Have you noticed that you feel tired more often than your male counterpart? You are not alone. According to a study, women reportedly feel more tired than men. Fatigue is one of the most common complaints that female patients want their doctors to address.
Whether it is childcare, household chores, or office, women work the most. They have to attend to the family before and after office, which makes them exceed the healthy working hour limit of a week, which is between 40-50 hours according to many studies.
A report published in the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out that more women in the age group of 18-65 reported feeling tired and exhausted than men in the same age group. Another study published in the National Library of Medicine said that fatigue is among the top 8 reported concerns of female patients.
We spoke to Dr Schumailla Bassi, senior consultant, obstetrician and gynaecologist at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Ludhiana, Punjab, to understand why women feel tired. Here is what she said:
Hormonal Balance Leads To Fatigue
Dr Bassi said that hormonal imbalance affects women of different age groups. It is one of the symptoms of obesity, thyroid, and PCOD, which can lead to tiredness. Pregnant women and new mothers also experience hormonal imbalance which comes with other sets of challenges and leaves a woman fatigued and exhausted. “Physical and emotional demands to take care of a newborn, sleep deprivation, and additional responsibilities can leave a woman feeling extremely tired,” she added.
Menopause Can Lead To Exhaustion
The expert said that menopause can hamper the balance of oestrogen and progesterone hormones in the body. It can also lead to severe nutritional deficiency that can lead to fatigue in middle-aged and older women.
Thyroid Can Cause Tiredness
According to a report in the National Library of Medicine, around 42 million women in India have thyroid. Weight gain, vitamin D deficiency, calcium deficiency, and weakness are a few symptoms of hypothyroidism. All this adds to fatigue.
Nutritional Deficiencies Lead To Fatigue
A report published by UNICEF pointed out that the diet of Indian women lacks essential nutrients. It is the case with pregnant women too when their diet plays a crucial role in the development of the baby inside the womb. The report said that a quarter of Indian women in the reproductive age are undernourished.
Dr Bassi said that many women suffer from a deficiency of iron, folic acid, vitamin D3, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, vitamin D, calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin B12. It can lower energy levels and cause women to experience extreme fatigue.
Chronic Illnesses And Medical Disorders Lead To Exhaustion
The expert added that chronic illnesses and medical disorders also lead to exhaustion among women. Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and auto-immune disorders can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome that does not improve by relaxing and resting.
Mental Health Issues Cause Tiredness
Mental health issues also cause tiredness among women. Overthinking, stress (Stress Management Techniques), depression, and anxiety are often overlooked, but they can leave a person feeling severely exhausted with a disruptive sleep pattern.
Sleep Disorders Lead To Fatigue
The inability to sleep or a disruptive sleep pattern is another cause of exhaustion for females, especially new mothers. Too much sleepiness or restless leg syndrome also leads to exhaustion and a feeling of lethargy throughout the day. Sleep disorders can also be caused by too much surfing on social media or screen time after dinner. If you cut it down, you can improve your sleep pattern.
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Work-related Stress Lead To Exhaustion
Dr Bassi said, “In today’s fast-paced world, work-related stress and burnout are quite common.” Females have to juggle their careers and household chores simultaneously. They have many social obligations, and the fight to be good at everything leads them to feel exhausted and chronic stress, especially those who are fulfilling multiple roles and responsibilities.
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Dr Bassi concluded by suggesting women improve their lifestyle and work on themselves. You should take care of your diet and have to put yourself first. It can help a lot with exhaustion. If tiredness is persistent, you should speak to your healthcare expert.