Asthenia: what is it and what symptoms does it produce?

On some occasion we have all come to feel lacking in energy. Not wanting anything except to lie down and rest, exhausted. We feel weak and almost unable to move, needing a breather.

This feeling of fatigue will probably pass after a while, after a period of rest. However, due to multiple causes, sometimes this feeling is reluctant to subside and is prolonged over time. We would be facing a case of asthenia.

Defining the asthenia concept

We call asthenia a picture in which there is a reduction in the level of energy and strength in the body, also decreasing motivation and producing a feeling of exhaustion both physically and mentally.

Although pathologies such as spring asthenia are known, asthenia is classified generally as a symptom, since it is an indicator of a process deeper than the cause, regardless of its etiology.

This alteration can be accompanied by difficulties in attention and concentration, sleep disturbance and memory, loss of appetite and sex drive, bradykinesia or slow movement, dizziness, lability emotional,

depressive symptoms and even depending on its cause it is possible to experience alterations such as fever and hallucinations. In some cases it can cause loss of consciousness, changes in vision or difficulty speaking in which In this case, medical services should be hurriedly attended, which may be a symptom of an organic disorder I laughed.

This exhaustion produces a series of complications in the life of the person who suffers it., affecting their life in different areas of life by reducing the amount of behaviors performed and their mood.

Etiology or causes of asthenia

As we have mentioned, Asthenia is usually classified as a symptom of a medical condition or a mental state, having multiple possible causes for its appearance. At a general level, it is observed that together with asthenia, a decrease or alteration tends to appear in the immune system, so this is considered as a possible explanation of the symptom.

At a medical level, it can be caused by the presence of allergies and autoimmune problems (such as in the case of spring asthenia or in some cases of patients with HIV). Its appearance is also frequent in infectious processes, due to the lack of sufficient nutrients in the body as in the case of anemia, as well as in Neurological disorders, tumor processes and even as a reaction or side effect of some medications such as benzodiazepines and tranquilizers or antihistamines). Metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus they can also cause episodes of asthenia.

In more than half of the cases, asthenia is due to purely psychological causes.

Known then as psychogenic or functional asthenia, it is common for this to appear in the presence of continued stress, like the one suffered in subjects with burnout or in times of exam preparation in the case of students. In these cases, the asthenic episode worsens in the morning, generally appearing together with problems with conciliation or maintenance of sleep. Likewise, it also appears before a dysregulation of circadian rhythms such as that produced by jet-lag. Finally, this symptom appears in a large number of disorders that produce emotional wear and tear, being frequently visible in cases of depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder Y post traumatic stress disorder.

At a more normative level, the appearance of asthenia is also frequent due to aging, pregnancy or the existence of a too sedentary lifestyle.

Brain mechanisms involved

Although the specific causes of asthenia can be, as we have seen, multiple and varied, At the brain level, the presence of alterations in the system that governs wakefulness is discussed: the activator reticular system or SRA, located in the Brain stem.

These alterations are based on the non-activation of this center, which cause a feeling of fatigue both physically and mentally. In this aspect, the existence of a problem at the level of the production of noradrenaline at the locus coeruleus or its transmission.

Treatment

Asthenia is treated at a general level from the resolution of the specific cause that has caused it, there is generally no specific treatment for this problem.

However, it is very useful to carry out physical exercise that, we remember, helps to decrease stress and to relax, in addition to generating endorphins endogenously.

Also the cognitive behavioral therapy presents success in the treatment of asthenia, especially if it occurs chronically, helping to de-dramatize present problems, improve cognitions and behaviors that may influence in the onset of asthenia and presenting techniques and planning activities so that the patient is able to better manage stress and present optimal functioning in the day to day day.

At the pharmacological level, antidepressants or anxiolytics have sometimes been used, as well as multivitamin preparations in order to increase the energy level. A drug that is also sometimes prescribed as an antiasthenic is sulbutiamine, especially for sexual symptoms.

Basic difference of asthenia from normal fatigue

Asthenia is often confused with a process of fatigue normal. The main difference between asthenia and fatigue is that while fatigue with a period of rest usually reverses, in the case of Asthenia remains and even worsens, and it can become chronic, known as chronic fatigue syndrome if the problem persists for more than six months producing a deterioration in the patient's life at work, social or personal level of more than 50% with respect to their base level.

Bibliographic references:

• Casanovas, J.M. (2009). From symptom to disease: asthenia. Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria. vol. 11, 17, 425-431.

• Feuerstein, C. (1992): Neurophysiological data concerning fatigue. Role of the activating reticular system. Entreteins de Bichat. 11-19.

• Price, J.R. & Couper, J. (2000). Cognitive behavior therapy for adults with chronic fatigue syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.

• Walkman, K.E.; Morton, A.R.; Goodman, C.; Grove, R. & Guilfoyle, A.M. (2004). Randomized controlled trial of graded exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome. Med J Aust. 180(9):444-8.

• Waynberg, J. (1991). Asthenia and male dysfunction. JAMA (French ed.); 222 (suppl): 4-12