When it comes to feeling tired, many Chattanoogans are no stranger to the battle. In fact, according to Dr. Thomas Klinner with Klinner Medical, it's one of the most common issues they see on a daily basis.
Dr. Klinner"'Oh, doc, I'm really tired,' is the most common complaint I hear in my office," Dr. Klinner said.
"There are many reasons people feel tired or fatigued. Most people know about anemia and low thyroid. But where do you look after this?"
Stress is probably the most common cause, he explained. Stress raises patients' cortisol which makes them tired and forgetful.
"We tend to eat sweets or simple carbs to elevate our serotonin levels to help us not feel the stress," Dr. Klinner said. "But the simple carbs make the fatigue worse and prolonged stress causes the adrenal gland to slowly decrease cortisol to below normal levels."
He went on to share that this makes the fatigue and memory problems worse which can bring thyroid function down making it all worse for the patient already struggling.
"The thyroid function is frequently not adequately evaluated," he added. "We were taught that TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone was a good indicator of thyroid function but stress lowers TSH so the thyroid hormone needs to be checked."
High cortisol levels can cause intestinal permeability or "leaky gut." A recent search of the medical literature found more than 39,000 articles on the subject.
"This can cause fatigue, anxiety, depression and predispose to autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune thyroid disease," Dr. Klinner said.
B6, B12 and folate are necessary for making the neurotransmitter's serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. These help patients deal with stress, but they also help with mood, concentration, motivation and energy.
"I frequently see low levels of these vitamins," Dr. Klinner shared. "And 40 percent of us have a problem absorbing or processing these vitamins. This lack of B vitamins can imbalance the immune system making us more likely to have infections, cancer, allergies and autoimmune diseases."
He also explained that energy comes from the mitochondria in each cell.
"This is where your food is converted to energy," he said. "Many of us are low in one or more of the nutrients that are necessary for this conversion leaving us more tired than ever."
Low sex hormones can cause low energy in men and women.
"For unknown reasons we are frequently finding low testosterone in men in their thirties," he said.
The extensive list of fatigue is quite exhaustive, and Dr. Klinner and his team said that often most people have more than one cause.
"The bottom line is if you're having significant fatigue, make an appointment and maybe we can determine why," he said.
Klinner Medical Center is located at 9203 Lee Highway in Ooltewah, and they accept all major health insurance. The seek to blend modern medicine by providing superior and comprehensive health care with time honored values of compassion, empathy and respect. They partner with patients to create positive and holistic changes through the integration of physical and emotional health.
Medical services offered include IV therapy, addiction IV therapy, chronic fatigue, leaky gut, adrenal dysfunction, neurosensory testing, allergy sensitivity testing, sleep study, heart rate variability testing, digital pulse analysis and body composition analysis. Some cosmetic services are also available.
Patients can visit klinnermedical.com to learn more or call 423-238-4700 to make an appointment.
Noteworthy:
"We tend to eat sweets or simple carbs to elevate our serotonin levels to help us not feel the stress," Dr. Klinner said. "But the simple carbs make the fatigue worse and prolonged stress causes the adrenal gland to slowly decrease cortisol to below normal levels."
MORE INFORMATION
Klinner Medical Center is located at 9203 Lee Highway in Ooltewah. Patients can visit klinnermedical.com to learn more or call 423-238-4700 to make an appointment.