Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Rosigeta on 09/10/2009 11:30:04

Title: What are the possible reasons behind an extreme feeling of tiredness and sleepy feeling?
Post by: Rosigeta on 09/10/2009 11:30:04

Rosigeta asked the Naked Scientists:
   Hello.

I have one question.  What are the possible reasons behind an extreme feeling of tiredness and sleepy feeling?  Are deficiencies of essential minerals and vitamins associated with it?  If so, what sort of this items should i take to reverse this feeling?

Thank you!

What do you think?

Title: What are the possible reasons behind an extreme feeling of tiredness and sleepy feeling?
Post by: Pwee on 12/10/2009 22:52:05

First, you have to assume the obvious that you are tired or exhausted because you don't sleep enough or overexercise.

Then you can be exhausted because you don't eat enough or have something majorly wrong in your diet (like you eat only rice or something).

If we can rule out these obvious things, there are a bunch of illnesses that can cause tiredness and the feeling of exhaustion:
- Sleeping disorders. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_disorder)  Like sleep apnea, or other kinds of troubled sleeping, that you may not be aware of, just that you wake up tired.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_fatigue_syndrome) "Characterized by persistent fatigue unrelated to exertion and not substantially relieved by rest." It can be cured by psychological therapeutic methods.
- Symptoms of psychological depression (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_psychological_depression) includes different levels of fatigue, lack of energy, staying in bed.
- Some immune disorders may cause sleepiness and tiredness too (the over activity of the immune system and inflammatory cytokins).
- Of course it's not likely, because you didn't mention the other symptoms, but daytime sleepiness and fatigue can be caused by the bite of the Tsetse fly too, the disease known as sleeping sickness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsetse_fly).

I can't think of anything else now, maybe the others can help with some ideas too, but you should disclose some more details, so that we can help you more precisely.

Title: What are the possible reasons behind an extreme feeling of tiredness and sleepy feeling?
Post by: RD on 13/10/2009 02:47:18

Quote from: Pwee on 12/10/2009 22:52:05

I can't think of anything else now, maybe the others can help with some ideas too

Forgot the rather rare extreme condition narcolepsy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcolepsy).

[BTW Rosigeta's post seems a bit spam-ish to me]

Title: What are the possible reasons behind an extreme feeling of tiredness and sleepy feeling?
Post by: Geezer on 13/10/2009 03:52:29

The Spamish Inquistion Strikes Again.

Title: What are the possible reasons behind an extreme feeling of tiredness and sleepy feeling?
Post by: JnA on 13/10/2009 04:47:39

Obviously if it's a vitamin/ mineral issue the way to 'reverse the feeling' is to add it to supplement your current diet.

But, there are many reasons, both physical and psychological, that may cause these symptoms. So you should really talk to a health professional. Start with your local GP.