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Recognizing Whether Your Tiredness is Commonplace

Understanding if your fatigue is standard or merits medical attention - an authority discusses various sleep-related matters, including the required sleep amount and effective strategies to combat tiredness.

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Understanding if your tiredness is normal or a health concern; a professional discusses various...
Understanding if your tiredness is normal or a health concern; a professional discusses various sleep-related matters, such as required sleep amounts and effective methods to combat exhaustion.

Recognizing Whether Your Tiredness is Commonplace

Facing Daily Energy Sags?Maybe it's time to revamp your sleep game!

If you find yourself dozing off mid-afternoon or struggling to stay awake during your favorite TV show, there's a chance your sleep habits might be the culprit!

Family Medicine Doc Matthew Goldman, MD suggests that maintaining a decent sleep routine is crucial for maintaining overall health. But wrangling our sleep patterns can sometimes feel like capturing a unicorn.

Here, Dr. Goldman shares valuable insights on tweaking your sleep habits to recapture those sweet, restful nights:

Snooze Square (Not Round) - The Amount of Shutter-Eye You Need:Different age groups require different amounts of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation suggests adults aged 18-64 need between 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye each night, while those 65 and over are recommended 7 to 8 hours.

Tired Versus Regular Fatigue:Feeling under the weather is typical, and everyone has an off day. However, chronic fatigue might signal underlying health concerns. If your exhaustion hampers your ability to carry out daily activities, like driving or working, it's time to visit your doc.

Snoozing Suspects:Poor sleep hygiene, shift work, jet lag, substance use, and some medications can leave you dragging. Several health issues may also cause exhaustion, including anemia, sleep disorders, and mental health conditions like depression.

Catching Z's the Right Way:To get those dreams back, Dr. Goldman offers these tips:

  • Keep a consistent sleep schedule.
  • Get regular exercise, but not close to bedtime.
  • Create a restful environment, free of distractions.
  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine close to bedtime.
  • Limit screen time before bed.

Fatigue as a Red Flag:Chronic fatigue may be more than just being drained from the day. Warning signs include difficulty concentrating, memory loss, mood swings, and inability to carry on activities. If your energy levels are spiraling and your quality of life is suffering, consult a healthcare professional.

Curious about Causes?Your healthcare professional will work with you to determine the underlying cause of your fatigue. Routine tests, including lab work, imaging, and sleep studies, may be ordered to uncover the root cause. Once identified, a tailored plan will be developed to help combat your fatigue.

So, stop yawning away your days! Take back control of your sleep and recharge for the day ahead!

[1] National Sleep Foundation. (2020). Sleep Hygiene (Good Sleep Hygiene). https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/what-is-good-sleep-hygiene

[2] National Sleep Foundation. (2020). Good Sleep Hygiene Tips. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/good-sleep-hygiene-tips

[3] NHS. (2019). 10 Tips for Better Sleep. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/10-tips-for-better-sleep/

[4] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Sleep Hygiene: Good Sleep Habits Can Improve Quality of Life. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/sleep-hygiene-good-sleep-habits-can-improve-quality-of-life

Hope this helps you identify and overcome those z's, and once again, enjoy life's adventures! After all, wouldn't you rather conquer a problematic sleep routine than catch a unicorn? 😉

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  1. Maintaining a good sleep routine, according to Dr. Matthew Goldman, is essential for overall health and wellness, yet achieving this can sometimes feel as challenging as capturing a unicorn.
  2. The amount of sleep required varies with age, and the National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults aged 18-64 should aim for 7 to 9 hours each night, while those 65 and older should aim for 7 to 8 hours.
  3. Poor sleep hygiene, shift work, jet lag, substance use, certain medications, and several health issues may cause fatigue, including anemia, sleep disorders, depression, and other mental health conditions.
  4. To improve sleep quality, Dr. Goldman suggests maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, getting regular exercise, creating a restful environment, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine close to bedtime, limiting screen time before sleep, and consulting a healthcare professional if chronic fatigue interferes with daily activities or leads to other symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, memory loss, mood swings, and inability to carry on activities.

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