 percent less sleep than they did a century ago.
Sleep disorders may contribute to extremely tired feelings. Sleep apnea and snoring can disturb your nighttime rest, leaving you feeling tired all day. Insomnia is another condition that can make you tired. Restless leg syndrome is a condition that worsens at night and can disrupt sleep as well.
Emotional problems including anxiety, depression and grief can compound feelings of exhaustion.
Finally, medical problems should be considered. Conditions such as anemia, hypothyroidism, cancer or chronic fatigue syndrome can leave you feeling lethargic and exhausted.
Lifestyle Causes
Work life, including long hours, rotating shifts or work-related stress may leave you feeling drained at the end of the day. Traveling through time zones can cause a condition known as jet lag, which affects the body's natural tendency to sleep. An unhealthy lifestyle can also contribute to sleepiness. Drugs and alcohol, a lack of exercise, poor diet or a lack of sleep can all cause exhaustion.
Contributing Factors
While there may be direct causes for your sleepiness, there may also be situations indirectly causing you to want to sleep all of the time. While cancer is a disease that can leave you feeling very tired, cancer treatments can also play a significant part in the extreme exhaustion cancer patients report.
Uncontrolled pain can lead to sleep deprivation, which can cause constant sleepiness. Infections, including those with a fever, can make you want to climb into bed and not get up. Also, dieters who do not consume enough calories to keep their body fueled can feel significant lethargy.
Symptoms
The causes of extreme tiredness can be difficult to identify. Keeping a log of symptoms may help your doctor narrow down a diagnosis. Symptoms of extreme tiredness include a low-energy level. You may feel the need to rest after common activities. Your muscles may feel generally weak and you may have a hard time focusing on daily activities, as well as be unable to complete normal tasks. Symptoms often start slowly and worsen gradually.
Management
Feeling extremely tired all of the time for more than three weeks is a good reason to visit your doctor, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Discuss your symptoms and let him make an appropriate diagnosis and plan for treatment of your medical conditions. While you wait for your appointment, get enough rest with normal sleep patterns.
Do not nap for more than 30 to 60 minutes during the day and do not drink caffeine in the hours before bed. Consider taking a walk during the day, moderate exercise may actually increase your energy level.
Maintain good nutrition, do not skip meals and consider the advice of a registered dietitian if you are unsure how to get proper nutrition. If you have concerns about your stress level, discuss this with your doctor. Reducing your level of stress may be the key to improving your exhaustion.
Expert Insight
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer some suggestions to help improve your quality of sleep and reduce excessive sleepiness. Maintaining the same sleep schedule each day can help your body regulate itself. Wake up at the same time, even on weekends.
Make sure your bed is comfortable, your room is dark and the room temperature is not too hot or cold. Avoid large meals and physical activities in the hours leading up to bedtime. Some simple changes may make a significant change in your well-being.
