If you feel tired all the time, our first health and beauty tip is to make some lifestyle changes – get more sleep, reduce your social calendar, eat more wholesome foods, drink more fluids, cut back on caffeine and alcohol.

If this doesn’t work, maybe the cause is something else.  Here are 5 hidden causes of fatigue:

Anemia – may be the first sign of a serious illness, so it’s important to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment as soon as possible.  Fatigue is a major symptom.  Others include extreme weakness, difficulty sleeping, lack of concentration, rapid heartbeat, chest pains and headache.

Diabetes – Glucose (the sugar in your body) is the fuel that keeps it going. This means trouble for people with diabetes who can’t use glucose properly, causing it to build-up in the blood.  Without enough fuel to keep the body running smoothly, people with diabetes often notice fatigue as one of the first warning signs.

Thyroid Disease – Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) causes muscle fatigue and weakness, which you may notice first in the thigh muscles.  Exercises such as riding a bike or climbing stairs become more difficult.  Other symptoms include unexplained weight loss, feeling warm all the time, increased heart rate, and increased thirst.  Hyperthyroidism is most commonly diagnosed in women in their 20s and 30s, but it can occur in older women.  In postmenopausal women, hyperthyroidism may lead to osteoporosis.

Depression- can cause decreased energy, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, problems with memory and concentration, and feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and negativity.  Without treatment, the symptoms of depression may last for weeks, months, or years.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – RA is a chronic disease that involves inflammation in the lining of the joints.  It happens when the body’s immune system turns against itself and attacks healthy joint tissue.  RA is not always easy to diagnose early because of the many symptoms (fatigue, low energy, loss of appetite, and joint pain) are shared by other health conditions.

If you have any of the above symptoms, please visit your physician for a thorough evaluation.

Check back on Monday, where we will give you 5 fatigue-fighting foods!