Tiredness: Practical Causes, Tests and Quick Fixes

Feeling tired all the time? You’re not alone. Fatigue can be a short episode from a bad night or a longer problem tied to health, medicines, sleep, or mood. This page helps you spot likely causes, what tests to ask for, and simple actions to try today.

Common causes are straightforward: not enough sleep, poor sleep quality (sleep apnea, restless legs), iron deficiency or low B12, underactive thyroid, low vitamin D, long-term stress or depression, and chronic illnesses like diabetes or heart disease. Lifestyle things — alcohol late at night, too much screen time, low activity, or poor meals — also add up fast.

Don’t forget medications. Some blood pressure drugs and heart meds can make you feel sluggish — think beta blockers like atenolol, calcium channel blockers like amlodipine (Norvasc), and others. Antipsychotics such as olanzapine, some hormone treatments, and certain pain or allergy meds can also sap energy. If your tiredness started after a new drug, that’s a clue.

What tests should you ask for? A few simple labs catch a lot: full blood count (check for anemia), ferritin, TSH (thyroid), vitamin B12, vitamin D, fasting glucose or HbA1c. If sleep problems seem likely, a sleep study or referral to a sleep clinic helps. Also tell your clinician about mood changes — depression and anxiety commonly cause fatigue.

Fast things to try at home

These steps help most people quickly. Keep a regular sleep schedule and aim for consistent wake times even on weekends. Get natural light right after waking and move for 20–30 minutes each day; even a brisk walk helps. Cut late caffeine and alcohol, hydrate, and keep meals balanced with protein and iron-rich foods. Short 20-minute naps can reset you without wrecking nighttime sleep. If you use many medications, ask your pharmacist about timing — moving a dose can sometimes reduce daytime sleepiness.

When to see a doctor

See a clinician if tiredness lasts more than two weeks despite better sleep and lifestyle changes, or if you have worrying signs like chest pain, breathlessness, fainting, sudden weight loss, blood in stool, or severe mood changes. Also get help if fatigue severely limits daily life or work. Early testing usually finds treatable causes.

Bring a list of your medicines, a sleep diary, and any recent weight or appetite changes. Ask clearly: “Could my medicine cause this?” and “Which tests should we try first?” That gives your clinician a quick start. Quick fixes and simple tests solve most cases, but a clear plan from your healthcare team works best when fatigue won’t budge.

Supplements can help but test first. If you’re low on iron or B12, targeted supplements speed recovery — ask for blood levels and the right dose. Vitamin D often helps mood and energy when levels are low. Be wary of overdoing stimulants: energy drinks and high caffeine hide poor sleep and make things worse. If changes don’t help in a few weeks, push for follow-up; refer to specialist.