In the wake of motivation, self-development and time management, we are used to neglect fatigue. But the body does not let itself be offended. When the level of internal resources falls below the critical level, physical, emotional and psychological safety devices are triggered. In place of the exhausting activity comes the diagnosis of asthenia. Why is it important to determine the cause of energy leakage? How to get rid of the feeling that you are a man and not a car? Why do you need to listen to your body and teach this to children? How to keep up and not get tired?
Researchers believe that asthenic syndrome is a combination of many factors. So, treatment should be combined. The article contains diagnostic methods, treatment methods and 9 tips for preventing chronic fatigue syndrome.
What is asthenia?
Asthenia is a painful condition that includes a large number of symptoms. The most important and frequent symptom is causeless, severely tiredthat occurs after a little emotional, mental, or physical exertion. Moreover, the manifestations of fatigue do not pass even after a period of inactivity or a change of occupation. If a very tired person lies without sleep or does not get enough sleep after 8-9 hours of sleep, the probability of a diagnosis of asthenia is almost 100%.
Other manifestations that characterize asthenic conditions are mood swings from extreme excitement to irritable weakness, lack of concentration, displeasure, moodiness, tearfulness. The condition may be manifested by the rejection of bright light, loud sounds, strong odors.
Asthenic condition in everyday life is often called chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). In recent years, the number of patients with this diagnosis has increased dramatically. According to various sources, the prevalence of asthenic syndrome ranges from 2% to 6.5% of the population. This variation in numbers is explained by the difference in research. Nearly 20% of the population is in the high-risk group. Therefore, the study of the disease pay much attention.
To date, revealed 2 main root causescausing asthenia: organic and functional. Organic asthenia is associated with pathologies of organs, prolonged intoxication, and chronic diseases. Functional asthenia is associated with the body's response to illness, prolonged physical exertion, or nerve strain. Manifested as a result of prolonged stress, protracted conflicts, experiences or unrest. Asthenia as a result of nervous tension is called asthenic neurosis.
History of research and risk groups
Although descriptions of diseases with similar symptoms have existed for a long time, doctors have not classified asthenia as a separate disease. Most often, symptoms were observed in soldiers. The malaise was attributed to overvoltage during hostilities. Patients with complaints of numbness of the extremities, pain in the muscles, sudden jumps in pressure, heart palpitations were diagnosed from nervous disorders to atypical polio.
First outbreak of disease It happened in 1938 in Los Angeles. But the symptoms of the patients were so different that the scientists considered the illness a manifestation of mass hysteria. Moreover, no viruses or infections were found in patients. Several outbreaks of the disease in other countries again did not attract the attention of physicians, so the disease remained unexplored. In most cases, the cause of the disease was considered a bad mood.
As an independent disease, asthenia was isolated in the United States in 1988. And in 1992, a separate subcategory was derived - chronic fatigue syndrome. But, despite the discovery of a retrovirus affecting the state of human immunity, the question of the causes of the onset of CFS in each individual person remains open. Today, several theories are being advanced regarding the “trigger mechanism” of the disease: infectious, immune, toxic, psychological, psychosocial.
Studies have shown that asthenic disorder is not limited to geographic areas or socio-demographic groups. More common after 30 yearsbut can overtake children, adolescents. But there are several factors that increase the risk of getting sick. If they go in combination, then the probability of a diagnosis of CFS increases significantly. Chronic fatigue syndrome is most affected.:
- Women. The desire of women to combine household duties and a successful career is exacerbated by increased anxiety, neglect of pain. If we add social insecurity, stress, fear of loneliness, worrying about children, the influence of hormones, then it becomes clear why women are more often exposed to psychosomatic diseases and chronic fatigue syndrome.
- People who have experienced psychological trauma in childhood. Experienced in childhood or adolescence psychotrauma, poverty, social pressure, aggression or parental divorce children experience differently. But they lead to disturbances in the production of hormones, as a result of which the reaction to stress becomes more pronounced.
- Increased physical, mental, emotional activity. It manifests itself in cases where the ruthless exploitation of its own body becomes the norm. The inability to switch between work and family, the habit of starting and ending the day by viewing work mail, work during holidays, on weekends, lead not only to fatigue, but to the complete exhaustion of the body.
- Personality traits (excessive perseverance, inadequate perfectionism, for example). The desire to be perfect, to meet the standards invented by someone, the desire to "appear and not be" takes too much force. But the main “leakage” of energy occurs when we do not accept ourselves in all its manifestations.
