{"id":568325,"date":"2025-11-13T20:15:27","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T20:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/568325\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T20:15:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T20:15:27","slug":"im-always-tired-in-winter-so-i-asked-a-doctor-why-here-she-reveals-the-alarming-reason-so-many-women-are-struck-down-with-fatigue-and-the-red-flags-that-point-to-serious-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/568325\/","title":{"rendered":"I’m always tired in winter, so I asked a doctor why. Here, she reveals the alarming reason so many women are struck down with fatigue… and the red flags that point to serious issues"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the clocks go back, I immediately feel tired. I\u2019ve always put it down to darker, shorter days, aversion to the cold and too many mulled wines on winter evenings. But it\u2019s not fun trying to tackle Christmas<\/a> while also feeling constantly exhausted \u2013 so I decided to get an expert on the case.<\/p>\n

According to Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy<\/a>, I\u2019m not just imagining my change in energy levels. Women are disproportionately affected by winter tiredness, thanks to a mix of hormones, biology and lifestyle pressures that all intensify once daylight hours drop.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

To understand why fatigue peaks for women in the colder months \u2013 and how to get your energy back \u2013 I asked Dr Lee to break down the science behind winter fatigue, the red flags that it might be something more serious and the fixes that actually help deliver a much-needed boost when you\u2019re seriously flagging.<\/p>\n

Why do so many women feel more tired in winter?<\/p>\n

According to Dr Lee, women are more susceptible to winter tiredness for several reasons.<\/p>\n

First is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is much more prevalent in women. \u2018Around 1 in 20 people are affected by SAD, and four out of five of them are women,\u2019 she notes. Symptoms typically start in autumn and continue through winter, and can include low mood, oversleeping, lack of interest and profound fatigue.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not well understood why women suffer more with SAD, but it may well be linked to serotonin levels. Sunlight helps the body make vitamin D, and vitamin D is needed to produce serotonin \u2013 the hormone responsible for mood and energy. \u2018Women tend to have lower vitamin D levels than men,\u2019 Dr Lee adds, which may make them more vulnerable in darker months.<\/p>\n

Fluctuating oestrogen levels can compound the problem. \u2018Oestrogen helps create serotonin,\u2019 she explains. \u2018Women experience more hormonal fluctuation in the winter than in the summer months,\u2019 Dr Lee says, which may again hinder the production of energy-boosting serotonin.<\/p>\n

Women also produce more melatonin \u2013 the sleep hormone \u2013 than men, and melatonin rises further in winter. \u2018When specialised cells at the back of the eye detect light, this switches off melatonin production and tells the brain it\u2019s time to wake up,\u2019 Dr Lee explains. \u2018When it gets dark, the eye detects the absence of light and switches on melatonin production, telling the brain it\u2019s time for us to go to sleep. Hence the shorter the days, the more melatonin is produced, and the sleepier we feel.\u2019<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s the cold factor. Women have less muscle and more fat than men (it\u2019s an evolutionary difference that helps support the high energy demands of fertility and fetal development). Muscle generates heat efficiently; fat doesn\u2019t. \u2018Women often feel the cold more, and feeling the cold makes you feel tired,\u2019 Dr Lee explains.<\/p>\n

What are the most common medical or nutritional causes of tiredness in women? \"\" <\/p>\n

Tiredness is one of the most common reasons people see their GP. \u2018Around 10\u201320% of all consultations are about feeling tired,\u2019 says Dr Lee. The most common culprits? Stress, poor sleep, a low-quality diet and mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.<\/p>\n

But sometimes, persistent fatigue points to a medical condition. These include:<\/p>\n