Constantly tired? Read more about sleep apnea and other causes

For quite some time now, you have been feeling tired and sleepy during the day, even though you go to bed early enough? Do you find it increasingly difficult to concentrate due to your extreme tiredness and does this condition restrict your everyday life more and more? Read here why a diagnosis is important – and what you can do to finally start a fresh day again.

What am I missing when I'm always tired?

Constant fatigue can have many causes. One of the most common reasons is a simple lack of sleep. It is not uncommon for people to sleep fewer hours than their bodies actually need. In some cases, their living conditions mean they can’t do otherwise.

Between studies, jobs, children, and households, people are often glad to be able to close their eyes for a few hours at all. Shift workers or frequent flyers also often have a hard time when their bodies have to get used to different rest periods. Sometimes, however, those affected create the time stress themselves: Pressure to perform at work and in private life is widespread in today’s society.

Sleep disorders due to medication

The ingredients and modes of action of certain medicines can also make it difficult for you to fall asleep or wake you up frequently. This is particularly the case if there are formulations in medicines that influence the release of certain hormones.

Some cold or pain medicines contain caffeine. Other drugs can trigger nighttime heartburn or even stomach pain. And as illogical as it may sound, synthetic sleeping pills (especially if they contain benzodiazepines) can also have the opposite effect when taken long-term.

These drugs often cause insomnia

Sleep disturbances as a side effect are particularly high when taking these types of medications, among others:

Hypertension medication
Heart medication
Appetite suppressants
Psychotropic drugs like antidepressants
Cold remedies
Thyroid medicines
Certain birth control pills
antihistamines (tablets for allergies)
Cortisone
Antibiotics

The Restless Leg Syndrome

Movement disorders are also a possible cause of poor sleep. The so-called restless leg syndrome is noticeable by tingling legs or a pulling sensation in the calves, which can occur several times during the night. Sufferers have to get up and walk around for it to subside.

The background should be clarified by a doctor

The causes of this phenomenon have not yet been fully researched, but researchers assume that disturbed nerve impulses are the triggers. Older people are affected by the syndrome more often than young people. Depending on the severity and duration of the symptoms, you should have them clarified by a doctor. Possible causes can be:

Heredity
Hormone fluctuations (such as pregnancy)
Medication (such as antidepressants)
Unhealthy lifestyle, especially smoking, and alcohol
Iron deficiency
Diabetes
Intestinal diseases
Depression
Multiple sclerosis

What diseases make you tired?

Unfortunately, constant fatigue is not always harmless. In some cases, they can indicate serious physical illnesses.

Psychosomatic diseases

Our mental state has a very significant influence on the quality of our sleep. If we sleep too little, this can change our psyche and perception in the long term. From a medical point of view, our nerve messengers in the brain have the task of guiding our sleep/wake rhythm. If these are disturbed in their task, they influence our state of mind.

The other way around, stress, fears, or sadness can also lead to permanently poor sleep – the circle closes. Depression in particular is often accompanied by insomnia or even triggers it.

Snoring and sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious condition, but the curious thing is that hardly anyone in the population has ever really taken a closer look at it. Because the detection rate is so low, the number of people affected by sleep apnea is also high. Often they know nothing at all about it.

Sleep apnea is often accompanied by snoring. If you are affected, you suffer from breathing pauses, which can vary in duration depending on the severity of the condition. The body then puts you into a waking phase in order to get your breath back. During sleep, however, you don’t notice any of this – at most your partner, who lies awake because of your snoring.

The condition eventually results in chronic sleep deprivation – which in some cases can be life-threatening.

Traffic accidents
High blood pressure
Heart attack
Stroke
Diabetes
Depression

These are only a few possible consequences of this untreated disease. So finding out the causes of constant daytime sleepiness and snoring is in no way an exaggeration, but may even save your life.

Other diseases that can deprive you of sleep

Furthermore, poor sleep may also accompany or be a concomitant of the following diseases:

Respiratory diseases
Cardiovascular diseases
Stomach disorders or
Heartburn
Joint and muscle diseases
Hormonal disorders
Migraine
Neurological diseases
Cancer diseases

In order to exclude these in any case or also to detect them at an early stage, going to the doctor is a wise decision. Even a blood test can provide initial findings.

What can be done about chronic fatigue?

Researching the cause of why you are constantly tired is an essential step to take. However, many sufferers sometimes stay away from an investigation. On the one hand, out of ignorance about the possible effects of sleep apnea & co. On the other hand, with the knowledge in the back of their minds that sleep quality is measured in external sleep laboratories where you have to lie there wired up for several nights.

Sleepiz: Wireless measurements in your own home

Please forget your previous reservations about examinations in the field of sleep. With the Sleepiz device, it is now possible to measure the most important parameters such as breathing rate, pulse, and recently even oxygen saturation simply at home – completely wirelessly. Sleepiz is the name of the small device that many doctors now also use.

Over three nights, preferably as a result, you simply place the Sleepiz measuring device next to your bed, switch it on, and sleep as usual. The recorded readings are transmitted directly to a cloud. This is securely located in a Swiss data center. A few days later, you’ll receive the analysis conveniently by e-mail as a pdf file.

3 different options at fair prices

The measurement process is super simple and the best part is that you don’t even have to buy the device, you can just rent it. The offer provides three different options.

The interesting result provides important insights

From your personal analysis report, which can be created by using the Sleepiz meter, you will be able to see, among other things, whether or not you have an increased risk of apnea.

Up to five pauses in breathing per hour are considered harmless. An average of 15 breathing pauses in an hour could possibly indicate mild sleep apnea and up to 30 severe sleep apnea. In the latter case, in particular, a consultation with your family doctor is strongly recommended.

Measure the causes of chronic fatigue at home

Constant fatigue and lack of concentration can have a variety of causes. If the reasons are not obvious, many people still prefer to suffer in silence rather than be examined. Be it out of fear of the examination or the diagnosis.

However, take your body’s language seriously. In many cases, sleep problems are actually harmless or temporary. Depending on the diagnosis, you may be able to manage them well with often simple remedies and methods. Sometimes a healthier lifestyle can bring relief, while autogenic training or more exercise can help others to reduce stress and sleep better again.

Diseases such as sleep apnea can also be successfully treated if detected early – and help you regain the restful sleep you’ve longed for. There are many alternatives to the effective but unpopular CPAC mask that can normalize your breathing and prevent snoring altogether. These include, for example, the lower jaw splint or the painless nose spreader. Ask your specialist for advice – so that you too can finally sleep soundly again.

Any questions?

Do you want to get more information about Sleepiz? No problem! Contact us and we will take our time to answer your questions.

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