Is anyone else tired all the time?
It is one of the problems that people visit a GP or other health professional for and I bet it is something that you have said to a friend or they have said to you.
And the tricky thing is that tiredness can have lots of different causes.
Sometimes when we say we are tired we can work out why.
Life is busy, you’re burning the candle at both ends, sleep has taken a back seat, and you’re trying to juggle work, family and everything else that comes with modern life. You have put sleep to the bottom of the things to do list.
But tiredness can also be linked to things like:
- stress
- poor diet
- low iron levels
- vitamin deficiencies
- thyroid problems
- hormonal changes
- low fitness levels
- certain medications
- underlying medical conditions
And that’s before we even get into things like anxiety, burnout and menopause.
So if you are one of the many people feeling exhausted all the time, how do you work out what’s going on?
Step 1: Start With The Basics
The first thing I usually encourage people to do is take a step back and look at the obvious possibilities.
Ask yourself:
“Is there anything in my lifestyle that could be contributing to this?”
For example:
- Are you doom scrolling until the early hours of the morning.
- Having too many teas or coffees too late in the day?
- Has my sleep routine slipped?
- Am I working too many hours without enough downtime?
- Am I actually giving myself time to rest and recover?
It sounds simple, but sometimes the answer really is hiding in plain sight. So if any of those examples sound familiar a good place to start would be making changes there.
If, however you have tried changes in those areas, or you know that’s not always the case, then you might need to think about medical options.
Step 2: Don't Forget About Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is very common in the UK.
Unlike some countries, we can only reliably make Vitamin D from sunlight during the sunnier months of the year. And then only if you don’t have any suntan lotion on.
During much of autumn and winter, the sun simply isn’t strong enough for our skin to produce enough.
Low Vitamin D levels can contribute to symptoms such as:
- tiredness
- low mood
- muscle aches
- reduced energy levels
It’s not the answer for everyone, but it’s certainly something worth thinking about if you’re feeling persistently tired.
If you’re concerned, then you might want to think about a discussion with your GP or pharmacist before taking a supplement.
If you’ve looked at the obvious lifestyle factors and you’re still struggling with ongoing fatigue, it may be worth investigating further.
This is where speaking to a GP or arranging some blood tests can be helpful.
The aim isn’t to run every test possible.
It’s to work out whether there’s an underlying reason for how you’re feeling.
Depending on your symptoms, common investigations might include looking at:
- iron levels
- thyroid function
- vitamin deficiencies
- blood sugar
- inflammation markers
- hormone levels (where appropriate)
Often it’s about building up a picture rather than finding one single cause.
What Are Your Options?
At Total Health West Berkshire, there are a few different ways we can help.
Option 1: Book A GP Appointment
If you’re not sure where to start, this is often the best place.
Our new patient GP appointments last 30 minutes, giving you time to talk through your symptoms properly and discuss whether any investigations might be appropriate.
Option 2: Blood Testing With Clinical Oversight
If you already know you’d like blood tests, we offer a range of blood testing packages.
For tiredness, our more comprehensive profiles are often the most useful because they look at a wider range of vitamin, hormone and health markers.
Importantly, this isn’t just a blood test report landing in your inbox.
One of our GPs reviews the results and provides clinical oversight to help you understand what they mean and whether any action is needed.
Option 3: A Health Screening Package
If you’re looking for a broader overview of your health, our MOT, MOT Plus and Well Man/Well Woman health screenings may be worth considering.
These combine blood testing with a follow-up discussion of your results.
The Well Man and Well Woman screenings also include an ECG, giving a more comprehensive picture of your health.
Many people find these appointments useful not only for investigating tiredness, but also for understanding their overall health and identifying areas where lifestyle changes could make a difference.
At the end of the day
Tiredness is incredibly common, and there isn’t always one simple explanation.
Sometimes the cause is obvious.
Sometimes it’s a combination of several different factors.
The important thing is not to ignore symptoms that have been going on for a while, but equally not to jump straight to worst-case scenarios.
Start with the basics. Think about sleep, stress, recovery and lifestyle. And if things aren’t improving, consider seeking advice and exploring whether further investigation would be helpful.
Quite often, a few sensible changes or some targeted testing can provide reassurance, answers, or a clear plan for what to do next.
Rosie Piercy
Clinic Director
Total Health West Berkshire