Is it normal to get tired in the afternoon

Get our newsletter for the best of ABC Everyday each week. If you work in an office or another sedentary environment, your afternoon feelings of fatigue might be caused by reduced blood flow. One way to tackle that drowsiness is a quick burst of energy, which "gets the blood flowing, and assists the muscle in using the glucose and fats," says Professor David Dunstan, head of the Physical Activity Laboratory at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute.

Dr Dunstan has led studies into the effects of prolonged sitting on fatigue and cognition, specifically with overweight or obese people, or those with type 2 diabetes. If going for a walk isn't possible in your workplace, you could also try "body exercises like squatting-type exercises, calf raises and hip inflections for three minutes".

That method showed substantial improvement for the subjects of one of Dunstan's studies. Keep in mind, though, that exercising in the later part of the day can make it harder to sleep at night. This is because exercise heats up your body, and you need a falling body temperature to fall asleep. For that reason, it's best to avoid high intensity exercise in the last six to eight hours of the day if you can help it, Dr Kempler says. The verdict: A short walking break is a great option to combat your afternoon drowsiness — better than coffee and, if you work during the day, more viable than a short nap.

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There are many reasons why people feel less energetic in the afternoon, especially between 1 and 4 pm. However, sleep disorders, medical disorders, stress, insufficient sleep or poor eating habits can also cause excessive sleepiness at this time. Maintaining consistent sleep schedules , even on the weekends, will help your energy levels throughout the day. Read more about having an underactive thyroid hypothyroidism. Gluten is a protein in wheat, barley and rye, and can be found in foods like pasta, bread, cakes and cereals.

One in people in the UK are affected, but research suggests many of them don't know they have the condition, according to charity Coeliac UK. Other symptoms of coeliac disease, apart from tiredness, are diarrhoea, bloating, anaemia and weight loss. Your GP can do a blood test to check if you may have coeliac disease. Chronic fatigue syndrome also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME is a severe and disabling fatigue that goes on for at least 4 months.

There may be other symptoms, such as muscle or joint pain. Read more about chronic fatigue syndrome. Other key symptoms are feeling very thirsty, peeing a lot particularly at night and weight loss. Speak to a GP if you think you might have diabetes symptoms. Glandular fever is a common viral infection that causes fatigue, along with fever, sore throat and swollen glands.

Most cases happen in teenagers and young adults. Symptoms usually clear up within 4 to 6 weeks, but the fatigue can linger for several more months. It can stop you falling asleep or cause you to wake up early in the morning, which makes you feel more tired during the day. Read more about clinical depression. You might also have an unpleasant crawling sensation or a deep ache in your legs. Or your legs might jerk spontaneously through the night.

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