Fatigue with spasms (spasmophilia) - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Fatigue with spasms (or spasmophilia) is a condition that tends to manifest itself above all in conditions of intense stress, states of anxiety and depression.

In fact, mood disorders can cause dysphoria, psychomotor slowing and energy loss, difficulty concentrating and somatization. Fatigue with spasms occurs also in seasonal changes (in particular, in spring and autumn) and, in women, it can become acute in the premenstrual and menstrual phases.

At the base of spasmophilia there is a nervous and muscular hyper-excitability, usually latent, but with heterogeneous manifestations in terms of intensity and location. The most common associated symptoms include fatigue from the morning, easy exhaustion, nervousness, lipotimia, insomnia, tremors, chest tightness, digestive difficulties, irritability, muscle cramps in different sites and visceral spasms (for example, of intestine, stomach and biliary tract), headache, dizziness and illness of various nature.

Spasmophilia is possible manifestation of: hormonal disorders of the ovaries, thyroid, parathyroids or adrenal glands; deficit or imbalance of mineral salts (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium); lack of vitamins (in particular, vitamin D).

In addition, fatigue with spasms can be found in fibromyalgia and alcoholism.

The panic and anxiety attacks, with consequent psychogenic hyperventilation and modification of the calcium-magnesium exchange, would cause acute spasmofilia crises, also called tetany (or tetanic crises). Tetany is characterized by the presence of spasms, generalized tenderness, tremors and forced and involuntary contraction of the skeletal muscles, which recall the symptoms of tetanus. The most frequent condition in which it occurs is hypocalcemia. Tetany can also be associated with malnutrition, hypokalemia, hypoparathyroidism and excess phosphate.