Daytime Sleepiness: Changing lifestyles are causing significant problems for people. Some people get proper sleep, yet they still feel weak and sleepy by the afternoon. Let's explain why this is the case.

Why Do I Feel Tired In The Afternoon: Sudden fatigue, lethargy, and sleepiness in the afternoon are becoming a common problem these days. Many people, despite getting enough sleep, exercising, and following a healthy diet, find themselves completely drained of energy by midday. This is often dismissed as work pressure, age, or mental fatigue, but a deficiency in a crucial nutrient, vitamin D, may be the culprit.

Dr. Shovana Vaishnavi, in an article for the Indian Express, explains that vitamin D plays a vital role not only for bones but also in maintaining the body's energy levels. A deficiency can cause the body's cells to function improperly, leading to sudden fatigue in the middle of the day. A healthy level of vitamin D is generally considered to be between 20 and 50 ng/mL, but a large portion of the population is significantly below this level.

Why is Vitamin D deficiency common in India?

Despite being a sun-rich country, vitamin D deficiency has become a serious problem in India. According to several studies, more than 70 percent of people in urban India suffer from this deficiency. The main reasons behind this are spending most of the time indoors or in the office, weakening of UV rays due to air pollution, and the habit of avoiding sunlight. Vitamin D is essential for the proper functioning of mitochondria, which are known as the body's energy factories. When this process is affected, energy production also decreases.

How does afternoon fatigue develop?

A vitamin D deficiency prevents the body from producing sufficient amounts of ATP, the energy currency. This directly impacts muscles and the brain. It also helps produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and energy. Cortisol levels naturally drop in the afternoon. If vitamin D is deficient, the body is unable to balance this change, leading to lethargy. Additionally, increased inflammation can lead to a feeling of drowsiness.

The role of circadian rhythms

According to the body's natural clock, mild fatigue between 2 and 4 pm is considered normal. However, a deficiency in vitamin D can worsen this normal fatigue. It also plays a role in the sleep-wake cycle and melatonin balance.

Other reasons are also responsible.

Heavy and high-carbohydrate lunches, lack of water, low protein intake, and prolonged sitting can also contribute to afternoon fatigue.

What to do?

According to doctors, simply getting more sleep isn't enough to address this problem. Following medical advice, vitamin D supplements, a balanced diet, a light walk after lunch, and limited but regular exposure to sunlight can help restore energy.