Are you tired all the time? You’re not alone. If it’s something you’ve accepted about yourself, Dr. Savita Ginde may be able to help! In a Weight Watchers article about fatigue, she shares why you feel so lethargic, plus tips about how to restore your energy and support this aspect of your health.
Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
Daytime exhaustion is a common sign of sleep apnea, a disorder marked by brief episodes of breathing cessation during sleep. “When you repeatedly stop breathing for short intervals throughout the night, it’s harder to achieve REM—the deepest phase of sleep—which is why many feel fatigued the next day,” Dr. Ginde says. Other signs of sleep apnea include gasping for air upon waking, waking with a dry mouth, and morning headache. Men are more likely than women to develop sleep apnea, as are people who smoke. Advancing age, family history, and use of alcohol or sedatives can raise the risk, as well.
Diagnosis generally involves a noninvasive sleep test to monitor breathing overnight, says Dr. Ginde. Treatment may involve continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or a mouthguard for sleeping.
Meet Dr. Savita Ginde
Dr. Savita Ginde is an advocate and thought leader for reproductive health and served as Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains for over 13 years. And, until very recently, she served as the Chief Healthcare Officer for STRIDE Community Health Center where she oversaw all of STRIDE’s healthcare services and led their COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
