Always Tired?

Millions of people complain of feeling tired all the time. Most tiredness is trivial with an obvious temporary cause - late nights, overwork or worry. Sometimes it worsens, becomes prolonged, and leads to fatigue and exhaustion. Those who are get ill often feel exhausted; while exhaustion itself, whatever the cause, can make the illnesses we are prone to come to the fore. These situations make progressive tiredness more than a trivial problem.

Many tired people seek the advice of medical professionals, but fail to get a satisfactory answer. So, is a medical cause likely?

A medical cause is actually quite unlikely, even though the medical possibilities are numerous. Because visits to doctors asking: 'Why am I tired Doctor?' are often fruitless, an initial questionnaire is provided within as self-help to identify the few who might be tired for a medical reason.

Is the cause psychological or a response to stressful circumstances? Perhaps both? Another questionnaire for self-assessment is provided to check these. Herein lie the commonest reasons for tiredness and fatigue. There are many and various scenarios, herein described at length and in case histories, although, all follow the same physical principles.

In health, there is a never-ending supply of cellular energy available, so it's the spending of our energy that counts most when trying to account for tiredness. Although its origins are diverse, the effects on human functioning are common and standard; varying a little between people except for the degree - from slight to severe. That depends on individual constitution. Like elastic, some are prone to stretch easily - others are not.

Even if a tired person fails to notice any change, others will - especially friends and family - those most familiar with them. Because tired people often want to detach themselves from their problems, they may see no point to addressing their situation. It is then a friend or family member might need to step in and help (if allowed).

What changes can occur and why might tiredness be important - apart from making us irritable, inefficient, prone to accidents and infections, and a pain to be with?

It can precede heart attacks, strokes, or mental breakdown. It can make high blood pressure, asthma, migraine, IBS or eczema, etc. worse. It can make us look haggard, and pre-maturely old. It can make us jettison much of our life.It can stop us sleeping - even though we are so tired (the 'sleep paradox').It can make us socially unacceptable: inefficient at work and unreliable. It can make our friends and family worry about us - and rightly so.

It might seem dramatic, but tiredness is most important of all for those whose families have suffered heart disease or strokes - they need to ask, 'Might I also be liable?' Asking this question could be the first step towards saving their life.

But how? The many solutions possible are described and discussed within.