While it is normal to feel tired after a long day at work or after exercising, some people may experience tiredness more frequently than others, especially if you're over 50. As we age, our bodies undergo various changes that can affect our energy levels.
However, as we age, many may notice their energy levels aren't as high as they once were – suddenly afternoon naps become even more appealing. In fact, according to a study by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in 2010, nearly a third of people aged 51 and up experience fatigue.
"Often, people do feel more tired as they get older, but it's because they're not getting enough sleep, eating right, or exercising regularly, not because they're older," she says. In other words, the culprit comes down to lifestyle, not age.
Muscle Mass Declines
As muscles shrink, they lose strength and flexibility and become fatigued more easily, and you may find you are less coordinated or have trouble balancing. The more sedentary you are, the quicker these changes take place so it's important to keep active as you age.
Don't accept regular fatigue as part of aging.
"Men may chalk up fatigue to aging, but there is no reason you should battle ongoing fatigue," says Dr. Suzanne Salamon, a geriatric physician with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
The transitional phase that leads up to menopause, known as perimenopause, can start as early as in your 40s and can last 7-10 years. These symptoms you are experiencing are hallmarks of the perimenopausal stage of life. The good news is that perimenopausal fatigue is completely normal and treatable.
There are plenty of potential culprits. Medications for blood pressure, sleep problems, pain and gastrointestinal reflux can induce fatigue, as can infections, conditions such as arthritis, an underactive thyroid, poor nutrition and alcohol use. All can be addressed, doctors say.
It might be the busiest time of your life, when you are juggling a demanding career with starting a family and progressing up the housing ladder. But thankfully people in their early 30s are more than equipped to deal with these stresses - as it is the age at which they have the most energy .
Who is Defined as Elderly? Typically, the elderly has been defined as the chronological age of 65 or older. People from 65 to 74 years old are usually considered early elderly, while those over 75 years old are referred to as late elderly.
However, in general, most people tend to experience a gradual decline in energy levels as they age, with the most significant changes typically occurring around middle age (40-50 years old) and beyond. Fatigue in older adults is caused by a number of factors. There's no one common cause.
Usually, our energy declines because of normal changes. Both genes and environment lead to alterations in cells that cause aging muscles to lose mass and strength and to become less flexible. As a result, strenuous activities become more tiring.
If you or a loved one feel sleepy or fatigued, despite having 7-8 hours of sleep, it could indicate poor sleep quality or be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder. If you have questions or concerns about your sleep health, please speak with your primary care provider.
After age 30, people tend to lose lean tissue. Your muscles, liver, kidney, and other organs may lose some of their cells. This process of muscle loss is called atrophy. Bones may lose some of their minerals and become less dense (a condition called osteopenia in the early stages and osteoporosis in the later stages).
Older people wake up more often because they spend less time deep sleep. Other causes include needing to get up and urinate (nocturia), anxiety, and discomfort or pain from long-term (chronic) illnesses. Sleep difficulty is an annoying problem.
Common underlying issues that can make you feel tired after waking up and persist throughout your day include sleep inertia, sleep disorders, bright light exposure, and a poor bedroom environment, to name a few.
The United States' older adult population can thus, be divided into three life-stage subgroups: the young-old (approximately 65 to 74 years old), the middle-old (ages 75 to 84 years old), and the old-old (over age 85).
This report focuses on older Australians – generally those aged 65 and over, unless otherwise specified.
The American Psychological Association defines "middle adulthood" as beginning at 35 or 36, and many ranges do not end until 60 or 65. One study of Palestinian women considers midlife as starting from around age 40. Modern social scientists generally agree that midlife begins around 35 to 40 and ends around 55 to 60.
A YouGov poll of more than 13,000 Americans finds that 24% do believe that your 20s represent the best years of their lives, but a roughly equal amount (23%) believe that the 30s are actually the best years. Perhaps unsurprisingly, people's thoughts on the best years shift by age.
While a decrease in energy as you age is expected, if you find yourself fatigued for weeks on end, even after a good night's rest, it may be time to speak to a doctor to rule out illness. Continued fatigue could be a sign of something that requires treatment, such as rheumatoid arthritis or heart disease.
Unfortunately, the older you get, the more your energy levels get depleted. One symptom that we constantly hear in our Peterborough-based health studios is that someone is feeling tired all the time. This seems particularly prevalent in women over 50, who experience a severe depletion in energy levels.
Some possible causes are medical, such as menstruation and menopause. Others are nonmedical, such as poor sleep, stress, and not eating the right foods. It's easy to confuse “fatigue” with “tiredness.” The main difference is that tiredness improves with rest, but fatigue persists even after you rest.