Are You Tired of Feeling Tired?

Fatigue is one of the most common complaints that brings folks into the doctor’s office.  When we don’t have the energy to do what we want to do in life, it can be frustrating and depressing.  How do we get that vivacious feeling back again?

First of all, go easy on the coffee.  Drinking lots of caffeinated beverages often backfires, because it becomes less effective over time.  Also, it can disrupt your sleep patterns, just leading back to more tiredness. 

Natural “magic bullets” are often ineffective:  whether it’s 5-Hour Energy, acai berry, or whatever the newest product is this week, these promises are much more about marketing than science.  Any temporary boost they provide is likely due to placebo effect.

Focus on the basics of lifestyle first:  get some form of exercise, even if you don’t feel like it.  Over time, this will improve your energy level.  Stick to whole, natural, nutrient-rich foods.  Junk foods that are high in sugar and added fats sabotage your vitality.

One of the principles of naturopathic medicine is to find and treat the cause, not the symptom.  Fatigue can be due to any number of factors, and visiting a doctor with a holistic point of view can help provide some answers.  The most basic (and often overlooked) cause of fatigue is poor quality sleep.  This in turn may be due to anxiety, sleep apnea, shift work, or other health issues.

Some lab work can determine if there is a physiological reason for your fatigue.  Problems with the thyroid or adrenal gland are common.  Anemia affects some folks, and needs to be addressed beyond just iron supplements – there’s often an underlying cause that needs to be explored.  Blood sugar issues may be a culprit as well, whether it’s too low or too high.  Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex disorder that often needs an individualized approach.

All of these issues can be addressed in an integrative fashion – with cooperation between conventional and natural treatments.