Fatigue is a growing problem that is impacting a large portion of the population – some statistics say 3 out of 5 adults in the United States. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome costs the U.S. economy $18-51 Billion annually. This doesn’t factor in mild to moderate fatigue. So, what causes it?
Fatigue can stem from various physical, psychological, environmental and lifestyle factors. As with pretty much all conditions, there are more than one causes that coalesce into “fatigue”. The combination of factors for you could be completely different from someone else you know who describes it similarly.
Not surprisingly, poor sleep – lack of sleep hours, quality, or sleep disorders such as apnea, restless legs, urinary frequency or the brain not shutting down.
Diet is another reason. Consuming processed foods, foods and drinks high in sugar, artificial sugar and flavorings, seed oils, and fried foods. Not eating good quality, nutrient-dense foods could result in deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D or magnesium which could impair energy production and lead to fatigue. Any stimulating food can initially help fatigue, but crash you later. The worst are coffee/caffeine, alcohol and sugar.
Dehydration could cause fatigue, at even mild levels and can impair cognitive function. Drinking half your body weight in ounces per day is essential for function (max 100 ounces).
Stress – being in a constant “fight or flight” can wear you down and cause fatigue. It can lead to physical and mental exhaustion.
Infections – obvious or hidden – along with other health conditions can lead to fatigue. Anemia, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes or other blood sugar impairment, hormonal imbalances, cancer and heart disease lead the list of illnesses that contribute to fatigue. Many medications used to treat these and many other conditions have side effects of fatigue.
Exercise, either too much or too little can contribute to fatigue. Some people push through their routines, using up what precious energy they have left, and then are surprised when they crash later.
So what can you do about it? Find an expert to help you find the right amount of exercise for you right now, drink adequate water, delegate or say “no” more often to reduce your stress, eat a diet rich in whole foods and get rid of the garbage in your diet.
In addition, try acupuncture. Acupuncture helps fatigue by straightening out sleep, improving digestion so you can digest and well-assimilate the good foods you will now eat, help to mitigate the stress response in your body, help with the pain or inflammation that is keeping you awake at night and consuming your daytime energy. Acupuncture regulates hormones, boosts healthy adrenal response, enhances your immune, circulatory, and nervous system health, stimulates mitochondrial function (machinery inside your cells that generates energy), balances neurotransmitters (happy hormones) in the brain which helps energy and moods, and helps balance blood sugar.
Want to hear more from Dr. Carling? Check out our podcast. Search for VitalHealth4You on your favorite podcast listening app or go to vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/
©2025 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
