6 Reasons You’re Always Tired and What to Do About It

Fatigue can be temporary and caused by lifestyle habits, like stress or dehydration. But it can also be chronic, stemming from an underlying medical condition, like a sleep disorder. Here are six potential reasons why you’re always tired.

1. Sleep Deprivation

“Many people think one night of make-up sleep on the weekend is sufficient to improve sleepiness, but it is not,” says Kendra Becker, MD, a sleep medicine director and internist at Kaiser Permanente in Fontana, California. “Imagine getting only five hours of sleep per night, but the person may need eight hours. That means they will lose three hours of sleep seven nights per week. This adds up to 21 hours of sleep debt that needs to be made up to feel good.”

2. Sleep Disorder

What if you’re getting enough sleep and still not feeling rested? Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, a board-certified internist and the author of From Fatigued to Fantastic based in Kona, Hawaii, says this likely indicates that your sleep quality is poor, and you should see a healthcare professional about screening for a sleep disorder.

Common sleep disorders to look for include:

• Sleep apnea
• Narcolepsy
• Restless legs syndrome

All of these can be treated, so it’s important to consult a doctor to receive care, Dr. Teitelbaum says.

3. Underlying Health Issue

There are also health issues not directly related to sleep that could be triggering your daytime sleepiness or fatigue.

The list of potential culprits is long and, per Teitelbaum, includes:

• Fibromyalgia
• Thyroid disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Kidney disease
• Anemia
• Lupus
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Obesity
• Mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia

To determine if an underlying health issue is to blame, your doctor will likely analyze your sleep habits, lifestyle, medication use, and overall health to make a diagnosis, explains Peter G. Polos, MD, a sleep medicine physician at Hackensack Meridian Health in Edison, New Jersey. They may perform a physical exam or order blood work to check for cardiovascular disease or metabolic and neurologic conditions that can contribute to sleepiness.

4. Nutritional Deficiencies

Sometimes, what’s missing from your diet can influence how energetic you feel.

Your doctor may check for:

5. Certain Medications

Sometimes, the underlying cause of sleepiness is a medication you’re taking to treat another health issue. “In my practice, I notice medications are one of the most common factors in contributing to daytime sleepiness,” Becker says. “Sometimes it is the timing of medications, meaning that a medication may cause sleepiness if given in the morning or a medication that is alerting is given at bedtime.”

According to Dr. Polos, common medications to blame include:

• Antihistamines
• Some antidepressants
• Antipsychotics
• Some blood pressure medications
• Anti-anxiety drugs
• Pain medications

Don’t stop or change your medication on your own, however. “Sometimes the very same medication for depression reports both daytime sleepiness for some and insomnia for others, so there is a lot of variation,” Becker says.

Instead, bring your concerns up with your doctor. “Your physician may want to substitute other medications or simply leave them off for a day or two to see if a medication is contributing to your problem,” Teitelbaum says.

6. Dehydration

• Low water intake
• Sweating
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Increased urination