Persistent tiredness: when fatigue ceases to be normal.

Arev
2 days ago
2 min read

You wake up tired. You spend the day on the edge. You arrive at night exhausted but have trouble falling asleep. And the next day, it all starts again. This cycle is more common than it seems, and more treatable than you might imagine.

What is behind persistent fatigue?

The most frequent causes in women aged 25 to 45 are: nutritional deficiencies (iron, vitamin D, B12 and magnesium), alterations in thyroid function, hormonal imbalance, intestinal dysbiosis, non-restorative sleep and adrenal overload due to chronic stress.

The thyroid deserves special attention. It regulates the cellular metabolism of the entire body. When tests show values at the lower limit of normal, associated with symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and difficulty concentrating, a more careful evaluation is warranted. These cases require an individualized clinical approach that considers not only the isolated number but also the set of signs the patient presents.

Connection with stress

The adrenal glands produce cortisol, the main stress hormone. Under continuous pressure, they overwork for months or years.

Over time, the cortisol response becomes dysregulated. Some people have chronically elevated levels and are unable to sleep or slow down. Others develop the opposite: a dulled response that manifests as severe fatigue and a feeling of total exhaustion.

This pattern does not appear in a fasting cortisol test. It requires a more careful investigation throughout the day, considering the person's life context.

The role of the intestine

The gut microbiota plays a role in serotonin production, absorption of essential nutrients, and regulation of the immune system. An inflamed gut or one with an imbalanced flora directly affects the levels of energy available to the body. The gut-brain connection is real, studied, and often neglected in conventional approaches.

AREV's perspective

At AREV Health, complaints of fatigue are investigated systemically. We assess thyroid function, adrenal profile, nutritional markers, sleep quality, and the patient's life context to identify where the chain is broken. From there, treatment makes sense.

In practice

Observe if your fatigue has a pattern: is it worse in the morning, in the afternoon, or all day long? Does it worsen at specific times of the month? Is it associated with periods of increased stress? This mapping already begins to provide clues about the origin of the problem and makes any consultation much more productive.