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Aug 14, 2008 5:19 pm US/Central
Wonder Why You Are Feeling Tired All the Time?
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Feeling tired all the time is pretty common.
About one in five of Americans has tiredness that interferes with a normal life. Physical causes are estimated at 20-60 percent and emotional causes are the other 40-80 percent.
There are other medical conditions that can also cause you to feel tired.
Thyroid
You could have problems with your thyroid - the gland that regulates your metabolism.
"Women are at higher risk than men," points out Dr. Marc Itskowitz, an internist at Allegheny General Hospital.
"It may be overlooked until the other symptoms come in to play. Or until the physician decides to do some blood tests," says Dr. Mary Pat Friedlander, a family practitioner at UPMC St. Margaret.
Other hints your thyroid could be the trouble are hair loss, dry skin, weight change, feeling cold or hot all the time.
Anemia Another explanation is anemia, or a low blood count.
"A common cause for anemia in women would be heavy menstrual periods, and then the lack of iron in their diet," explains Dr. Friedlander.
Slow blood loss through your digestive tract can lead to anemia, too.
"It's very common, and the symptoms can be very subtle, especially if they've been going on for a long time," adds Dr. Itskowitz.
Pale skin and lightheadedness can also tip you off that anemia is the issue.
Heart Disease Heart disease could be the heart of the matter and can be overlooked, especially in women.
"Maybe climbing a set of stairs that used to be easy for them is becoming more difficult," says Dr. Friedlander.
"There are studies showing that heart disease is missed more in women than in men," Dr. Itskowitz says. "Fatigue itself would be an unusual manifestation of heart disease, but usually there are some other indications, such as decrease in energy level, chest pain, or shortness of breath."
Liver Disease Liver disease could rob you of your energy because of an infection you've lived with for a long time.
"There are many patients who have undiagnosed chronic hepatitis, especially chronic hepatitis c," says Dr. Itskowitz. "They may have been infected for 20-30 years before they develop more prominent symptoms."
Even if drug use is way in your past, or you got a blood transfusion years ago -- these could put you at risk. Hints that your liver is making you tired can be seen on screening blood work to look at liver function.
"If that showed some abnormalities, then you would further pursue why those liver tests were abnormal." says Dr. Friedlander.
Specific blood tests for hepatitis can make the diagnosis.
A Combination of Conditions It can be a mixed bag sometimes. Depression can be associated with tiredness... by itself or with other medical conditions. Sometimes more than one medical condition could affect you.
Your symptoms, your exam, and your blood tests can help your doctor sort out what's wrong.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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