Congenital asthenia. How to treat asthenia: traditional medicine. Nootropic drugs and psychostimulants

Asthenia is a psychopathological syndrome characterized by symptoms of depletion of the body's strength. The disease occurs quite often, especially against the background of stress and illness.

Illness is a response human body to conditions that can lead to its depletion. Asthenia causes changes in the activity of the part of the brain that is responsible for a person’s motivation, ability to concentrate and normalization of sleep.

Many people do not know asthenia - what it is and how to get rid of it, and confuse the disease with depression or fatigue.

As a rule, asthenia accompanies diseases that provoke immunological changes in the body. However, the syndrome does not develop due to the action of a virus or infection, but is a consequence of diseases internal organs and pathological conditions.

There are two types of asthenia – reactive (functional) and organic. Functional asthenia develops as a response to any disease that has caused a deterioration in the body's immune defense. Functional asthenia also develops due to psycho-emotional stress and shock, or due to excessive physical activity.

The organic form of the disease is a consequence of chronic diseases and pathologies that affect the body.

Causes of asthenic syndrome

Asthenia is a psychopathological disease. As a rule, it develops after past diseases characterized by depletion of the body. Asthenia can be caused by the following reasons:

• infectious diseases;
• disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
• cardiovascular pathologies;
• disruption of the endocrine system;
• anemia;
• oncological diseases;
• peripheral diseases nervous system;
• mental disorders;
• severe stress;
• use of prohibited substances.

The disease may appear after a previous infectious disease (post-infectious asthenia). To such diseases, causes of development asthenic syndrome, includes influenza, tuberculosis, digestive tract infections, etc. The body spends all its resources to fight the infection, as a result its strength is depleted, and this asthenic syndrome occurs.

Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, peptic ulcers, pancreatitis and gastritis, also cause pathological fatigue.

Asthenia develops against the background of cardiovascular pathologies. It can be caused by pneumonia, asthma, and kidney failure. There are frequent cases of asthenia developing as a psychopathological complication in the treatment of malignant neoplasms.

Pathology may result from a violation metabolic processes in the body and some diseases of the endocrine system. Patients are susceptible to asthenia diabetes mellitus, there is also senile asthenia syndrome.

The syndrome may accompany other mental pathologies - for example, schizophrenia or chronic depression. Moreover, there is an opinion that asthenia can provoke further development mental pathologies.

Drug addicts are susceptible to the syndrome. In this case, pathological fatigue is caused by the effect of toxic substances on the patient’s body and nervous system.

Asthenia often manifests itself in the postpartum period, especially during multiple pregnancies. In this case, the disease develops as a response of the body to the stress endured during childbirth.

Symptoms of the disease

The disease is characterized by a loss of strength, but asthenia should not be confused with physiological fatigue. Asthenia should be treated, while fatigue accumulated due to physical or psychological stress disappears over time.

Asthenia is pathological fatigue that develops without visible prerequisites. Worsening symptoms indicate that this condition will not go away on its own. Groundless fatigue is constantly present, while the patient does not experience stress.

The following signs of asthenia are distinguished:

• pathological fatigue;
• decreased performance;
• impaired concentration;
• irritability;
• vegetative disorders.

Pathological fatigue worsens over time. Patients note the inability to concentrate on work. The intellectual sphere suffers especially - patients often cannot find words, get confused when speaking, and cannot concentrate on the written text.

At the same time, psycho-emotional disorders develop - patients become irritable, note their depressed state, sudden sentimentality and tearfulness. This is often accompanied by sudden sensitivity to light and intolerance to loud noises.

Sleep disorders are manifested by the inability to fall asleep quickly and problems with awakening. Due to constant fatigue, sleep time increases to 10 or 12 hours, but the patient still feels unrested and exhausted upon awakening.

The syndrome is accompanied by vegetative disorders:

• decreased blood pressure;
• chest pain;
• tachycardia;
• increased sweating.

Often patients notice that they are constantly cold, or, on the contrary, complain of stuffiness. The syndrome may be accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea, and digestive problems. There is often a decrease in libido.

How to treat asthenia largely depends on the symptoms.

Features of the course of the disease

The disease can be acute or chronic. The acute form occurs after illnesses, while chronic asthenia is most often a consequence of diseases with a chronic course.

