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  |  General Health  |  Diseases and conditions  |  Why am I tired all the time?
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Why am I tired all the time?

by Dr Howard Lee

question
I am nearly 40 years old and have real problems with tiredness and feeling worn out. Can you suggest why this might be? I lead a busy life, working full time and I have two older children, but until recently I have coped without problems. It has been suggested that maybe I need to have a check-up. What would you suggest – could it be time to think about HRT?

answer
Obviously you do lead a busy life, and after a while your ‘battery’ will start to let you down. You mention HRT, and certainly if there were features that would suggest you have hormone-balance changes, then this would be a possible option. On the other hand, there are many other things worth looking at.

There is a very real need to have a general chat with your doctor, who will be able to arrange for simple screening tests that could be of great value to you. Blood pressure, urine and blood tests are a base line guide to let us know just which areas need attention. You would certainly not be bothering him or her if you went along and explained just what was happening.

I would not suggest that you start any iron or vitamin supplements at this stage – just so that you don’t affect any blood test results that might be performed. I am sure that you can be offered some help: 40 is certainly not an age where we would expect you to start feeling so worn out.

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