Fatigue

Are you tired of being tired?

It's common for everyone to get a little worn down, but this can be something quite different from, for example, long term fatigue cause by high levels of stress.

So I thought it might be interesting to look at some of the reasons we might be suffering from continuous fatigue.

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Adrenal fatigue 

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Our body is designed to cope with stress and has subconscious mechanisms that kick in when we are faced with a stressful situation.  Chemicals are released by the adrenal glands, that sit on top of our kidneys, which cause our heart to beat faster, pupils to dilate and glucose to be released into the blood stream. 

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All this and many other reactions were originally designed for us to think fast and make a quick get away.  However prolonged stress can cause excess release of the hormone cortisol that can make us over-wired, causing hot flushes, anxiety and sleep issues (waking around 3 am seems common).

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Underneath this hyperactivity and getting everything done we may actually be drop-dead tried and would love (and need) a good nights sleep. So if we don’t start to manage the stress and our chemical imbalances we eventually burn out and are left with adrenal fatigue.

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This means people feel exhausted, can develop chromic fatigue syndrome and can’t cope with life’s stresses any more.

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If this sounds like you, or someone you know, go and have a look at the Dr Wilson site http://www.adrenalfatigue.org/

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This site has a great online questionnaire that lets you easily see where you are at with your adrenals. Dr Wilson actually coined the term 'adrenal fatigue' and has a great programme of products to treat this condition that I use in my clinic. 

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So if you fill in the questionnaire and find you need support, drop me a line and I will explain more about the programme to you.

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Low thyroid function 

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This is a common complaint in New Zealand and is something I always consider when looking at clients, particular female ones, as it is more common in women.  The thyroid is a gland that sits across the wind pipe and manufactures hormones that basically manage our metabolism and energy.

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In order to manufacture these hormones it needs to have certain nutrients, predominantly iodine and selenium.  Both of these minerals are deficient in NZ soils; hence many people having low thyroid function.

Signs to look out for are: 

• tiredness

• ‍being colder than other people

• ‍weight gain

• ‍constipation

• ‍hair loss

• ‍feeling like you could sleep all the time

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Low thyroid function can be diagnosed via blood tests that measure the thyroid hormones T4 and T3 and also TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) that triggers their production.

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You can also use a temperature chart and measure your body temperature in the mornings.  If you consistently fall below normal body temperature as shown on the sheet, you may have low thyroid function.  If you would like a chart then drop me an email.

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I have also just started doing iodine tests that measure if you have enough iodine and if it is been taken up by the thyroid gland.  These are lab tests that measure optimal iodine levels through comparing urine and saliva samples. Again if you would like information about them drop me a line.

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Low iron

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Iron is important for transporting oxygen round the body and oxygen is needed to power the cells to make energy.  Consequently if we don’t have enough iron, we don’t have enough energy.

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Low iron is more common in women due to menstruation, especially those women who experience heavy periods.  Many women experience low iron during pregnancy and breast feeding.  Vegans and vegetarians are another group with increased risk,  as well as children, athletes and the elderly.

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Signs of low iron include pale skin, feeling dizzy on rising, getting breathless with mild exertion, muscle weakness, poor immunity and general fatigue. You can also look inside the eyelids, as they look pale with low iron and I often notice the whites of a client’s eyes may have a slightly bluish tinge to them.

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Iron can be measure though blood tests and GP’s normally test ferritin, which is stored iron.  This normal range is considered to be within 20-350 ug/L.  However the optimal level for menstruating women are 80-100 ug/L, so if you are at the bottom range of stored iron you may still be feeling fatigued.

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I always advise everyone to ask for a copy of their blood tests to be sent to them, as you can get this free when using Lab Tests. That way we can check for optimal levels. I can order these blood tests too, but you have to pay as I am a naturopath.  As a test though it is not very expensive.

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One thing to note is that I see many clients who have iron deficiency and know it, but won’t take iron supplements as they give them digestive issues.  Not all iron has to do this.

‍Different forms have different levels of absorption and can be more gentle on the digestive system.

Contact Jane