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Rested but Fatigued

That Fatigue May Not Be From Sleep Deprivation

 

Lately I have been hearing a lot of people talk about how they sleep all night but still wake up tired, fatigue and with lack of energy. In Ayurveda, sleep is one of the pillars of life that is considered to be very important to the overall aspect of one’s physical health and wellbeing. In our society today, we have so many people that are overworked, overloaded and stressed. Between the responsibilities of their job, family and their never ending to do list, it does not surprise me that so many people feel tired and drained. If you feel as if you are one of those people that are running on empty most days and find that no matter how much sleep you are getting, you are still not feeling your optimal energizing best, then I want to enlighten you about four surprising conditions that can leave you feeling drained that have nothing to do with sleep.

Up to 40 percent of us are deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D is the vitamin that protects us against osteoporosis and several autoimmune disease and may also help fight cancer and high blood pressure. We all have vitamin D receptors in our muscles and in almost every organ of the body, including the heart and the brain. If you are running low on your internal vitamin D supply it can be exhibited in you by you having that lack of energy. Another sign of a deficiency is a dull pain in your bones or muscles that persist even when you are not working out. I suggest checking in with your health care practitioner and asking them to run a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test to measure your level of vitamin D, which should be between 20 and 40 nanograms per milliliter. If your is less than that, your health care practitioner may suggest supplements that contain more than 600 to 800 international units found in most multi-vitamins however I suggest eating more foods that naturally contain vitamin D. (add some foods that naturally contain vitamin D here).

Gluten allergies and sensitivities have become recognized in the United States. In fact, there are more than 2 million people in the United States that have celiac disease and about 70 percent of them are women. If you are among these people, then eating anything with gluten, which is found in wheat, rye and barley, triggers an immune response in your small intestines, producing inflammation that prevents the absorption of nutrients and leaves you malnourished and with an upset stomach. As a result, you don’t have the fuel to get you through the day. Gluten sensitivity, which affects another 18 million people, can also trigger fatigue. Diarrhea and weight loss are the classic signs of gluten problems but most people’s symptoms are subtler. These symptoms may include fatigue, bloating, body aches, chronic heads and short-term memory loss. If you think that you may have sensitivity to gluten, then your health care practitioner can order a blood test to look for elevated levels of antibodies that indicate celiac disease. If the results are positive, you’ll need to consult a GI specialist to check for damage to the lining of your small intestines or check with your holistic health practitioner or your Ayurvedic Health Practitioner that can get you on the right diet for your body type to eliminate any problems that gluten in your diet may be causing you.

Are you feeling uninspired to do anything because you have a lack of energy or you are feeling depressed and down in the dumps? Feeling uninspired or having a lack of energy can manifest as you being easily irritated, having lack of concentration or having a lack of sexual desire. Depression and fatigue are so closely linked that sometimes it’s hard to know which one triggers the other.  The same chemical imbalances responsible for depression, low levels of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, most likely affect our energy levels as well.  Here are some pills that steal your energy and their side effects can mimic symptoms of depression:

  • Protein Pump Inhibitors ~ these are usually prescribed for gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD); these drugs can lower your magnesium levels causing fatigue.
  • Antihistamines ~ These relieve allergy symptoms but can be sedating. Look for the non-drowsy formula or take them at bedtime.
  • Statins ~ Cholesterol drugs can sap your energy and have been linked to muscle fatigue. Taking Coenzyme Q10 supplements may help with this.
  • Blood Pressure Medications ~ Beta blockers slow your heart’s pumping action and can make you feel tired. Consult with your physician about the use of Calcium Channel blockers, which work by relaxing the muscles of your blood vessels.
  • Antianxiety Medications ~ Xanax, Valium and Ativan can leave you feeling drained. Try incorporating some natural ways to decrease your stress such as meditation, journaling, yoga or some other form of exercise.
  • Antidepressants ~ Cymbalta, Effexor, Paxil and Zoloft affect histamine, the neurotransmitter that’s responsible for wakefulness. Try taking them at night.

If your fatigue has become so overwhelming that no matter how much sleep you get, you can’t shake it, along with achiness and joint pain that persist for hours every day, might be signs that you are suffering from an autoimmune disease. 75 percent of autoimmune diseases occur in women and some of the common one are; lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. If you notice the aches and pains come and go for several months, I suggest that you check in with your health care professional.

One of the most important things I can suggest is to make sure that you get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. If after doing for at least one week and you are still feeling drained, with lack of energy, vitality and over all fatigue then it may be one of the things noted about and I suggest you check in with your health care provider.

I welcome your comments below.

Wishing you much health and wellness.

Namaste,

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling FABULOUS!

Rested but Fatigued Reviewed by on November 19, 2014 .

That Fatigue May Not Be From Sleep Deprivation   Lately I have been hearing a lot of people talk about how they sleep all night but still wake up tired, fatigue and with lack of energy. In Ayurveda, sleep is one of the pillars of life that is considered to be very important to the

ABOUT AUTHOR /

Rochele is the President of The Health, Healing & Wellness Company founded to bring holistic health and wellness into the lives of individuals seeking a natural path to wellness. Rochele’s energy, guidance and enthusiasm have helped thousands of people improve their health and wellness, holistically and naturally.