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Asthenia is a condition characterized by a feeling of weakness and general lack of energy, which can also be associated with physical and intellectual tiredness, tremors, slowing of movements, and muscle spasms.
Asthenia can be temporary or chronic, and can be caused by several factors, such as colds and flu, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies or due to exposure to certain treatments, such as chemotherapy, for example.
1. Flu
The flu is an infection caused by the influenza virus that, in addition to causing asthenia, causes symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, sneezing and nasal congestion, and can last from 5 to 7 days.
What to do: The treatment for the flu consists mainly of rest and hydration and the intake of medications to relieve symptoms, such as pain relievers, for pain and fever and an antihistamine for allergic symptoms. Know what to take for each symptom.
2. Anemia
Anemia is characterized by decreased levels of hemoglobin in the blood, which is a protein that is inside red blood cells, responsible for transporting oxygen to the organs. In addition to extreme tiredness, anemia can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, pallor and drowsiness. Find out what are the causes of this disease.
What to do: the treatment depends on the type of anemia that the person has, and can be done with iron and / or vitamin B12 supplementation, administration of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants or, in more severe cases, bone marrow transplantation. Learn more about the treatment of each type of anemia.
3. Thyroid disorders
Certain changes in the thyroid, such as hypothyroidism, can cause asthenia, weight gain and headache and hair loss, for example, due to low thyroid activity.
What to do: Treatment for hypothyroidism is done through hormone replacement with levothyroxine, which must be prescribed by the endocrinologist. See more about treating hypothyroidism.
4. Depression
One of the most common symptoms in people with depression is excessive tiredness, associated with an unwillingness to do the usual day-to-day tasks. Depression is a disease that affects mood, causing profound, persistent and disproportionate sadness, that goes beyond 2 weeks, and that has no justifiable reason for it to happen.
What to do: Treatment for depression is usually done with antidepressant drugs recommended by the psychiatrist and psychotherapy sessions, done weekly with a psychologist.
5. Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that causes difficulty falling asleep or maintaining a good quality of sleep, making the person feel very tired the next day, especially if it occurs on several nights in a row. This situation is more common in periods of stress, and can also be associated with diseases, such as depression, or be associated with situations such as pregnancy or menopause.
What to do: it is very important to adopt habits that allow the body to fall asleep at the right time, as is the case of sleep hygiene, avoiding watching television or looking at the phone at bedtime, avoiding bedtime each day at a different time and practicing physical exercises during the day, for example. There are also natural remedies, such as passion fruit or chamomile tea, for example, that can help you fall asleep. In more severe cases, it may be necessary to take medication if the doctor recommends it.
6. Vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 is very important for the proper functioning of the body and, therefore, the deficiency of this vitamin can cause a variety of changes in the body, such as asthenia, anemia, shortness of breath, memory loss, visual difficulty and irritability, for example . See what are the main causes of lack of vitamin B12.
What to do: treatment should be done by changing eating habits, by increasing the intake of foods rich in vitamin B12, and in some cases, it may be necessary to supplement with this vitamin.
7. Medicines
Ingestion of certain medications, especially anxiolytics and drugs used in chemotherapy treatment, can cause asthenia as a side effect.
What to do: In some cases, the doctor may make adjustments to the treatment, but this is not always possible, and it is recommended that the person rest whenever possible.
In addition to these causes, other less common causes that may be the cause of excessive tiredness and weakness, such as cancer, stroke, heart disorders, untreated diabetes, diseases that affect the muscles and poisoning.