Why am I always tired even when I sleep? - Ep. 70 - I AM YOU

I AM YOU is hosted by Dr. Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights to help women protect the heart that carries them through every stage of life — and step into their power as the CEO of their own health.In this Ask the Heart Doctor-style episode, Dr. Alvarez tackles one of the most overlooked symptoms women experience during perimenopause and menopause: feeling exhausted even after a full night of sleep.If you go to bed early, sleep through the night, and still wake up tired, this episode reframes fatigue as more than stress, aging, or “just being busy.” Dr. Alvarez explains that persistent fatigue can be a signal of deeper changes happening in the body — especially involving hormones, inflammation, oxygen delivery, sleep quality, and cardiovascular stress.  With clarity and urgency, she breaks down:Why sleep time and sleep quality are not the sameHow declining estrogen can disrupt deep, restorative sleepWhy inflammation increases during perimenopause and menopauseHow sleep apnea can show up differently in womenWhy snoring, brain fog, morning headaches, insomnia, and fatigue may be signs of sleep-disordered breathingHow poor sleep can affect blood pressure, insulin resistance, weight gain, palpitations, stroke risk, and heart diseaseWhy wearable devices like Oura Ring, Whoop, or Apple Watch may help women gather useful sleep dataWhen a formal sleep study may be neededWhat labs and evaluations to ask about, including hormone status, thyroid panel, cortisol, and sleep quality testingDr. Alvarez also challenges common myths, including the belief that sleep apnea only affects overweight men, or that fatigue is simply part of getting older. Instead, she explains that fatigue may be a physiology signal — your body’s way of showing that something is changing before disease develops.This episode is a direct call-to-action for women who feel tired but dismissed: don’t stop at “I’m just tired.” Ask why your body is not restoring. Becoming the CEO of your own health starts with listening to your body, asking better questions, and getting the right evaluation before symptoms become disease.Visit NitzaMD.com Follow @NitzaMD on Instagram and Facebook