Depending on the clinical manifestations, the syndrome can be of a hypersthenic type (increased irritability and excitability of the patient), and a hyposthenic type (reaction to stimuli is reduced). The hypersthenic type of asthenic syndrome is considered mild form pathology.

The disease is also characterized depending on the cause of its occurrence. Thus, there are post-infectious syndrome (due to infectious diseases), postpartum syndrome, somatogenic and post-traumatic.

Depending on the cause, the symptoms of asthenia may vary. So, if the disease is caused by neurosis, people note muscle hypertonicity with asthenia.

If the pathology accompanies cerebrovascular accident, physical activity patients is significantly reduced. Patients do not want to move due to lack of strength. A person often experiences emotional instability – tearfulness, sentimentality. In this case, there is inhibition of thinking and low response to external stimuli. This is also typical for senile asthenia.

With asthenic syndrome caused by malignant neoplasms, there is a lack of strength for simple daily activities. Thus, the patient cannot go to the store due to pathological fatigue, and fatigue is noted. The muscles are weakened, and there is an unsteady gait when walking. Hypochondria, insomnia and a feeling of panic are added to the symptoms.

Post-traumatic asthenia may be accompanied by symptoms of encephalopathy.

Diagnosis of the disease

To make a diagnosis, you need to consult a neurologist. However, any doctor can suspect asthenic syndrome based on the patient’s complaints. Often the diagnosis is made by a therapist, but consultation with a neurologist is mandatory to identify the form of asthenia.

To determine the cause of the pathology, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination of the body, which includes:

• general blood analysis;
• consultation with a cardiologist;
• gastrointestinal tract examination (gastroscopy);
• Ultrasound of the kidneys;
• X-rays of light.

A general blood test will reveal inflammatory processes in organism. Consultation with a cardiologist is necessary to rule out heart disease. Gastroscopy will help rule out gastritis or peptic ulcer. In some cases, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is indicated.

Depending on the results comprehensive survey, a treatment method is selected. When asthenia is diagnosed, symptoms and treatment may vary between patients. This is due to the specific course of the disease in a particular patient.

Treatment of the syndrome

Having figured out what kind of disease it is, it is important not to delay treatment. Treatment of the syndrome begins with determining the cause of its occurrence. It is imperative to completely cure the pathology that provoked the development of asthenia.

Asthenia is treated by adjusting the patient’s lifestyle and taking special medications.

First of all, the patient must reconsider his own daily routine. It is necessary to ensure proper sleep, minimize stress and provide the necessary physical exercise. During treatment, it is necessary to avoid night shifts and long hours of overtime. The working day should not exceed eight hours, sleep should be at least seven hours. Need to go for more walks fresh air and play sports.

It is important to review the patient's menu. A balanced diet, plenty of fruits, fermented milk products and vegetables on the menu. The diet should contain enough animal protein.

Drug treatment is carried out to reduce symptoms and includes the following medications:

• antidepressants;
• antipsychotic drugs;
• nootropic medications;
• sedatives;
• vitamin complexes.

Treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. Medicines are prescribed depending on which symptoms predominate. When treating asthenic syndrome, it is very important not to overload the body with medications, so minimal dosages are taken. Medicines are prescribed only by the attending physician. Sedatives medicines- these are weak sedatives natural origin, for example, peony tincture or valerian extract. Such drugs are indicated for normalizing sleep, the disturbance of which is caused by asthenia. Be sure to prescribe vitamin complexes to improve immunity. To normalize the activity of the nervous system, taking B vitamins, as well as preparations with magnesium, is indicated.

Alternative therapy

Traditional methods of treatment are effective for the symptomatic treatment of asthenic syndrome. As a rule, such treatment is based on the use of soothing teas and herbal mixtures. It is usually suggested to drink lemon balm, chamomile and mint tea before bed. This helps calm the nervous system. Also shown are tinctures of valerian, peony or motherwort. The dosage of the tincture is selected by the attending physician.

Psychotherapy sessions will help you get rid of feelings of anxiety and emotional instability. Both individual consultations and group auto-trainings are practiced.

To relieve tension, normalize sleep and improve well-being, a course of relaxing massage is recommended.

When treating asthenia, water procedures are effective - hydromassage, swimming in the pool, water sports. Also, many patients note the effectiveness of yoga. All this allows you to get rid of stress and irritability and normalize sleep.

