Why am I always so tired?

[GJK22]

I am a 21 year-old female and I regularly find myself tired and feeling incapable of doing anything. This results in me sleeping for prolonged periods of time at night and requiring a nap in the late afternoon. I am a vegetarian but try and get as much of a balanced diet as possible. I try and exercise regularly, mainly doing yoga and cardiovascular fitness classes. I need to find a way to gain more energy, can anybody suggest anything?

[dot.hawkes]

Ask your doctor for a thyroid test first of all, you may have a thyroid hormone imbalance which tends to show in young women in this way. nothing to worry about, it is very common, easily tested and medivated for bit it is a possibility you should eliminate first.

[tigwig]

you may be anemic (don't know if I spelt it right !! I mean an iron deficiency anyway)

[Panic Button]

Agreed Tigwig.

You have two risk factors for this, female and veggie.

Doc can do a simple blood test for your iron stores.

[Dassie]

If you are vegetarian you should take a vitamin tablet each day and make sure it has the rda of 100% of B12 as this is normally found outside a vegetarian's diet.

[chazza]

You may also be sleeping too much. Personally I find that the more sleep I get, the more tired I feel. Try keeping yourself awake during the afternoon naptime, try going for a walk or doing a crossword or something that requires concentration instead of letting yourself sleep.

[sarahreiki]

b vitamins (a B multi vitamin) and coenzyme 10 are often recommended for lack of energy after checking out thyroid and anemia first.