Fatigue and low energy are among the most common symptoms experienced by my patients. Though it may be COMMON, daily and unrelenting fatigue is not NORMAL and if you suffer from this issue, you know how difficult it can be to get through your day.
The most common reasons for fatigue that I see in practice are:
Iron Deficiency
I can't stress how common this is for my female patients. It happens all the way from puberty to the pre-menopause years. It happens to meat-eaters and vegans alike. If you have had a history of low iron and were told to supplement for 1-2 months, only to never be tested again...you are probably still T I R E D. It can take many months to achieve iron stores that are adequate enough to sustain energy levels. Moreover, not all iron supplements are readily absorbed so they must be carefully selected; especially when there is a history of digestive issues.
B12 Deficiency
Though fatigue/low energy is often a prominent symptom, B12 deficiency may also
include any of the following (and this list is, by no means, exhaustive):
poor memory
“brain fog”
difficulty concentrating
depression and/or anxiety
weakness
lightheadedness
constipation and/or diarrhea
numbness or tingling in fingers/toes
heart palpitations and shortness of breath
cognitive decline or dementia
If you want to know more about B12, check this out.
Stress: You're in chronic fight or flight mode.
Your stress response system can only take so much before you crash. Over activation of the stress response sabotages your hustle, ambition and ability to get things done. This can manifest as feeling tired, overwhelmed, burnt out or deeply exhausted. Other symptoms include: insomnia, irritability, increased fat around the waist, sugar/carb/salt or caffeine cravings, afternoon crash between 3-4pm, brain fog, increased PMS, low libido...to name a few.
Inflammation
Hidden infections, food sensitivities, gut issues, are just a few of the root issues of inflammation. Removing the root cause is important and sometimes you need to bring in dietary changes and supplements to bring your body back into a state of good health.
Low Vitamin D
If you're Canadian and you've never supplemented with Vitamin D; there's a good chance that you are low. I always recommend testing your levels as this will inform the best dose for the individual. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin so it IS possible to take too much. Low levels can lead to fatigue, body pain, and low mood. It can also interfere with the immune response.
Hypothyroidism
Because hypothyroidism is a condition of S L O W metabolism, it can leave one seriously lacking in the energy department. As common as it is, it's also quite under diagnosed. To learn more, check out my thyroid newsletter here.
Insomnia
It goes without saying that if you're not getting a good sleep, you're not ever going to feel well-rested. Insomnia can have a number of root causes (stress, anxiety, pain, hormones, diet--to name a few). Typically, the best way to address insomnia is to use a natural sleep aid (of which there are many!) while trying to address the cause of the issue, whenever possible.
If you need some help getting your energy up, give us a call!
-Dr. Kerri, ND
