In short
Usually sleep, stress, mood or alcohol, or a medical cause such as low iron, a thyroid problem, diabetes or low testosterone. Most can be found with a few blood tests.
On this page
Being tired all the time usually comes down to sleep, stress, mood, alcohol or a medical cause such as low iron, a thyroid problem, diabetes or low testosterone. Most causes can be found with a conversation and a few blood tests.
The common causes
- Not enough sleep, or poor sleep. Most adults need seven to nine hours. Shift work, screens, caffeine and young children all cut into it.
- Sleep apnoea. Loud snoring, pauses in breathing and waking unrefreshed are the signs. It’s common in men, especially with extra weight around the neck and middle, and often goes undiagnosed.
- Stress, depression and anxiety. Low mood often shows up as tiredness, poor concentration and loss of interest before it feels like sadness.
- Alcohol. It helps you fall asleep and then wrecks the second half of the night.
- Medicines. Some blood pressure tablets, antihistamines, pain medicines and antidepressants cause fatigue.
- Not moving enough. Low fitness makes ordinary days more tiring.
Medical causes a blood test can find
| Cause | Other clues |
|---|---|
| Low iron or anaemia | Breathlessness, pale skin. In men it needs a reason found, such as bleeding from the gut. |
| Underactive thyroid | Feeling cold, weight gain, constipation, dry skin |
| Diabetes | Thirst, passing urine often, blurred vision |
| Low testosterone | Lower sex drive, fewer morning erections, low mood |
| Kidney or liver problems | Often no other symptoms early on |
| Coeliac disease, low vitamin B12 | Gut symptoms, numbness or tingling |
Not sure what your symptoms or results mean?
An Australian GP can go through them with you by phone or video, and arrange any tests you still need.
When to see a doctor soon
See a GP promptly if tiredness comes with weight loss you can’t explain, night sweats, shortness of breath, chest pain, blood in your stool or black stools, or if you’re falling asleep while driving. If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 in an emergency.
What a GP will do
- Ask about your sleep, mood, work, alcohol and medicines.
- Check your blood pressure and weight, and ask about snoring.
- Order blood tests, usually a full blood count, iron, thyroid, blood sugar, and kidney and liver function. Testosterone is added when your symptoms point that way, and it has to be done in the morning.
What you can try now
- Keep the same bedtime and wake time for two weeks, including weekends.
- No caffeine after midday, and no alcohol within three hours of bed.
- Get outside and move for 30 minutes most days.
If two or three weeks of that hasn’t helped, or you have any of the clues above, it’s worth getting checked. See also signs of low testosterone.
Next step: talk to a GP
Request an appointment and we’ll be in touch to arrange a time. A consultation doesn’t guarantee a prescription.
References
- Healthdirect Australia: Tiredness and fatigue
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners: Fatigue, a general diagnostic approach
- Sleep Health Foundation: Obstructive sleep apnoea
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.