Sudden Crashing Fatigue in Females: Causes and Remedies

As a female, have you ever felt tired all of a sudden? One moment you feel fine, but the next moment, the tiredness comes crashing down on you. What causes sudden crashing fatigue to occur, especially for females?

This article will address this puzzling question by exploring the common causes, implications, and different ways to manage it.

What is Sudden Crashing Fatigue?

Sudden crashing fatigue can be described as a sudden feeling of extreme tiredness. It may feel like a brain fog, disrupting your ability to perform daily activities.

Females tend to experience this compared to males as they are more susceptible to changing hormone levels, stress, and other underlying health issues.

Causes of Sudden Crashing Fatigue

1. Hormonal imbalance

Fatigue is commonly experienced when a woman goes through menstruation, peri-menopause, and menopause due to hormonal imbalances.

Menstruation is a natural part of life that a woman will experience throughout her reproductive years. The menstrual cycle can be classified into two phases, the follicular phase and the luteal phase. During the menstrual cycle, estrogen levels rise during the mid-follicular phase and fall after ovulation. It will then rise again during the mid-luteal phase and fall towards the end of the menstrual cycle [1], [2].

As the hormones continuously fluctuate, she is bound to also witness fluctuating emotions and energy levels.

In the later parts of her years, the transitional period leading up to menopause is known as perimenopause. During this time, a woman may go through various changes and symptoms such as increased tiredness, insomnia, hot flashes, and anxiety. Estrogen and progesterone will stop being produced, throwing off the rest of the hormones within the body. This transition also causes menopause fatigue [3].

Discover ways to start sleeping peacefully with ShutEye! 

Try For Free

3. Thyroid disorders

There are two types of thyroid disorders, which are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid glands are not producing enough hormones. Conversely, hyperthyroidism is when your thyroid glands are overproducing hormones.

The thyroid hormones play an important role in ensuring that metabolism, temperature regulation, and proper GI functioning take place. To overcome this, you may be required to take anti-thyroid medications or have surgery, depending on your condition and severity [4].

4. Iron deficiency anaemia

Iron deficiency anaemia is a type of condition in which there is a lack of iron in your body. Our body needs iron so that it can produce red blood cells which are necessary for helping to store and carry oxygen in the blood.

When you don’t have enough oxygen, it can lead to a lower amount of oxygen being transported in your blood. Common symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia include lethargy, dizziness, and paleness.

This condition can affect women if they are experiencing heavy menstrual periods or if they are bleeding during childbirth [5].

5. Autoimmune conditions

Autoimmune diseases affect as many as up to 20 million individuals in the United States, and there seems to be a strong correlation between sleep and autoimmune diseases, predominantly in women. Conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are more prevalent in females and often come with extreme fatigue [6].

Unlike general tiredness, those with autoimmune diseases may experience frequent sleep disturbances. There’s also a higher susceptibility to sleep apnea and REM sleep behavior disorder for those with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.

Symptoms of Sudden Crashing Fatigue

Some of the common symptoms of sudden crashing fatigue in females may include:

• Extreme tiredness
• Lethargy
• Muscle weakness
• Hot flashes or night sweats
• Mood swings

These symptoms may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, weight gain, or brain fog.

Implications of Sudden Crashing Fatigue

Sudden crashing fatigue isn’t just about feeling tired — it can have a ripple effect on your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. For many women, especially those navigating hormonal shifts or underlying health conditions, these episodes can feel unpredictable and debilitating.

Some of the implications of sudden crashing fatigue are:

• Reduced Daily Functioning: Fatigue can hit hard in the middle of work, social events, or simple tasks like driving or cooking — making it hard to keep up with daily responsibilities.
• Emotional Toll: Constant or unpredictable crashes can lead to frustration, anxiety, and even depression, especially when there’s no clear explanation or solution.
• Strained Relationships: If others don’t understand the severity or suddenness of your fatigue, it can lead to miscommunication or a lack of support in personal and professional relationships.
• Lowered Productivity: It’s difficult to maintain focus or perform at your best when your energy disappears without warning, which can impact performance at work or school.
• Potential Health Risks: Sudden fatigue may be a warning sign of an underlying health issue, such as a thyroid disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, or heart condition, that needs medical attention.

Discover ways to start sleeping peacefully with ShutEye! 

Try For Free

Is it linked to chronic fatigue syndrome?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a chronic condition that can interfere with your normal life activities. The real cause of it is not yet understood, but it is commonly suggested that infections can be a trigger.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is commonly associated with symptoms of sudden and extreme fatigue.

Medical Treatments for Sudden Crashing Fatigue

For women who are experiencing menopausal fatigue or fatigue related to hormonal fluctuations, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be considered for relieving symptoms.

If you have any underlying medical conditions that are contributing to your fatigue, such as diabetes or sleep apnea, you may want to consider getting the proper medical treatments to address them first and monitor to see if your fatigue improves.

4 Natural Solutions to Manage It

When it comes to dealing with fatigue symptoms, there are a few natural solutions to help you manage them, such as making lifestyle changes and practicing good sleep hygiene.

Here are 4 natural solutions for your consideration:

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule: Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule means ensuring that you are sleeping and waking up at the same time everyday. This helps to regulate your body’s circadian rhythm, improving sleep quality.
• Consume a healthy diet: Consuming a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients can help to regulate your blood sugar levels and reduce symptoms of fatigue.
• Exercise regularly: Regularly engaging in physical activity during the day can also help to give you a boost of energy so that you don’t feel as tired carrying out your daily activities.
• Manage your stress well: Good stress management may look like prioritizing self-care, practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation and mindfulness. When you’re less stressed, you’ll be able to sleep better at night, reducing sleep-related fatigue.

When to See A Doctor

For women who have worsening symptoms of sudden crashing fatigue or fatigue that continues to persist, consider seeking advice from a doctor who can help to determine if it is a result of underlying medical conditions and provide you with possible treatment options.

Conclusion

To sum up, there are many possible reasons why females may experience extreme fatigue all of a sudden. It could be a menopause symptom, a problem with your thyroid glands, or an underlying medical condition. However, it is also easily managed with the right treatment and good sleep hygiene.

Alternatively, you may consider trying out the ShutEye® app. ShutEye® is an advanced sleep-tracking app that analyzes your sleep patterns and offers personalized solutions to help you improve it naturally. Try it now for FREE!

Take control of your sleep with personalized sleep insights

Try ShutEye App Now