Feeling tired all the time sucks. If you're constantly shattered, you won't be able to do all the things you love, like exercising, hanging with your buddies and spending quality time with your family.
Being tired is part of being a man, so if you feel tired all the time, you might end up feeling sluggish and out of sorts.
In some cases, it could just be the case that you didn't get enough sleep the night before. Whether you're dealing with a baby in the family, or you stayed up all night binge-watching a new series, this issue is easy to correct.
However, if you continue to feel tired after an early night, then the problem could be something more serious.
One major factor that affects a man's tiredness is his testosterone levels. If you're low on testosterone, then you might find that you're constantly tired and don't have the energy to live your best life.
So, if you're asking yourself, 'why am I so tired' all the time, then this is the blog post for you.
We'll talk you through how your testosterone levels affect your energy levels and what you can do to be more energized and ready for anything.
What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is the male sex hormone, which is produced in the testes in men and, in smaller amounts, in the adrenal glands.
It's present in both sexes, but more so in men, and it helps us guys to get the ripped bodies, thick hair, face fuzz and sex drives that set us apart from women.
Two important glands, the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, control how much testosterone the testes produce and any reduction in production can cause issues with your body's development and energy levels.
How Does Testosterone Affect Your Energy Levels?
As the male sex hormone, testosterone's main job is to help your body to produce high-quality sperm. Part of that job means making your little soldiers active and getting them to swim to where they need to go.
It's not just your sperm that testosterone energizes: it also helps the rest of your body to look and feel its best. Testosterone helps you to generate more energy and boosts your sex drive. After all, there's no point in having active sperm in your balls; they need to be out there getting some action!
Related Content: Side Effects of Taking Testosterone
Testosterone also helps your body to improve bone density and muscle mass, meaning you can recover quicker from injuries and optimize your gym sessions.
It also means you'll have a leaner body, and that will give you more energy, as well as making you a hit with the ladies.
Energy and testosterone levels are closely linked, and in men, feeling tired all the time is often a sign that you need more of that T in your life.
The main symptoms of low testosterone are:
- Low sex drive and erectile dysfunction
- Producing very little semen
- Depression and stress
- Concentration problems and unexpected forgetfulness
- Being unusually moody and grumpy
- Hair loss or limp hair, both on your body and head
- Loss of muscle mass and unexpected weight gain
- Osteoporosis or signs of deteriorating bone mass
- Shrinking private parts
If you notice some or all of these symptoms, then you could have low testosterone. The average level is 300 ng/dL, so if you have less testosterone than this, then you need to get a boost.
To find out if you have low testosterone, you can visit your doctor, and they can let you know. They'll conduct blood tests to check your testosterone levels and can give you some advice.
What Causes Low Testosterone?
Low testosterone doesn't mean you're less of a man- far from it! It just means that you're not at your peak right now.
There are loads of natural reasons why your body might not be producing enough of that vital male sex hormone you need to do everything you love.
None of them is embarrassing, and most of them can easily be fixed with a few lifestyle tweaks.
Some reasons you might face low testosterone include:
- Age: As you get older, your body reduces its testosterone production, with levels dropping by 1% per year after you pass the big 3-0
- Increased estrogen production: If your body produces too much estrogen, the female sex hormone, or you get it from an external source like food, it could slow down your body's testosterone production
- Obesity and excess weight: That beer belly and those bingo wings might seem innocent enough, but they can also lower your testosterone levels and leave you feeling exhausted
- Injury or illness: If your body is fighting off another illness or recovering from an injury, then its energy will be focused on that, and you might find that it stops producing as much testosterone, which becomes a catch 22- you need more energy to fight the illness, but you also might find that you have less
- Alcoholism: Drinking too much of the old amber nectar can cause serious health problems, including reduced testosterone and general tiredness
- Smoking: Smoking cigarettes can cause health issues that can leave you run-down and tired- weed, in particular, is linked to low testosterone levels, so kick the habit if you want to feel less sluggish
- Obstructive sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where your breathing is disrupted while you nap, can reduce your testosterone levels and generally mean you feel exhausted all the time
- Damage to the testes: That old adage about getting hit in the nards leaving you unable to have kids is partially true- damage to your testes and illnesses such as testicular cancer can reduce your testosterone production. Some treatments such as chemotherapy can also affect your testosterone and general energy levels
This list isn't definitive: if you have an issue that's not on this list, then lucky- or unlucky- you! But the important thing is that there are loads of reasons why you might have low testosterone levels, and you might even have a combination of several problems.
Don't despair, though- low testosterone is not the end of the world! There are plenty of ways to reenergize and get back to feeling like the strong alpha you are.
What Can You Do To Improve Your Testosterone Levels?
Lower testosterone might leave you feeling helpless and less like a real man. Whatever you feel, it's important to remember that all is not lost.
With a few small changes to your lifestyle, you can boost your T and start to feel more energized and generally better.
If you find that you've got low testosterone levels, or you think you have, then there are plenty of lifestyle changes you can make to improve your energy and boost your testosterone production.
Some quick and easy ways to help your body produce more testosterone, and improve your overall health, include:
- Improve your sleep quality and get as much rest as you can
- Set a sleep schedule and create a comfortable place to rest
- Reduce your alcohol intake
- Stop smoking tobacco or other drugs
- Eat foods that are high in fat and natural oils
- Exercise more and lose some of that spare tire
- Focus on strength training and grab those weights
- Drink more water
- Get down and dirty with your lady when you both feel the need
- Sit in the sun and take in that vitamin D
- Stay away from BPA and plastic products that can leak out harmful chemicals
- Check if your prescription medicines are affecting your testosterone levels
These lifestyle changes are simple, and most of them can be implemented without much hard work. In some cases, like ditching cigarettes and eating better, it might take some time, but it'll be worth the effort in the end.
As well as these lifestyle changes, you can also add scientifically proven, natural supplements to your daily supplement intake.
If you're dedicated to honing your physique through exercise, then you'll already know the importance of putting the right foods and supplements into your body.
If none of this works after a month, then it's time to go back to the doctor.
They can check you out and make sure there are no health issues causing your tiredness.
They might also be able to offer you some treatments that boost your testosterone and improve your energy.
Being full of energy is an amazing feeling. These tips should help you to reduce your fatigue and get back to your usual, exhilarated self!
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