Feeling 'tired all the time' could be warning sign of 5 underlying health conditions

Feeling tired all the time can be unpleasant, especially when it gets in the way of your ability to lead a normal life.

Also known by the medical abbreviation TATT, feeling tired all the time can leave people with symptoms of fatigue, exhaustion or loss of energy.

While being regularly tired can be down to certain lifestyle factors, it can also indicate an underlying health or medical condition.

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According to the NHS, it's normal to feel tired sometimes, but if this happens every day for no obvious reason, it could be a sign of a problem.

Here are five conditions that can cause fatigue according to the NHS.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start while you sleep. It can prevent your body from getting enough oxygen, which can lead to serious health problems.

You may feel tired during the day because of waking up at night, making gasping, snorting or choking noises at night and loud snoring.

Anemia

A lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin can result in reduced oxygen delivery to the body, causing fatigue. Even without full-blown anemia, low iron can make you feel tired.

Symptoms of anemia include a lack of energy, noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations), shortness of breath and pale skin.

Diabetes

High or low blood sugar levels can affect energy levels, making you feel tired. Symptoms of diabetes include feeling very tired, feeling very thirsty, peeing more often than usual (particularly at night), weight loss.

Overactive thyroid

Having an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) causes the body's metabolism to speed up, resulting in fatigue as well as difficulty sleeping.

Symptoms include feeling tired all the time, finding it hard to stay still, feeling nervous, anxious and irritable and muscle weakness.

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic illness that affects multiple systems in the body, including the nervous system, immune system, and energy production. It's characterised by severe fatigue that doesn't improve with rest.

The extreme fatigue lasts for at least three months, making it very hard to do daily activities, and also causes problems with thinking, memory and concentration, and flu-like symptoms.

Other reasons for feeling tired all the time:

• Not getting enough sleep or insomnia

• An unhealthy lifestyle

• Stress or depression

• Lifestyle changes (bereavement or new baby)

• Hormonal changes (pregnancy, puberty or menopause)

• Illness (e.g glandular fever or Covid)

• Vitamin deficiency (such as vitamin D)

• Medications (such as antihistamines, antidepressants, or blood pressure medications)

People should see a GP if

• You've been feeling tired for a few weeks and you're not sure why

• Your tiredness affects your daily life

• You feel tired and have other symptoms, such as weight loss or mood changes, or you've been told you're making gasping, snorting or choking noises when you're asleep.