Ask a Health Professional Each week health professionals give their educated opinions on relat- able health questions. We believe that knowledge is power! Paul Farley PharmD, Pharmacist & Owner H O ME TO wN PHARMACY M-F: 93-6p | Sat: 9a-lp (715) 582-0898 960 Frontage Road | Peshtigo, WI Question: Why don't I have the same amount of energy that I used to? A: A common complaint I often low energy is anemia. Anemia occurs when a hear from patients is that they simply do not have as much energy as they have had in the past. This can prevent people from participating in the things that they enjoy as well as isolating some people from their friends and family. There are many reasons why a person might be low in energy--here are some of the more common culprits: person has a shortage of red blood cells. These cells are required to carry oxygen to your body from the lungs. Without the oxygen, your cells have a hard time releasing energy stored in the body, thus you may feel lethargic or tired. The two primary types of anemia related to low energy are iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency. Both of these can be supplemented with non-prescription products. Lifestyle choices can greatly impact energy levels. One of the most important factors is a person's diet. Poor nutrition lacking essential nutrients can leave you without the zip to perform your usual activities. Foods that are highly processed or high in fat can leave you feeling sluggish or tired. Whole grains are ideal for providing long lasting energy without the spikes and crashes typically found with many processed carbohydrates. Nuts and fish are also good choices. Another lifestyle change that can help is getting adequate exercise. Walking can be particularly helpful in boosting metabolism. Exercise has been shown to elevate mood and reduces stress. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all contribute to decreased energy levels, so going for a walk every day can prove to be quite beneficial. Remember to drink plenty of water since dehydration can also sap your energy. Final point on lifestyle--make sure you're getting enough sleep. Sleep helps your body recover from the physical and emotional stresses of the day and rejuvenates you for the day ahead. There are a number of other medical conditions that can lead to low energy. Hypothyroidism slows down metabolism, meaning it takes longer for your body to turn your food into energy. Medications like levothyroxine, which replace thyroid hormone, can be effective at countering those effects. People with heart failure also experience low energy because their heart has to work harder and use up more energy stores to pump a sufficient amount of blood to the rest of the body. A variety of prescription medications are used to treat patients with heart disease Diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, Addison's disease, chronic infections, low testosterone, and many other conditions can also contribute to a decrease in energy. Many of those conditions can be controlled to varying extents with prescription medications as well. If you are finding it more difficult to get up and go, or are feeling tired and lethargic, you should talk to your doctor. Determining the cause is critical to properly treating low energy levels. If you need assistance in your treatment of this condition after talking to your physician, feel free to stop by Hometown Pharmacy in Peshtigo. We'd be happy to help you out! Aside from lifestyle choices, there are several medical conditions that could manifest themselves with the symptom of decreased energy. One of the most common causes of Ask a Health Professional Each week health professionals give their educated opinions on relat- able health questions. We believe that knowledge is power! Paul Farley PharmD, Pharmacist & Owner H O ME TO wN PHARMACY M-F: 93-6p | Sat: 9a-lp (715) 582-0898 960 Frontage Road | Peshtigo, WI Question: Why don't I have the same amount of energy that I used to? A: A common complaint I often low energy is anemia. Anemia occurs when a hear from patients is that they simply do not have as much energy as they have had in the past. This can prevent people from participating in the things that they enjoy as well as isolating some people from their friends and family. There are many reasons why a person might be low in energy--here are some of the more common culprits: person has a shortage of red blood cells. These cells are required to carry oxygen to your body from the lungs. Without the oxygen, your cells have a hard time releasing energy stored in the body, thus you may feel lethargic or tired. The two primary types of anemia related to low energy are iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency. Both of these can be supplemented with non-prescription products. Lifestyle choices can greatly impact energy levels. One of the most important factors is a person's diet. Poor nutrition lacking essential nutrients can leave you without the zip to perform your usual activities. Foods that are highly processed or high in fat can leave you feeling sluggish or tired. Whole grains are ideal for providing long lasting energy without the spikes and crashes typically found with many processed carbohydrates. Nuts and fish are also good choices. Another lifestyle change that can help is getting adequate exercise. Walking can be particularly helpful in boosting metabolism. Exercise has been shown to elevate mood and reduces stress. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all contribute to decreased energy levels, so going for a walk every day can prove to be quite beneficial. Remember to drink plenty of water since dehydration can also sap your energy. Final point on lifestyle--make sure you're getting enough sleep. Sleep helps your body recover from the physical and emotional stresses of the day and rejuvenates you for the day ahead. There are a number of other medical conditions that can lead to low energy. Hypothyroidism slows down metabolism, meaning it takes longer for your body to turn your food into energy. Medications like levothyroxine, which replace thyroid hormone, can be effective at countering those effects. People with heart failure also experience low energy because their heart has to work harder and use up more energy stores to pump a sufficient amount of blood to the rest of the body. A variety of prescription medications are used to treat patients with heart disease Diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, Addison's disease, chronic infections, low testosterone, and many other conditions can also contribute to a decrease in energy. Many of those conditions can be controlled to varying extents with prescription medications as well. If you are finding it more difficult to get up and go, or are feeling tired and lethargic, you should talk to your doctor. Determining the cause is critical to properly treating low energy levels. If you need assistance in your treatment of this condition after talking to your physician, feel free to stop by Hometown Pharmacy in Peshtigo. We'd be happy to help you out! Aside from lifestyle choices, there are several medical conditions that could manifest themselves with the symptom of decreased energy. One of the most common causes of