Asthenia - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Asthenia is a sense of fatigue, weakness or lack of energy (" asthenes " in Greek means " powerless "). It can lead to decreased physical and mental capacity, reduced resistance to effort and easy fatigue.

Asthenia is a non-specific symptom, present in many pathological conditions, including: chronic infections (eg viral hepatitis), endocrinopathies (diabetes, Addison's disease, hypothyroidism, etc.), anemia, dietary deficiencies, neuromuscular diseases, poisoning and neoplasms .

A sense of intense fatigue is common during convalescence from flu and other infectious diseases; this condition is characterized by impairment of the general state with reduced vitality, lowering of blood pressure and easy exhaustion. Asthenia is also found in fibromyalgia, a condition in which fatigue is marked and associated with fatigue even after minor physical efforts and widespread muscular pain.

Furthermore, asthenia can be a manifestation of psychiatric conditions, often accompanied by depression, insomnia, palpitation and anxiety.

Energy dips are not always due to a specific pathology. In physiological conditions, asthenia is frequent during the first and last trimester of pregnancy, in menopause, in case of physical and mental overwork (or insufficient rest) and, in sport, following an imbalance between load and recovery.

A sense of exhaustion can also occur near a change of season (spring fatigue).