Feeling worn out and constantly fatigued? NHS GP and television personality, Dr. Amir Khan, has pinpointed the primary culprits behind this common issue and offers advice on how to tackle it.
According to NHS guidelines, adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night, while children need between nine and 13 hours, depending on their age. If your tiredness persists for weeks without a clear cause, disrupts your daily activities, or accompanies symptoms such as weight loss or mood swings, it’s important to see a doctor.
Additionally, if someone observes you making gasping, snorting, or choking sounds during sleep, it’s advisable to seek medical attention.
“As GPs, fatigue is one of the most frequent complaints we encounter, and the reasons can be numerous,” stated Dr. Khan, who is widely recognized from his appearances on the show Lorraine. He then elaborated on several potential causes of tiredness.
Lifestyle choices
“Tiredness can result from poor dietary habits, excessive alcohol intake, stress, and burnout,” Dr. Khan explained in a TikTok video. “Moreover, being a busy parent or having caregiving duties can also lead to fatigue.”
Sleep quality
“I advise my patients that any factors disrupting quality sleep, including irregular work schedules and job-related stress, can naturally contribute to feeling tired,” Dr. Khan added.
Medication
The GP also highlighted that he frequently reviews the medication of those suffering from fatigue, as this could identify any “culprits” causing their exhaustion.
“Things like sedatives, antipsychotics, opioids, anti-convulsants, antihistamines and beta blockers are common examples of drugs which can cause you to be tired all the time,” he said.
However, he emphasised that one should never alter or cease any medication without consulting a doctor beforehand.
Existing conditions
“There are a number of medical conditions that simply have tiredness as a symptom,” Dr Khan went on to note. “Things like infections, heart disease and heart failure, POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), chronic lung conditions, mental health disorders, lupus, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid issues, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and of course, cancer.”
Nutrition
Dr Khan also advised that nutritional deficiency can result in excessive tiredness – particularly highlighting iron deficiency, anaemia, low levels of Vitamins D and B12 and folic acid as some of the most common issues he’s encountered. Furthermore, he pointed out that eating disorders resulting in both underweight and overweight conditions can also contribute.
The doctor concluded: “You must get any underlying causes of tiredness treated and any unexplained tiredness or tiredness associated with worrying symptoms like weight loss should always be investigated.
“But things we can all do to improve our energy levels include getting a good night’s sleep – aim for seven to eight hours, avoid or reduce alcohol, eat a balanced diet, manage stress by making time for the things you enjoy, exercise or move regularly and maintain a healthy weight.”
