Are You Tired All Of the Time? 10 Hidden Causes of Fatigue Most People Never Investigate
Why Am I So Tired?
Feeling tired after a long, hard, day is normal. Feeling exhausted especially upon waking, despite getting enough sleep, is not. Fatigue is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care, yet many patients are told their labs are “normal” despite suffering from exhaustion, low energy, brain fog or poor memory, poor motivation, and difficulty making it through the day with enough energy.
At Eagle Acupuncture, we often remind patients that fatigue is not a diagnosis. Fatigue is a symptom often due to something not working quite right in your body. The real question is: What is causing you to feel so tired and why is your body to running so low on energy? The answer is often more complex than simply getting more sleep or doing less in the day.
1. Iron Deficiency
In traditional care, one of the most overlooked causes of fatigue is iron deficiency. Dr. Burris had one doctor tell her that her ferritin at a level 8 was okay and not a contributing factor in her debilitating fatigue. That is a big red flag.
Many patients are told they are not anemic and therefore their iron levels are fine. This is what Dr. Burris experienced herself. However, iron stores can become depleted long before anemia develops. We get to the root cause and heal the blood deficiency within.
Low iron and even low ferritin (iron stores) may contribute to:
● Fatigue and Exhaustion
● Hair loss, thinning or breakage
● Shortness of breath
● Cold hands and feet
● Dizziness or weakness
● Poor exercise tolerance (feeling exhausted during or after exercise)
● Brain fog or memory problems
Women with heavy menstrual cycles are especially susceptible to this problem due to their monthly blood loss.
Helpful lab testing may include:
● Ferritin
● Iron
● Iron saturation
● Total iron-binding capacity
● Complete blood count
2. Thyroid Dysfunction
Your thyroid functions like the body’s metabolic thermostat and regulator.
When thyroid hormones become imbalanced, symptoms often include:
● Fatigue or Exhaustion
● Weight gain or the inability to lose weight even with a lot of effort
● Depression or blah feeling
● Constipation or hard pellet bowel movements
● Hair loss or thinning
● Infertility
● Brain fog
A basic thyroid screening may miss important clues, we offer advanced testing. This confirms spleen and kidney disharmony in the body from a TCM perspective.
A more comprehensive evaluation often includes:
● TSH
● Free T4
● Free T3
● Thyroid antibodies
3. Poor Sleep Quality
Many exhausted patients are technically sleeping enough hours but are not getting restorative sleep.
Potential causes include:
● Sleep apnea
● Frequent waking from hormones, temperature changes or spousal disruption
● Stress or feeling stuck in fight or flight
● Hormonal fluctuations
● Blood sugar instability
If you wake feeling tired despite sleeping seven to nine hours, sleep quality deserves a deeper dive and investigation.
4. Blood Sugar Imbalances
Blood sugar fluctuations can create an energy roller coaster with a lot of crashes.
Common symptoms include:
● Afternoon crashes feeling the need to nap
● Sugar cravings or carb cravings
● Irritability and Anger
● Difficulty concentrating
● Fatigue after meals
Even patients without diabetes may experience significant energy changes related to blood sugar regulation.
5. Chronic Stress and Nervous System Exhaustion
Modern life places tremendous demands on the nervous system.
When the body remains in a prolonged fight-or-flight state, many people experience:
● Fatigue
● Anxiety
● Poor sleep
● Digestive problems
● Hormone imbalances
● Inflammation
The body was designed to handle stress. It was never designed to remain stressed indefinitely. Acupuncture regulates your fight or flight and balances out your nervous system.
6. Chronic Inflammation
Inflammation requires energy and taxes the body excessively.
When inflammation remains elevated for months or years, patients often report:
● Fatigue and utter exhaustion
● Joint pain
● Headaches or migraines
● Weight gain or the inability to lose weight
● Brain fog
● Poor recovery from exercise, work or surgery
Sources of inflammation may include:
● Autoimmune diseases
● Chronic infections (often one’s patients don’t know they have- we test for these)
● Digestive dysfunction and problems
● Food sensitivities or drug sensitivities
● Excess body fat
● Chronic stress
7. Nutrient Deficiencies
The body requires the ability to assimilate and properly use vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to produce energy efficiently.
Common deficiencies associated with fatigue include:
● Vitamin D
● Vitamin B12
● Folate
● Magnesium
● Iron
● Zinc
Even mild deficiencies may significantly affect energy production and one’s energy and mood.
8. Hormone Imbalances
Hormones help regulate energy, sleep, metabolism, mood, fertility, motivation and sex drive.
Fatigue may accompany:
● Perimenopause
● Menopause
● PCOS now called PMOS
● Low testosterone
● Adrenal dysfunction
● Thyroid disorders
Women often notice energy changes years before menopause officially begins, up to a decade earlier in many cases.
9. Digestive Dysfunction
You cannot absorb nutrients effectively if your digestive system is not functioning properly or if it is leaky.
Conditions such as:
● Food sensitivities
● Gut dysbiosis
● Chronic constipation
● Poor stomach acid production
● Digestive inflammation
All of these problems may all contribute to fatigue.
The digestive system is often the foundation of overall health. We call this Earth centered medicine in TCM for the spleen and stomach.
10. Hidden Chronic Infections
Certain infections may contribute to long-term fatigue in susceptible individuals.
Examples include:
● Epstein-Barr virus
● Chronic sinus infections or chronic yeast infections or vaginal biome disharmony
● Lyme disease
● Tick-borne infections
● Long COVID
Not every tired patient has an infection, but it is an important consideration when symptoms remain unexplained.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine View of Fatigue
Traditional Chinese Medicine has recognized fatigue as a meaningful health signs and symptoms for thousands of years. We are extraordinary in helping patients with undiagnosed fatigue.
Several common patterns may contribute to low energy, including:
● Spleen Qi Deficiency
● Kidney Qi Deficiency
● Blood Deficiency
● Liver Qi Stagnation
● Dampness Accumulation
Rather than giving every patient the same treatment, Chinese medicine identifies the unique pattern contributing to symptoms and creates an individualized treatment plan. This is root cause medicine at it’s finest.
How Acupuncture May Help Fatigue
Research has shown that acupuncture may help regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, support healthy sleep, move blood well, improve circulation, and influence inflammatory pathways in a positive way. It also helps offer pain relief that can contribute to fatigue.
Many patients report improvements in:
● Energy
● Mental clarity and Memory
● Sleep quality
● Mood Regulation
● Digestion Balance
● Overall resilience emotionally and immune system
This balance happens when acupuncture is incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan.
Stop Chasing Symptoms and Start Looking for Answers
If you are constantly exhausted, relying on caffeine to get through the day, or feeling like your energy has never fully returned after an illness or a birth, there may be an underlying cause worth investigating. We listen. We investigate and we heal.
Fatigue is not simply a normal part of aging, in fact, many people after they stop working have more energy.
Fatigue is often the body’s way of signaling that something needs attention.
Looking for Natural Solutions for Fatigue in Eagle, Idaho?
Dr. Kristen Burris, DAcCHM and Mr. Tony Burris, L.Ac., MSTOM at Eagle Acupuncture provide acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, and functional medicine evaluations to help uncover potential root causes of fatigue and low energy. Serving patients throughout Eagle, Boise, Meridian, Star, Nampa, Kuna, and the greater Treasure Valley. Contact us today to learn more.