Fatigue... There's a good chance you're not just being lazy
Fatigue by Dr Justin Gallant ND
Fatigue...
I hear it all of the time after running proper blood work for a patient, “I thought I was just really lazy, it’s so nice to see why I have no energy on paper.”
There are many different causes of fatigue and in my practice I have so many patients claim that they are lazy, but once I run proper blood work, we realize what the true cause is.
Click read more if you'd like to read about the most common causes of fatigue, why they're often not diagnosed, and more.
I hear it all of the time after running proper blood work for a patient, “I thought I was just really lazy, it’s so nice to see why I have no energy on paper.”
There are many different causes of fatigue and in my practice I have so many patients claim that they are lazy, but once I run proper blood work, we realize what the true cause is.
Click read more if you'd like to read about the most common causes of fatigue, why they're often not diagnosed, and more.
Fatigue: Iron deficiency, Anemia, Hypothyroidism, Vitamin D deficiency
The most common causes of fatigue in my practice are iron deficiency, anemia, hypothyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, improper meal timing and a lack of protein. The reason why most of these go undiagnosed is different for each condition.
Iron deficiencies are undiagnosed because the traditional minimum range is way too low. Traditional lab reference ranges say if your ferritin (iron storage) is an 11 you’re fine, but in my practice, when looking at ferritin levels functionally, most patients aren’t feeling their greatest until their ferritin is between 50-150. Sometimes ferritin just isn’t even tested. Check out my thorough article on iron deficiency here.
Anemias are usually undiagnosed because the symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue, restlessness at night, feeling cold, etc.) are all blamed on being out of shape or considered the norm since it’s been happening for so long.
Iron deficiencies are undiagnosed because the traditional minimum range is way too low. Traditional lab reference ranges say if your ferritin (iron storage) is an 11 you’re fine, but in my practice, when looking at ferritin levels functionally, most patients aren’t feeling their greatest until their ferritin is between 50-150. Sometimes ferritin just isn’t even tested. Check out my thorough article on iron deficiency here.
Anemias are usually undiagnosed because the symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue, restlessness at night, feeling cold, etc.) are all blamed on being out of shape or considered the norm since it’s been happening for so long.
Hypothyroidism is commonly undiagnosed because it has a lot of overlap with other conditions and isn’t always properly tested for. Nowadays a test called TSH is run, and if it’s within range you’ll be told your thyroid is normal. Other tests should be done to prove that the thyroid is normal. These tests are an actual physical exam of the thyroid to ensure it’s not enlarged or any nodules are present, as well as blood tests T3, T4 and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody.
Vitamin D deficiency is commonly undiagnosed because it’s rarely tested since OHIP stopped covering it. I test vitamin D in most patients and it is deficient in the majority of them. Check out my in-depth article on Vitamin D deficiency here.
The tests mentioned above should be done for anyone experiencing fatigue to easily rule out these causes of the fatigue. These tests can be done through your MD or ND.
Vitamin D deficiency is commonly undiagnosed because it’s rarely tested since OHIP stopped covering it. I test vitamin D in most patients and it is deficient in the majority of them. Check out my in-depth article on Vitamin D deficiency here.
The tests mentioned above should be done for anyone experiencing fatigue to easily rule out these causes of the fatigue. These tests can be done through your MD or ND.
Meal-timing and proper protein are the next two important causes of fatigue. I do a week-long nutrition log with all patients and the most common patterns these days are skipping breakfast, replacing meals with coffee or leaving too much time between meals.
If there is too much time between meals, you’ll get low blood sugar and a bunch of negative symptoms can result due to low blood sugar causing you to secrete the stress hormone cortisol. Most people are eating too many carbs and sugars, and not enough protein and fat. Carbs and sugar will lead to low blood sugar quickly, while protein and fat will sustain your energy for much longer. I do a 1.5 hour talk on this and teach it to all of my patients.
’ve heard the same quote quite a few times, “I didn’t think I could ever have this much energy”. On top of the reasons mentioned above, there are other causes of fatigue like depression, anxiety, systemic conditions like cancer, viruses, sleep apnea, sinus issues, etc. It’s important to work with a healthcare professional to determine what the cause of your fatigue is rather than just attributing it to laziness or lack of motivation. Sometimes people do need a good kick in the butt to get into gear, but more often than not, there is an underlying cause of their fatigue or lack of motivation.
Life is a lot easier when you’re taking care of yourself.
Thanks for reading!
If you have any questions or would like to share your story about fatigue please comment below.
Sincerely,
Dr Justin Gallant ND
Hamilton, ON
If there is too much time between meals, you’ll get low blood sugar and a bunch of negative symptoms can result due to low blood sugar causing you to secrete the stress hormone cortisol. Most people are eating too many carbs and sugars, and not enough protein and fat. Carbs and sugar will lead to low blood sugar quickly, while protein and fat will sustain your energy for much longer. I do a 1.5 hour talk on this and teach it to all of my patients.
’ve heard the same quote quite a few times, “I didn’t think I could ever have this much energy”. On top of the reasons mentioned above, there are other causes of fatigue like depression, anxiety, systemic conditions like cancer, viruses, sleep apnea, sinus issues, etc. It’s important to work with a healthcare professional to determine what the cause of your fatigue is rather than just attributing it to laziness or lack of motivation. Sometimes people do need a good kick in the butt to get into gear, but more often than not, there is an underlying cause of their fatigue or lack of motivation.
Life is a lot easier when you’re taking care of yourself.
Thanks for reading!
If you have any questions or would like to share your story about fatigue please comment below.
Sincerely,
Dr Justin Gallant ND
Hamilton, ON
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