Individuals often seek my guidance for concerns like weight gain, hormonal shifts, or digestive issues, but a prevalent and pervasive challenge is fatigue. Assuming conventional medical causes like anemia, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, or diabetes have been ruled out by a competent doctor, yet fatigue persists, it's time to explore lesser-known contributors. As a functional medicine practitioner, I investigate the following 10 factors:

Medication Side Effects: Certain medications, such as blood pressure medications, statins, antidepressants, antihistamines, and proton pump inhibitors, can induce fatigue.

Micronutrient Deficiencies: Vital nutrients for energy production, including vitamin B12, other B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and vitamin D, may be lacking.

Mitochondrial Function: The powerhouses of cells, mitochondria, can be impaired by pollutants, environmental toxins, infections, medications, or nutrient deficiencies.

“Burnout”: Often referred to as "adrenal fatigue," this is more accurately a dysregulation of the HPA axis, occurring when chronic stress depletes both the adrenal glands and the nervous system.

Stealth Infections: Lyme disease, EBV, fungal infections, or mold can disrupt the immune system, contributing to fatigue.

Gut Problems: Conditions like SIBO, IBS, and other digestive issues hinder the absorption of nutrients crucial for energy.

Hormones: Cortisol, DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones all play roles in influencing energy levels.

Over-exercising: Striking a balance is crucial, as both excessive and inadequate exercise can leave the body feeling drained.

Over-Drinking: Caffeine, sugary drinks, and alcohol impose a strain on the nervous system and hormones.

Emotional Stress: Factors ranging from anxiety and depression to sheer boredom can manifest as fatigue.

The key takeaway is that fatigue is not a one-size-fits-all condition. Each individual's unique journey requires detective work to uncover the specific sources contributing to their fatigue.