Asthenics and asthenic psychopathy
Asthenic body type has no proven connection with a predisposition to asthenia. Asthenic is a person with physical characteristics: general leanness, thin bones, long thin legs, a small amount of muscle mass, which cannot be increased even by long trainings. Asthenic physique corresponds to a certain type of character, which is characterized by a constant feeling of helplessness, fear of loneliness, independent life, increased submission, affection.
Dependence on other people and the absence of the habit of being aware of one’s desires contributes to the development of dependent personality disorder or asthenic psychopathy in asthenics. People with such disorders, as a rule, voluntarily devote their lives to serving children, parents and spouses. But at the same time, the object of adoration is always shifted responsibility for their failures. They are extremely touchy, tearful, pessimistic. In case of loss of the object of adoration (divorce, death of a relative, spouse), they are prone to suicide.
3 myths about fatigue and why it is important to tell children about it
Residents of megacities do not just ignore fatigue, they consider it something shameful. And in vain. Fatigue is a normal reaction of the body. But we continue to believe in the myths about this state and thereby exhaust ourselves to the extreme.
Myth 1. Accumulated fatigue can be removed at any time.
Theoretically, this method can work. Once. But if the energy is constantly at a critically low level, and even on vacation we want to be proactive, multifunctional and positive, asthenia will surely overtake. And earlier than expected.
Myth 2. Need to feel less sorry for yourself.
We live in a world where work is glorified and leisure is ignored. But one thing is to be a bum in the eyes of strangers, another is to kick yourself. We live in cycles of day and night, activity and relaxation. Therefore, restoration is a necessity, a long-term investment in your future.
Myth 3. Ignore fatigue must be taught from childhood
The wisdom of adults is to teach children not only the sciences, but also the main things: to know your body, to be able to read its signals. When a child notices his own fatigue, absent-mindedness, he learns to switch between different types of activity. So he gets management skills, not a fight with his body.
Asthenic syndrome: self treatment
Despite the fact that chronic fatigue syndrome as a separate disease was discovered a little more than 20 years ago, research in this area has been conducted for a long time. Depending on the underlying disease, after which asthenia occurs, treatment can be fortifying or medication. But more often - it is a combination of natural remedies and medicines. Medicines are a prerogative of the medical profession and without preparation it is dangerous to climb into this area. But natural methods to help yourself really.
Diagnosis: 6 questions to yourself
In 2009, scientists at the Whittmore and Peterson Research Institute published the results of a study of the blood of people with chronic fatigue syndrome. According to the results of the research, they divided the wards into 3 types: healthy people, newcomers-carriers of the syndrome who experience a little discomfort, "veterans", literally bedridden. If you have reason to consider yourself a novice in the CFS case, first answer a few questions:
- Can you apply descriptions to yourself: “cotton head”, “thoughts run up”, “hard thinking”?
- Having trouble sleeping?
- You were examined, but the health problems identified by the doctors were not found?
- Unpleasant symptoms occur for more than 6 months?
- Do you experience pain in different parts of the body?
- Are you familiar with the feeling of unbearable fatigue, problems with short-term memory, the selection of the right word, orientation in space?
If you answered most of the questions "yes", asthenia is guaranteed. But there is some good news: you can help yourself. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a kind of preservative that “knocks out” the body and thereby protects it from destruction. The disease has many causes, but there are as many simple solutions that will help recharge the batteries.
Treatment
Neuroscientists and psychotherapists thoroughly studied the disease and compiled a detailed guide to combat asthenic syndrome.
Food and water
Myths about the dangers of coffee, salt, eggs, many harmful products today are destroyed. The thing is not in the products, but in their quantity. But the main thing is the pleasure that we get from food. If you really want to eat high-calorie burger or drink a glass of wine, then you should do it with maximum pleasure.
Then what to exclude? Everything worsens health, deprives of strength. Try to avoid large amounts of sugar and convenience foods. And do not forget about water, minerals and vitamins, which are contained in cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Full sleep
In addition to increasing energy during sleep, tissues are regenerated, organs are renewed, the brain is reloaded, pain syndrome is reduced, hormones are produced, immunity is increased, weight is regulated. But, unfortunately, an early trip to bed does not guarantee fast falling asleep and deep sleep.
