8 Warning Signs That You are Feeling Run Down

Do you often feel tired or fatigued? If yes, then this may be more than exhaustion and denote you suffer from a more serious underlying problem. If you are experiencing any of these feelings regularly for extended periods of time, then book an appointment and get yourself treated quickly.

Symptoms which may denote underlying disease

If there is some underlying condition which makes you feel run-down, you may experience various different symptoms.

• Shortness of breath: You might suffer from shortness of breath and tire easily without getting involved in any activity or doing any exercise. This generally occurs to people suffering from lung or heart disease or those who are anaemic.
  
• Too much urine: Excessive urination may accompany the feelings of fatigue. This is generally the case with people who have diabetes. It may be accompanied by excessive thirst or interference with your eyesight.
  
• Brittle hair and dry skin: If you feel cold, have brittle hair and dry skin, these may be the symptoms of hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid gland. Whatever might be the underlying cause, seek medical help for proper diagnosis as soon as possible.
  
• Know about anaemia: There are situations when feeling run down is not symptomatic of another illness. You can identify anaemia through a blood test. It is possible to treat the problem of anaemia by eating iron rich foods and taking iron supplements.

8 Warning signs indicating you can be run down

Apart from the underlying cause discussed above, some warning signs which indicate you can be run down include:

Sign 1: Tiredness

Though it is something obvious, tiredness can come due to lack of quality sleep. If you wake up in the morning and feel you want to go back to sleep again, it is an indication you are not getting sufficient quality sleep. This will affect your entire day and make you feel exhausted.

Sleep happens in phases and there are 3 phases of sleep before reaching the REM sleep phase. If sleep gets foreshortened, the body does not get sufficient time to complete all the phases necessary. In REM sleep the body will carry out muscle repair and release the hormones required to control your growth and your appetite.

Sleep apnoea is a common cause of interrupted sleep due to reduced oxygen reaching the lungs. This will affect your quality sleep and affect overall quality of life. If may affect both men and women though it is more prevalent in men. Another cause of tiredness can be hay fever. Your GP will be able to inform you of the exact cause of your interrupted sleep.

Sign 2: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS affects almost 250,000 people in the UK at some point in time. The common symptom is feeling constantly exhausted and tired. The doctor you visit will discuss your lifestyle options which include eating, sleeping, and exercise routines.

Sign 3: Difficulty with concentration and decision making

Lack of quality sleep may be the reason for difficulty with concentration and making decisions.

Sign 4: Underactive Thyroid

Having an underactive thyroid gland means you do not have sufficient thyroid hormone present in the body. This can be the reason for you feeling tired. You might gain weight and suffer from aching muscles.

Sign 5: Eating too little or eating wrong foods

Your body will need certain amount of calories, minerals and vitamins to perform at its optimum levels. Bad food habits might lead to various illnesses. If you are not eating enough and your diet is not properly balanced, you are starving your body of the fuel it requires and this can make you feel run down.

Sign 6: Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary Tract Infections, also called UTIs, are another common sign which denote you may be feeling run down. If you feel overtired, your immune system may suffer and annoyances such as UTIs are often the ultimate result. UTIs can be diagnosed and treated easily by visiting a doctor. When the symptoms disappear, the run-down feeling usually disappears with them.

Sign 7: Depression

Depression is not only emotional illness, rather it has physical effects such as felling run down or fatigue, suffering from headaches, and losing your appetite. If these symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks, it is advisable to seek medical help.

Sign 8: Feeling tired and sick all the time

If you are feeling tired and sick all the time, it denotes you are feeling run down. The more you ignore it, the worse it will become. Some people get used to this feeling and want to ignore it, but you don’t have to. If you are feeling sick and tired all the time, then you need to contact us for help.

Thus, if you are feeling run down, arrange for a same day GP appointment at your convenience. You will be able to find out the exact cause of your underlying tiredness and get it treated quickly.