Still feel exhausted even though your test results are ‘fine’?
Relying on caffeine to get you through the day?
Still tired no matter how much sleep you get?
Continue reading to learn about the top factors that cause fatigue in women, which may not be considered in routine blood tests with your GP.
1. LOW HORMONE LEVELS
If you’re chronically fatigued, even though you eat well, exercise and your sleep is ok, it may be more likely you have insufficient levels of one or more hormones.
The main hormones that contribute to fatigue are:
Thyroid (TSH, T4, T3)
Progesterone
Estrogen
Testosterone
DHEA
Cortisol
These hormones are rarely checked thoroughly during routine blood tests due to Medicare restrictions.
If one or more of these hormones are low, this could be a major contributor to your fatigue and lack of energy.
Other symptoms you may experience include:
Brain fog
Mood changes
Period and PMS changes
Infertility
Low libido
Weight gain
Bloating or Fluid Retention
Hormone levels may become depleted over time due to multiple factors including ongoing stress, use of contraceptive medications, nutritional deficiencies and excessive exercise.
2.BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES
This imbalance relates to blood glucose and insulin, and usually causes fluctuations in energy and fatigue.
You may notice increased fatigue after eating, or if you haven’t eaten within a certain timeframe.
Your dietary choices are the main contributor to blood sugar regulation, however stress can also impact this.
Focus on including quality protein and fats at each meal, along with vegetables, as this will help keep your blood sugar and energy more stable.
Minimise white breads, pasta, rice, flour products - use these more as a condiment rather than the main event.
Your nutritional needs will vary depending on your activity levels, but this can be a good place to start.
Also consider your stress levels, activity levels and consumption of caffeine, sugars and alcohol.
3.NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES
The most common nutritional deficiencies related to fatigue include
Iron (check Serum levels, Saturation and Ferritin)
B Vitamins, especially B12 and Folate
Vitamin D
Magnesium
Even if you’ve had a blood test and been told these levels are ‘fine’, they may still be sub-optimal and contributing to fatigue.
Other symptoms you may experience include:
Pale skin or inner lower eye lids
Shortness of Breath
Muscle Weakness
Neuropathy
Poor Immunity
Muscle Cramps
Headaches
Lack of Focus and Concentration
Nutritional deficiencies may develop over time from:
Inadequate Nutrient Intake,
Poor Digestion or Absorption,
Dysbiosis (gut bacteria imbalance),
Parasitic or other Gut Infections,
Ongoing Stress, and
Food Intolerances.
4.SLEEP QUALITY
Many people have poor quality sleep, even if they get enough hours most nights.
Quality sleep is essential for our body to rest, recharge and repair.
Especially if you lead a busy life, which many people do, quality sleep is really important to prioritise as it helps keep our energy at optimal levels.
If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, there are many strategies that can help – often referred to as sleep hygiene. These include the darkness and temperature of your room, and winding down before bed with something relaxing.
Herbal teas and supplements can also be helpful such as Magnesium, Inositol, GABA, Zizyphus, Lavender, California Poppy, Chamomile.
5.NERVOUS SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION
This factor interrelates to the other factors above, and involves ongoing stress and spending too much time in our Sympathetic Nervous System (Fight or Run) and not enough time in our Parasympathetic Nervous System (Rest and Digest).
While short term stress can be healthy, ongoing stress will eventually lead to adrenal and cortisol depletion. This depleted cortisol level can have a huge impact on energy and our ability to function.
It is wise to try and avoid burnout and chronic fatigue, as this stage of nervous system dysfunction can be a very slow process to recover from.
Working on stress management daily and booking in time to unwind is essential if you want to keep your nervous system balanced and avoid chronic health issues.
As your body is already depleted in this state, doing gentle to moderate exercise is best, as intense exercise is more likely to further deplete your energy and cause further stress on your body.
You can read more about Stress and your Nervous System here.
If you would like to learn more about how to improve your Energy, Mood and Hormones - check out my Free Guide here.
To find out more about working together to improve your health - click here.