4. Nutritional Deficiencies
Sometimes, what’s missing from your diet can influence how energetic you feel.
Your doctor may check for:
Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms of low magnesium, which is found in fibrous foods such as leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, include fatigue and weakness.
Iron Deficiency This can trigger restless legs syndrome. Teitelbaum says even if your blood test reads as normal, low iron could still be to blame for your tiredness. He suggests asking your doctor for a ferritin blood test, which measures stored iron. For restless legs syndrome, current guidelines recommend iron supplementation when ferritin is below 75 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or transferrin saturation is below 20 percent.
Vitamin D Deficiency This may contribute to daytime sleepiness or reduced energy, Dr. Becker says. This may be related to the imbalance of dopamine and serotonin, which vitamin D helps regulate.
B Vitamin Deficiency B12 deficiency, for example, can cause exhaustion or fatigue, even when your levels are on the low end of normal. Because animal products are a main source of B vitamins, vegans and vegetarians are more likely to fall short.
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
Staying properly hydrated supports so many of your body’s daily functions. Dehydration, which occurs when your body doesn’t have enough water, can lead to fatigue.
Dehydration can happen for a number of reasons, including:
- Low water intake
- Sweating
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Increased urination
Thirst is the easiest way to tell if you’re dehydrated, but your doctor can also test for dehydration through blood or urine tests. Depending on the cause of your dehydration, you may simply need to increase your fluid intake or address the underlying issue.
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