Why Am I So Tired? Possible Causes of Chronic Fatigue and Helpful Lab Tests

Feeling constantly exhausted is more than just a minor inconvenience and can significantly impact your quality of life. If you've been asking yourself, "Why am I so tired all the time?" and find that fatigue persists despite adequate rest, it's time to explore possible underlying causes and discovery if certain lab tests have been missed in your assessment and can help you in decoding your symptoms.

Possible Causes of Chronic Fatigue:

Sleep Dysfunction: One of the most obvious causes of persistent fatigue is inadequate or disrupted sleep. Conditions like sleep apnea, insomnia, or restless leg syndrome can all lead to poor sleep quality and chronic fatigue

Anemia: Anemia occurs when the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues and organs. Inadequate oxygen flow can then result in fatigue and significantly impact energy among many other things.

Thyroid Disorders: Hypothyroidism specifically is when the thyroid gland is under-active meaning that it does not produce adequate thyroid hormones and regulate metabolism. Not only does this contribute to fatigue, but can also lead to a host of other symptoms like constipation, dry skin, low mood or depression, hair loss, and more.

Depression, Anxiety, & Chronic Stress: A common symptom of mental health disruptions can often present as chronic and persistent fatigue. Oftentimes, those struggling with depression and/or anxiety can often struggle with sleep disruptions. Further, the emotional toll and impact that comes with these states can lead to physical exhaustion as well.

Autoimmune Diseases & Inflammation: Certain auto-immune conditions like lupus, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis can cause fatigue as the immune system attacks healthy tissues in the body. This can contribute to rising inflammation levels and further impact energy and fatigue.

Helpful Lab Tests to Explore Fatigue & Low Energy:

If you’re experiencing persistent fatigue with little to no resolution through lifestyle management, working with a naturopathic doctor can be highly beneficial via thorough assessments and customized care plans. The first step is to identify some of the root causes contributing to the symptoms and lab tests are a great way to start.

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)

  • A CBC measures various components of your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and hemoglobin. It can detect anemia and other blood-related conditions like infections.

• Thyroid Panel

  • TSH, free T3, free T4, TPO, TgAb

  • A full thyroid panel is crucial to assess for any thyroid imbalances and auto-immune origins. Oftentimes a full thyroid panel is not run and only TSH is tested which could result in missing the full picture.

• Iron Panel

  • Ferritin, Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), Transferrin saturation

  • While ferritin is a useful marker of iron stores, if inflammation makers are elevated, this can falsely elevate ferritin markers leading to the false appearance of normal iron stores. Adding a full iron panel can help determine true iron deficiency and monitor progress with treatment

• B12

  • B12 is an important nutrient that contributes to normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, cognitive function, formation of red blood cells, and more. If deficient or suboptimal, symptoms of fatigue and brain fog are commonly seen.

• 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D

  • Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient for immune health, hormone regulation, energy production, skin health, bone health, inflammation regulation and more. If deficient or suboptimal, fatigue and mood dysregulation among other symptoms are quite common.

• Inflammation Markers

  • CRP, ESR

  • Inflammation markers assess for acute or chronic levels of inflammation in the body. While these markers are non-specific, they can provide clues on overall inflammation in the system and it’s role as a potential contributor to an underlying cause contributing to symptoms of chronic fatigue.

Chronic low energy and fatigue are common concerns, often stemming from a diverse range of potential causes that can profoundly affect your overall well-being. The first step towards alleviating these concerns and enhancing your quality of life is to collaborate with a qualified functional or naturopathic doctor. Together, you can investigate underlying factors and create a tailored course of action aligned with your specific goals and needs. This may include precise diagnostic testing, personalized adjustments to your nutrition and lifestyle, and the integration of herbal or supplemental support as needed. With the right tools and strategies in place, you’ll be on your way to regaining your resilience and energy so you can make the most out of your day-to-day once again.