Why Am I Always Tired? A Doctor Explains the Common Causes

Always tired, even after making time for sleep? A family physician explains common causes of fatigue and how doctors work out which ones may apply to you. We cover sleep deprivation and sleep apnea, stress, depression and anxiety, medication and substance effects, anemia and iron deficiency, vitamin B12 and vitamin D, thyroid problems, diabetes, chronic conditions and fatigue after infection, including long COVID. You'll also learn why blood tests depend on your symptoms, what normal results can mean, and why follow-up sometimes takes more than one visit. The Everyday Medical Brief is created by a family physician to help you understand everyday health questions. Real Medicine for Real Life. Understand more. Live healthier. This video provides general medical education and is not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Speak with your healthcare provider about persistent fatigue. Seek urgent medical help for severe or sudden symptoms, including chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, fainting or significant bleeding. Subscribe for clear explanations of everyday health questions. If falling asleep or staying asleep is part of your concern, watch our insomnia video next. #Fatigue #AlwaysTired #healtheducation SELECTED SOURCES / FURTHER READING NHS — Tiredness and fatigue https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/tiredness... MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — Fatigue https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/... NHS — Sleep apnoea https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sleep-a... National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI/NIH) — Iron-Deficiency Anemia https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anem... NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Vitamin B12: Consumer Fact Sheet https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Vit... Demay et al. — Vitamin D for the Prevention of Disease: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline (2024) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38828... NHS — Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/underac... CDC — Long COVID Signs and Symptoms https://www.cdc.gov/long-covid/signs-... NIDDK/NIH — Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-info... NIDDK/NIH — Diagnosis of Adrenal Insufficiency & Addison's Disease https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-info...