One of the most common health complaints that people have is lack of energy and chronic fatigue. Unfortunately, there are few treatments available for this from a conventional medicine standpoint. As a result, people will resort to the use of stimulants such as caffeine that is available in coffee and “energy drinks”.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to a lack of energy. Here are a few possibilities:
Poor sleep quality or insufficient amount of sleep
Insomnia is rampant in our society and a large proportion of the population suffers from constant sleep deprivation. Because of technology such as cellphones and email, you can make yourself available to the rest of the world 24 hours a day. The problem is that your physical body was not designed to perform this way and it requires a period of quality rest every night in order to regenerate itself. Often times, you start to develop bad habits without even realizing it and proper sleep habits are critical to achieving healthy rest. Other times, factors such as mental stress, having to wake up to go to the bathroom at night, or hormonal imbalances can keep you from having a good night’s sleep.
Nutritional deficiencies
The physical body is an extremely sophisticated machine and it requires adequate nutrients to fuel it. If you have a poor diet or your diet is not meeting the demands of the body, your energy will suffer. Or perhaps your digestion is such that you are unable to absorb adequate levels of certain nutrients (such as iron or Vitamin B12) from food. For many reasons, most people need to add nutritional supplements on top of a healthy diet to optimize their energy levels.
Blood sugar irregularities
If you have ever felt like you really need a nap during the afternoon to get through your day, then you have probably experienced some blood sugar dysregulation. Without proper blood sugar levels, your mental focus and energy will suffer. When this is combined with certain other health issues it can be an indication of more serious problems. Other times, simple modifications to your diet and exercise regime may be all that is needed to get you back on track.
Sluggish metabolism and adrenal/thyroid issues
Hormones play an integral role in your metabolism and energy. At times, hormonal imbalances can slow your metabolism and cause fatigue. Commonly, conditions such as hypothyroidism will cause a person to not only feel tired but can also result in weight gain, depressed mood, and even more significant health problems if left untreated. Underlying the thyroid issues, however, can also be adrenal fatigue due to extended periods of stress. The adrenal hormone, cortisol, can have a direct impact on the quality of your sleep.
So, as you can see, there are numerous possible reasons as to why you may be experiencing poor sleep and low energy. Dr. Chan will help to examine all of the possible influences and develop a treatment strategy that addresses the cause of the problem.