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The Real Reasons You're Tired All the Time and What To Do About It

Feeling sluggish, overwhelmed and constantly in need of a caffeine fix? Find out how to fix what's burning you out (11 Photos)

Brenda Kearns on Feb 24, 2012 at 1:43PM

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The Real Reasons You're Tired All the Time and What To Do About It

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Energy Stealer: A Low-Grade Sinus Infection

Sinus infections that just won’t quit are the most common chronic health problem in the U.S. -- and struggling with one triples your risk of fatigue, say researchers at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital. “Battling a sinus problem is like fighting the flu -- it causes a lot of strain on the immune system, and it can trigger a weariness that drags on for months at a stretch,” explains otolaryngologist Jordan S. Josephson, M.D., author of Sinus Relief Now.

Common tip-offs: Chronic sinus congestion and annoying postnasal drip

Rx: Rinse your sinuses. Flushing out infected sinuses with salt water reduces inflammation and kick-starts healing for 84 percent of women studied, say researchers at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA. To do: Mix two cups of warm water with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Then use a pediatric nasal syringe or a neti pot (you’ll find both in pharmacies) to gently flush one cup of the saline into each nostril. All you have to do is bend over the sink and tilt your head so the solution flows easily out the other nostril. Repeat twice daily until your sinus symptoms and fatigue disappear.

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