IT’S SLEEP SUNDAY – LETS TALK ABOUT CAUSES OF SLEEP DYSFUNCTION AND CHRONIC FATIGUE…

Sleep dysfunction and chronic fatigue is common in many disorders including Fibromyalgia, ME?CFS, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, Stroke, Arthritis and mental illness. But there are also some other reasons for sleep problems and chronic fatigue.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, over 40 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder and another 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems.

Some other ‘reasons’ you may feel tired all the time include a sinus infection as it causes a strain on the immune system, and can trigger fatigue that can last for weeks or months.

Dehydration is another energy drainer. Even mild dehydration makes it difficult for your brain cells to communicate properly, which can then leave you feeling exhausted and tired.

Being low in iron is another reason for fatigue. Iron is essential for building muscles, repairing damaged tissues and producing cellular energy. A simple blood test can tell you if you are suffering from low iron stores and can be easily remedied.

Stress, feeling depressed, anxious, and irritable are other reasons that can leave you feeling awful and tired. Vitamin B12 deficiency is another problem that could leave you feeling tired and studies have sown that 40% of women could be deficient.

Mould can be another trigger for feeling exhausted as it is extremely draining to your body.

Some more sleep statistics from Sleep Care – Insomnia is a common sleep problem among adults with 30% of people suffering from disturbed sleep while another 10% showing signs of severe insomnia. Sleep Foundation.

50-80% of patients with psychiatric conditions suffer from chronic sleep problems compared to 10-18% of the general population. Harvard Health Publishing

Almost 25% of people experience acute insomnia every year, but only 75% of them recover without developing chronic insomnia or persistent sleep issues. Science Daily

About 40% of the population in the US is sleep deprived. Gallup

Sleep deprivation can cause an annual loss of 11 days of productivity per person. The Washington Post

The list just goes on and on and taking sleeping pills is not the answer as these can actually become addictive and dangerous. The first step should always be to go and see your GP for some blood tests and to rule out other reasons for your fatigue.