Medical Reasons Why You're Cranky

A bad day at work. A poor grade on an exam. A fender bender. Yes, bad moods can happen for many reasons and happen to all of us.

But your crankiness may have nothing to do with what's going on in your life. Certain physical, mental and emotional issues may be associated with your crankiness. Below are some possible reasons behind what may be causing your bumpy ride.

And remember that if your crankiness is frequent and serious, speak with your health care professional. You can discuss possible reasons and find out if you have a medical condition behind your bad mood. Then, you can get appropriate treatment.

You drink too much caffeine.
Put down that fourth cup of coffee. Caffeine can cause anxiety. It stimulates the brain, causing addiction to caffeine. When that happens, you can experience withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, headaches and moodiness when you don't have enough. Learn about signs you're drinking too much caffeine.

You're not eating enough.
When your blood-sugar levels are too low, you might feel irritable, sluggish and have difficulty concentrating. Eat healthy snacks to prevent low-blood sugar.

You're eating poorly.
You may be full from those two slices of pizza and bowl of rocky road. But diets rich in trans and saturated fats have been linked to depression. Aim to eat nutritious foods that will help you feel energized and full throughout the day. Avoid processed and sugary fare that zaps your energy.

Your hormones are raging.
If you're always cranky around the same time each month, your hormones may be to blame. Your ovaries produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. A week before your period, your progesterone levels are at their peak. Then they suddenly drop, causing your crankiness.

You're exercising too much.
Too much exercise without recovery time can lead to a cranky mood. That's especially the case if you don't eat right after a workout. Overtraining can increase your stress hormone (cortisol) levels. That impacts your mood, sleep, hormones, appetite and more. Be sure to leave time to recover after a workout.

You're not getting enough sleep.
Sleep is crucial to mood regulation. Sleep deprivation can impact you in many ways, including increasing crankiness. It affects your hormones and brain chemicals. So, your ability to figure out what's important and what's not is compromised. That means you get upset about stupid and small issues. And if you rely on sugar and caffeine to help you deal with your sleep deprivation, you'll be even more anxious. Find out about common sleep disorders.