It's common for everyone to get a little worn down, but this can be something quite different from, for example, long term fatigue caused by high levels of stress. So I thought it might be interesting to look at some of the reasons we might be suffering from continuous fatigue.
Adrenal fatigue
Our body is designed to cope with stress and has subconscious mechanisms that kick in when we are faced with a stressful situation. Chemicals are released by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of our kidneys, causing our heart to beat faster, pupils to dilate and glucose to be released into the blood stream.
All this, and many other reactions, were originally designed for us to think fast and make a quick getaway. However prolonged stress can cause excess release of the hormone cortisol, which can make us over-wired, causing hot flushes, anxiety and sleep issues (waking around 3am seems common).
Underneath this hyperactivity and getting everything done, we may actually be drop-dead tired and would love (and need) a good night's sleep. So if we don't start to manage the stress and our chemical imbalances, we eventually burn out and are left with adrenal fatigue - meaning people feel exhausted, can develop chronic fatigue syndrome and can't cope with life's stresses any more.
If this sounds like you, or someone you know, it's worth looking into adrenal support programmes, which I use in my clinic.
Low thyroid function
This is a common complaint in New Zealand and is something I always consider when looking at clients, particularly female ones, as it is more common in women. The thyroid is a gland that sits across the wind pipe and manufactures hormones that manage our metabolism and energy.
In order to manufacture these hormones it needs certain nutrients, predominantly iodine and selenium - both of which are deficient in NZ soils, hence many people having low thyroid function.
Signs to look out for are:
- tiredness
- being colder than other people
- weight gain
- constipation
- hair loss
- feeling like you could sleep all the time
Low thyroid function can be diagnosed via blood tests that measure the thyroid hormones T4 and T3, and also TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), which triggers their production. You can also use a temperature chart and measure your body temperature in the mornings - if you consistently fall below normal body temperature, you may have low thyroid function.
I also offer iodine testing, which measures if you have enough iodine and whether it is being taken up by the thyroid gland, comparing urine and saliva samples. Get in touch if you'd like more information about either of these.
Low iron
Iron is important for transporting oxygen round the body, and oxygen is needed to power the cells to make energy - so if we don't have enough iron, we don't have enough energy.
Low iron is more common in women due to menstruation, especially those who experience heavy periods. Many women experience low iron during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Vegans and vegetarians are another group with increased risk, as well as children, athletes and the elderly.
Signs of low iron include pale skin, feeling dizzy on rising, getting breathless with mild exertion, muscle weakness, poor immunity and general fatigue. You can also look inside the eyelids, as they look pale with low iron, and I often notice the whites of a client's eyes may have a slightly bluish tinge to them.
Iron can be measured through blood tests, and GPs normally test ferritin, which is stored iron. The normal range is considered to be within 20-350 ug/L, however the optimal level for menstruating women is 80-100 ug/L, so if you are at the bottom of the range you may still be feeling fatigued. I always advise everyone to ask for a copy of their blood test results, so we can check for optimal levels rather than just "normal" ones.
One thing to note is that I see many clients who know they have iron deficiency but won't take iron supplements, as they can cause digestive issues. Not all forms of iron do this - different forms have different levels of absorption and can be more gentle on the digestive system.
