Unexplained fatigue is one of the most common concerns I see at CARESPACE Health + Wellness. When your energy is low, everything from work and family life, to exercise and basic daily tasks, feel harder than they should. Fatigue rarely has a single cause – it often results from several factors working together. Understanding those factors is the first step toward feeling like yourself again.
I take a whole-person approach, looking at sleep, nutrition, stress, mental health, movement patterns, digestion, and key lab markers to understand what your body is telling you. The goal is to uncover why fatigue is happening and support you in rebuilding sustainable, lasting energy.
Starting With Sleep
When someone comes in with fatigue, sleep is often the first place I look. I want to understand how well you’re sleeping, how refreshed you feel in the morning, and whether your daily and nightly routines support deep, restorative rest. Even small improvements in sleep quality can create noticeable increases in daily energy.
Key Testing to Consider
Once we’ve assessed sleep, targeted bloodwork helps identify other contributors to low energy. Fatigue can arise from many sources, and a tailored testing strategy allows us to rule in—or rule out—common physiological causes. Depending on your symptoms and history, this may include evaluating markers related to inflammation, autoimmune disease, metabolic function (including diabetes), or hormonal changes such as perimenopause.
However, there are a few core tests that are relevant for most people experiencing fatigue:
- Iron (Ferritin): Low iron stores are one of the most common and under-recognized causes of fatigue and can create symptoms even without anemia.
- Vitamin B12: Essential for energy production, mood regulation, and neurological health; low-normal levels can still contribute to symptoms.
- Thyroid function (TSH, free T3, free T4): Suboptimal thyroid function—particularly hypothyroidism or poor conversion of T4 to T3—can lead to persistent fatigue, cold intolerance, and cognitive fog.
These tests make up the foundation of a comprehensive evaluation, helping us understand which factors may be contributing to your low energy and how best to support you moving forward.
Nutrition: Your Body Needs Fuel—And the Ability to Use It
Another major factor in energy levels is how—and what—you eat. Busy days with skipped meals, diets high in processed foods but low in protein and/or calories, can leave your blood sugar unstable and energy inconsistent.
Digestion matters, too. Bloating, reflux, or irregular bowels may suggest you’re not digesting or absorbing nutrients efficiently. Supporting healthy digestion is an important part of maintaining steady, reliable energy.
Physical Activity and Energy
When energy is low, exercise can feel impossible—but gentle, consistent movement often improves fatigue more effectively than rest alone. While certain conditions limit activity, many people aren’t moving enough for their bodies to function at their best. Regular movement supports sleep, mood, circulation, and overall metabolic health. Even a daily walk can make a meaningful difference.
Other Conditions That Can Contribute to Fatigue
Fatigue isn’t only physical. Emotional and mental factors such as depression, chronic stress, and anxiety can significantly impact motivation and energy. Part of my assessment includes exploring how emotional health may be contributing to physical symptoms.
A Collaborative Approach to Feeling Better
After completing a thorough assessment, we’ll build a personalized plan to help restore your energy. And if additional expertise would support your progress, CARESPACE Health + Wellness offers a full interdisciplinary team we can draw on. This collaborative approach ensures every part of your health is supported on the path to feeling better.
