It’s not a surprise that our lives are getting more and more stressful by the minute. We’re under pressure at our jobs, and while family life is wonderful, it’s also a nonstop effort to keep up with the kids and make sure that the house is running smoothly. It’s no wonder that we run out of energy at times. It’s perfectly normal, so long as it doesn’t happen all of the time. However, some types of tiredness aren’t normal – if you’re tired getting out of bed, or just don’t have any get up and go on a quiet day, then something else may be going on.
One of the most common causes of tiredness is an under-active thyroid. This can happen in both men and women, but women are up to 8 times more likely to suffer the condition. Your thyroid is a gland that is found at the base of your neck, and it produces hormones that control your body’s ability to use energy. If your thyroid does not produce enough of these hormones, this can make you listless and fatigued. On the other hand, if your thyroid produces too much hormones, this can boost your body’s energy levels abnormally, making you anxious and jittery. There are actually medical names for the two conditions – when your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones, this is known as hypothyroidism, whereas if it produces too much hormones, this is hyperthyroidism.
Actually, an under-active thyroid can cause many more symptoms than just fatigue. For example, it can make you feel cold even when it is relatively warm. You may have trouble concentrating, or not be able to remember things. In women, it can also make menstruation unusually heavy and result in weight gain, and both men and women can suffer dry skin or find that their voice is hoarse.
Many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are the complete opposite of those that occur with an under-active thyroid. In addition to being anxious, you may find that your period may be very light if you are a woman. While you are tired with hypothyroidism, if your thyroid is too active, then you will have trouble sleeping. In very severe cases, an overactive thyroid can also make your eyes bulge and cause your neck to swell up – this is known as a goiter.
If you suspect that you have a problem with your thyroid, then it is very easy to check if this is the case. All you need to do is take a thyroid test, which is just a blood test. When you get the results back, you will see the readings for various hormone levels, as well as for thyroid antibodies – as you can see in these sample results. Once you have the results of your thyroid test, your doctor will decide what is the best thing to do if you have a problem. For example, if you have hypothyroidism, you will be given a drug that replaces the hormones that you are missing. On the other hand, if you have an overactive thyroid, you will be given drugs to reduce the amount that you produce, and you may also be given other drugs to treat symptoms such as a rapid heart rate if you are experiencing these.
There is no guaranteed way of preventing thyroid problems, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk. As with most conditions, thyroid problems are less likely to develop if you eat a well-balanced diet. Another thing to look at is food allergies – these can cause your immune system to become overactive and attack your thyroid. In fact, many cases of hypothyroidism are due to these types of autoimmune problems – which is why your thyroid antibody levels are measured when you have a thyroid test. Other things to avoid include soy products – it’s okay to eat these in moderation, but some research has shown that consuming excessive amounts of soy may damage your thyroid. You should also stop smoking it if you haven’t already – the chemicals in tobacco smoke can poison your thyroid.
Remember that not all problems with fatigue are due to your thyroid – in fact, most fatigue isn’t serious – so you shouldn’t be too worried if you do feel tired some of the time. For example, you may just be getting over a virus, or have a mild case of anemia. If it does turn out that you have a thyroid problem, then there is no cure, but the treatments are effective and you should be able to live a long and healthy life.
