There could be a reason you feel tired all the time (stock image) (Image: Getty)
Achieving a good night’s sleep is fundamental to your overall health and wellbeing. Poor sleep will almost certainly leave you feeling drained and lethargic throughout the day, making even the most straightforward tasks feel like an uphill battle. But what if you still feel shattered even after a lengthy, undisturbed night’s sleep?
Dr Amir Khan, a familiar face on ITV’s Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, where he regularly shares essential health guidance, recently uploaded a video on TikTok outlining why you might be unable to shake that persistent feeling of exhaustion. From anaemia and thyroid issues, to more serious conditions, there are a range of reasons you could be feeling tired all the time.
“Are you feeling tired all the time? Well, you’re not lazy,” he said. “You’re not just getting old. But there is a difference between being ‘busy tired’ and being ‘medically tired’, and knowing that difference can literally change your life.”
He went on to say: “Now, we’ve all had those weeks where we’ve had long days, late nights, stress, kids, Netflix binges – that kind of tiredness usually gets better after a good night’s sleep or a weekend of rest so you wake up feeling refreshed. That’s your body saying ‘thanks, I’m fine now’.”
“But if you’re constantly exhausted, even after good quality sleep, or if you wake up feeling tired, feeling foggy, can’t concentrate, or need caffeine just to survive, that might be something to look into. Now, it could be something medical, so let me explain a few common ones.”
The first possible cause Dr Khan highlighted is anaemia, reports Wales Online. “That’s when you have a low red blood cell count,” he said.
“There’s lots of different types of anaemia. Low iron is a common one. It means less oxygen is reaching your cells. You feel weak, dizzy and short of breath climbing stairs, for example.”
The second potential explanation is insufficient Vitamin D levels. This is chiefly obtained from sunlight exposure, which can prove problematic in the UK during darker months. Fortunately, over-the-counter Vitamin D supplements are readily accessible.
Dr Khan said: “Low Vitamin D can leave you feeling constantly tired, achy and low in mood. It’s really common, so make sure you’re taking your Vitamin D supplement.”
Thyroid issues represent another potential cause of persistent fatigue. The thyroid is a small gland situated at the front of your lower neck, responsible for hormone production.
Dr Khan said: “If your thyroid’s underactive, everything slows down. Your energy, your mood, even your digestion.”
Next on his list is sleep apnoea, a condition where breathing ceases during sleep. “You might be sleeping, but your oxygen levels drop overnight,” Dr Khan said.
“You wake up unrefreshed and can’t figure out why. Normally we see it with people who are overweight, snoring, and their partner says they hear them stop breathing and then start again during the night.”
Another potential trigger for daytime exhaustion is depression and low mood. Dr Khan explained: “Mental health fatigue is real. It’s that heavy tiredness that doesn’t shift even when life feels calm.”
He noted that more serious underlying conditions, such as cancer, could also be responsible, though he stressed such cases are uncommon. He advised anybody experiencing fatigue alongside unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or blood in your poo or urine to consult their GP without delay.
Dr Khan added: “And of course, hormonal problems around the menopause can make you feel tired too.”
Rounding off his advice, he said: “So, if rest doesn’t fix it, don’t just push through it. Ask your GP perhaps for a blood test, check your iron, B12, thyroid, maybe even do a stool test. And check your sleep quality.
“You deserve energy that lasts longer than your morning coffee. So are you busy tired, or medically tired? If you’re not sure, get it checked. Your body is trying to tell you something.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