Then what to do? Use proven methods to regain peace of mind during sleep. To do this, you need to increase the activity during the day, ventilate the bedroom and change the laundry before going to bed, remember the saying “morning is wiser than evening”.
Hormones
When asthenia is the first to trigger the hypothalamus, which is responsible for hormones. Rhythmically varying levels of hormones are the cause of health and illness. But because of the constant haste, addiction to stress, we often do not notice the alarming bells, such as increased irritability or fatigue.
Then how to check? To pass tests for the level of thyroid hormones, adrenal glands, reproductive glands. Be sure to check the work of the pancreas (sugar level). If anything - be sure to consult a doctor.
Sports activities
If you think that lack of exercise helps to save energy, then this is a delusion. Regular exercises strengthen the blood vessels and the heart, tighten muscles, give joy. That is, the more we load our body, the more enduring it becomes.
Then where do you start? The main principle of physical activity for asthenia is not to overdo it. Therefore, it is worth starting with the simplest exercises, hiking, and increase the load gradually and carefully.
Frequent infections
The cause of asthenia are infectious diseases that cause a decrease in immunity. In turn, a weakened body becomes powerless before the action of new infections. Frequent colds, fungal diseases, allergies, indigestion can be cause for concern.
Then how to be treated? If proper nutrition, taking vitamins and refusing to sugar did not help, it is worth making an appointment with a doctor. You may need medication.
Prevention: 9 tips for those who lack vital energy
Modern workaholics can be compared with long-distance runners. Exhausted, weakened, dehydrated, they move from one target to another. But professional athletes can not only run, but also recover. In ordinary life, many people simply do not allow themselves to stop, and the word "fatigue" is considered shameful, trying to exclude it from the lexicon.
But fatigue has a cascading effect: a tired person is more susceptible to negative emotions that will speed up the pulse, and the lack of sleep prevents him from recovering. Physical fatigue worsens the blood supply, causes problems with memory and concentration. Sharply reduced performance. All this leads to somatic diseases and asthenia.
Here are 9 tips to help prevent exhaustion and preserve vital energy.
- Realize: tiredness is normal. Fatigue is a natural consequence of investing in any work. If you invest more than receive, energy will quickly be at zero.
- Remember: we all get tired differently. Individual resources, genetics, heredity, character structure, physiological features and life situations require the development of their own pace of life.
- Practice recovery while running. Even the highest position can not prevent to take time out and get up from the workplace. A short walk will invigorate, start blood circulation, allow you to clear your thoughts.
- Maintain your body. Proved that sex, food, physical energy improve the results of intellectual work. It is necessary to avoid the feeling of hunger / overeating, for physical strength use interval training and do not forget about sex.
- Apply the Pareto rule to all matters. The 20/80 rule is: 20% of the energy expended gives 80% of the results. Before you rush into battle, it is necessary to identify several decisive factors, to minimize the useless costs.
- Do what adds energy. Cases that devastate energy tanks (such as watching TV) should be gradually replaced by other, joyful ones. You can start drawing pictures or have a dog. The main thing - to do what you like.
- Allow yourself to just relax. In the matter of rest, as with health problems, it is easier to prevent overstrain than to eliminate the consequences. Sometimes it is worthwhile to arrange a “clean” day of doing nothing. Just.
- Pray or meditate. Sincere prayer improves spiritual immunity, helps recharge the soul, get rid of empty thoughts. The choice of prayer depends on the spiritual need. One needs more, the other less.
- Use aromatherapy to relax. The aromas of lavender, geranium, frankincense, mint, orange are real natural relaxants. While working, just drop a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale the aroma. At the weekend, the best solution would be a fragrant bath or a full trip to the hammam.
If you have tried many ways, but have not received any improvements, it may be worth looking for a good doctor.
findings
- Asthenic syndrome is very similar to ordinary laziness. And therein lies the main danger.
- Stress, stress, long periods of activity we experience in different ways. Therefore, you should not look back at others, but choose your optimal rhythm of life.
- Teachers advise to teach children not only to work, but also to know their body, to listen to themselves, to recognize desires.
- Asthenia is caused by a complex of diseases that lower immunity, take vitality. Therefore, a single method of treatment does not exist.
- As in all matters of health, asthenia is easier to prevent than to cure.
- Physical activity does not take the last energy, but helps to turn on the internal batteries.
- Sex, food, hobbies - a universal recipe for an active life.
