Signs you are exhausted not tired

Sometimes you wake up and find yourself constantly yawning throughout the day, struggling  to stay awake during midday meetings and pass out on the couch when you get home neglecting even to change into your night wears. If your answer is yes to all this questions, then you are
not just tired but exhausted. Everyone feels worn down every now and again, but there is a
difference between being tired and being exhausted. Exhaustion is much more dangerous. Oftentimes, we take our need for sleep for granted and overlook the health concerns that come about because of a lack of it. Being perpetually exhausted can lead to a variety of health problems including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, appetite regulation, increases inflammation, early mortality and 50% percent increase in the risk of viral infection.
The consequences of sacrificing sleep can ripple throughout various areas of your life. So if you are tired and you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, it might mean you are exhausted and it is time to devote some serious time to sleep and relax.
Dehydration:  If your lips are cracked, your skin is scaly, and you are suffering from frequent headaches, dehydration may be to blame even though this is common during the dry season. Dehydration and exhaustion go hand in hand. It is impossible to maintain energy if you
don’t have enough water because the brain is made up of about 85% of water and therefore requires it to function properly. Dehydration may disrupt healthy brain function during sleep, so the more fatigue you feel the more dehydrated you are. ‘Always drink lots of water every day to the point where your urine is clear’.  Says Michael J. Breus, PhD, a board-certified expert in clinical sleep disorders.
Junk Food Cravings: If you are always hungry and craving for salty, sugary, highly caloric snacks all the time, this could be a sign of exhaustion. When you don’t get enough sleep your body produces a stress hormone called cortisol. In order to balance out the amount of cortisol, the brain actively seeks serotonin which is a calming hormone. A really easy way to get a heaping dose of serotonin is by eating comfort foods full of fats and carbs. Unfortunately, giving in
to these kinds of snacks could make you even more exhausted. When you eat these foods your blood sugar and insulin levels rise quickly. This not only causes you to be even more exhausted, but to also crave more salty, sugary, fatty calories. If you find yourself reaching for junk food when you are tired, make a conscious effort to turn away and grab low-glycemic foods like fruits and whole grains instead. They will stabilize your blood sugar and insulin levels and give you the boost you are really looking for.
Sluggish Thinking and Irritable Mood: Are you more forgetful than usual? Are you always in a sour mood? You may be experiencing a disruption in your REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is characterized by random movement of the eyes and the propensity of the sleeper to have vivid dreams. It is a 90 minute period where your body stabilizes the chemical balances in your brain, stabilizes your mood, and processes memories and knowledge. If you are always sluggish, irritable, and forgetful, you may not be getting enough REM sleep.
Waking Up Tired: If you go to bed on time every night but still wake up tired and sluggish the next day, you could have a condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during the night, sometimes hundreds of times. This means the brain and the rest of the body may not get enough oxygen. Because sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that has been associated with high blood pressure, increased risk for stroke, heart attack, diabetes, gastro esophageal reflux disease, heart failure, hypothyroidism, abnormal heart rhythm, and sudden death; sleep apnea is a very serious matter. Missing a single night’s sleep can result in increased depression, fatigue, confusion, reduced productivity, mood swings, and reduced ability to concentrate which can result to serious health issues if not treated in time.
Health is wealth; therefore always pay attention to any unusual sign your body is telling you.
Source: dailyburn.com, health.com

By Mercy Kukah