Suffering from Morning Sluggishness or Feeling Tired?
Assuming you have had at least 7 hours of good quality sleep, you shouldn’t wake up feeling tired each morning. If the quality of your sleep is poor, there are several factors that contribute to this: caffeine intake, bladder irritation, prostate problems, hypoglycemia, and stress to name a few. If you are getting deep, refreshing sleep but still, you aren’t waking refreshed, consider the following:
- Hypothyroid – an underactive thyroid can present as difficulty getting up in the morning
- Low iron – ferritin, or stored iron, should be above 40 to be adequate. The lab range that your doctor uses to assess your ferritin may say that above 5 is ok. This is much less than ideal or optimal and can still leave you feeling tired.
- Adrenal fatigue – Adrenal fatigue is more accurately termed HPA axis dysfunction. Your adrenal (or stress) glands work overtime when you’re under stress. Chronic stress or intense stress can deplete the levels of the vitamins and minerals that the adrenal glands need, meaning they won’t function well. Part of their role (as well as regulating blood sugar, blood pressure, and inflammation) is to regulate energy, drive, and motivation.
- Food allergies or environmental allergies – When your immune system is in overdrive either fighting an infection or fighting food or environmental allergens, it’s tiring. Removing food sensitivities, reducing environmental allergen exposure, and balancing your immune system can help.
- Autoimmune disorders. When your immune system is always in overdrive and attacking your own body, it’s tiring! My multi-step approach to calming down autoimmunity helps settle things down.
Tests for Tired People
Blood tests that may help determine why you wake up tired: HbA1c, CRP, ANA, TSH, free T3, free T4, anti-TPO, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, ferritin, DHEAs, testosterone, cortisol – 8-9 a.m. and 5-6 p.m., food allergy blood testing.
By Dr Pamela Frank, BSc(Hons), ND
I can help fix your thyroid, improve your iron status, support your adrenal glands, and relieve food or environmental allergies. Call 416-481-0222 or book online now.
Dr. Pamela has practiced as a naturopathic doctor in Toronto since 1999. She has received numerous “Best Naturopath in Toronto” awards. She is registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario.
Dr. Pamela Frank uses a natural treatment approach that may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, diet, vitamins, supplements, and other natural remedies to restore balance and provide long-term resolution to almost any health problem.