Why do I get tired after eating?
Feeling tired and sleepy after eating can be a normal bodily response. It can be caused by several factors, including:
- hormones released during digestion
- eating foods that contain the amino acid tryptophan, which can encourage sleepiness
- lack of good quality sleep, which can make you feel more tired after eating
- lack of regular exercise, which puts you at risk of low energy in general
Feeling tired after a meal can sometimes be a sign of an underlying medical condition, including:
- diabetes
- food intolerance or food allergy
- obstructive sleep apnoea
- anaemia
- underactive thyroid
- coeliac disease
Speak to your doctor if you regularly feel tired after eating.
Why can’t I sleep even though I’m tired?
If you cannot sleep even though you feel tired this is a sign of insomnia. Insomnia is a condition in which a person has problems sleeping.
It can be caused by many things, including:
- stress, anxiety or depression
- noise
- jet lag
- shift work
- a room that is too hot or cold
- an uncomfortable bed
- alcohol, caffeine or nicotine
- recreational drugs, such as cocaine or ecstasy
How much caffeine is too much?
Most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day. This is equivalent to around four cups of brewed coffee, two energy drinks or 10 cans of cola.
However, the effect of caffeine on the body differs from person to person. You may need to cut down on caffeine if consuming caffeine causes symptoms, including:
- jitters or nervousness
- fast heartbeat
- migraines
- insomnia
- irritability
- restlessness
- frequent urination or inability to control urination
- stomach upset
- muscle tremors
You may also need to cut down on caffeine if you are taking certain medicines. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist to find out if caffeine may affect any medicines you are taking.
How should you sleep when you’re pregnant?
When you are pregnant, it is safest to go to sleep lying on your left or right side. This is because falling asleep on your back may affect blood flow and oxygen to a growing baby. Research suggests that, after 28 weeks, falling asleep on your back may double the risk of stillbirth.
The position you fall asleep in is the position most people sleep in for longest. Do not worry if you wake up on your back during the night. Instead, just turn over and go back to sleep on your side.
If sleeping on your side feels uncomfortable, try supporting your bump with pillows and putting a pillow between your knees.
Do antibiotics make you tired?
Tiredness is not a common side effect of taking antibiotics. However, different people respond differently to medicines. Speak with your doctor if you are worried about any side effects from taking antibiotics.
Why do I wake up tired?
Several sleep disorders can leave you feeling tired when you wake up. These include:
- insomnia
- obstructive sleep apnoea
- sleep movement disorders, such as restless legs syndrome, teeth grinding, and periodic limb movement disorder
However, you may also feel tired on waking up due to conditions that cause general tiredness, including:
- depression
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- anaemia
- underactive thyroid
- diabetes
- coeliac disease
- glandular fever
Why does my body feel weak?
Feeling weak can be caused by a wide variety of factors and conditions. Common causes of general weakness include:
- medical conditions, such as the flu, thyroid disease, anaemia, diabetes, heart failure, vitamin B-12 deficiency, depression or anxiety
- a lack of sleep
- medication side effects
- certain muscle diseases or loss of muscle e.g. from inactivity
- chemotherapy
- reduced physical fitness
Weakness in specific parts of the body may be caused by something different. Common causes of weakness in specific muscles include:
- stroke
- nerve damage
- multiple sclerosis
- spinal disc rupture
- pressure on spinal cord
Does depression make you tired?
Yes, tiredness or low energy can be a symptom of depression.
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