Aromatherapy is recommended for patients. The use of essential oils can calm the nervous system and get rid of insomnia. If your work activity is affected by illness, it is recommended to take a vacation and undergo sanatorium treatment.

A course of therapy allows you to completely get rid of symptoms. Following a daily routine, moderate but regular physical activity and a balanced diet will help prevent the syndrome from reoccurring.

Forecast

The success of treatment largely depends on how the patient himself is configured. It should be remembered that asthenia will not go away, you just need to get a good night's sleep. The disease progresses and symptoms worsen over time.

Due to the inability to concentrate, work activity suffers. With asthenic syndrome, you cannot work in positions that require concentration and attention. Due to pathological fatigue, the patient’s life worsens, his range of interests narrows, and his analytical abilities deteriorate. All this leaves a certain imprint on social interactions.

It is very important to see a doctor on time and not delay treatment. Timely treatment, following all the doctor’s recommendations, changing your own habits and lifestyle guarantee getting rid of asthenic syndrome.

Almost everyone at least once in their life has experienced a condition in which everything falls out of their hands, you don’t want to do anything, and general exhaustion of the body sets in. Such manifestations are possible after prolonged physical or mental stress, time zone change, or improper daily routine.

If you experience signs such as constant fatigue, apathy, irritability, then you should visit a doctor, especially if the symptoms progress. This is how an asthenic state can manifest itself. If such a diagnosis is made, special treatment will be required. Most often it is impossible to cope with the problem on your own.

Asthenic condition - what is it?

As a rule, many diseases begin with general malaise, lethargy and apathy. The disease passes and the symptoms disappear. In many patients, excessive fatigue, weakness and irritability are the only complaints, so a detailed examination cannot reveal any diseases.

All this may be a manifestation of the described malaise. Asthenic condition is a syndrome characterized by increased fatigue, irritability and nervous excitability, mood swings, severe fatigue even when doing usual work. As a rule, these signs increase, especially in the evening. Night sleep and rest do not bring relief to a person.

Asthenic syndrome is currently the most common form of neurosis. No one is immune from such a disease, especially considering the modern rhythm of life. Asthenic reactions and conditions are most often observed in schoolchildren, students, and mental workers.

Types of asthenic conditions

Asthenia can be classified according to various criteria. If we take into account the factor of its development, the following types are distinguished:

• Organic asthenia. This form usually accompanies many somatic diseases or organic pathologies that develop rapidly. These include: brain injuries, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's.
• Functional asthenic states. This reaction happens to stressful situations, infectious disease, severe fatigue. This phenomenon is temporary and passes quickly.

Asthenia also manifests itself in different ways, which is why they distinguish:

• Hypersthenic asthenia, which is manifested by increased excitability, intolerance to loud sounds, bright light. This form, gradually worsening, can move into the next stage.
• Hyposthenic asthenia. It is characterized by: drowsiness, lethargy, indifference to the outside world, problems with memory and attention.

The duration of the asthenic condition varies for everyone - for some it may be an acute form, which goes away after treatment, and there are cases of transition to the chronic stage. In this case the person long time cannot get out of this state. As a rule, it is impossible to do without the help of a doctor.

Asthenic emotional condition- this is not the same as ordinary fatigue, you need to be able to distinguish between them. With asthenia, fatigue is observed without connection with physical labor and it is not possible to get rid of it even after a long rest.

Types of conditions that can manifest as asthenia

Modern medicine identifies several conditions in which asthenic manifestations will occur:

1. Exhaustion. This refers to the mental reaction to exhaustion of the nervous system. This can happen as a result of prolonged stress, emotional and physical overload, and chronic lack of sleep.
2. Astheno-depressive syndrome. An asthenic state may be the first step towards the formation of “exhaustion depression” (or “neurotic depression”). This happens when exposed to traumatic factors against the background of nervous overstrain. One of the manifestations of this condition is a disturbance in the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness.
3. Somatogenic asthenia. Such manifestations usually begin and end with many infectious, cardiovascular, oncological, endocrine diseases.
4. Organic asthenic conditions. Suprasegmental autonomic disorders lead to this. They manifest themselves especially clearly in cases of brain damage and cerebrovascular accidents. Frequent companions of this condition: headache, problems with memory and attention, inability to concentrate on anything, dizziness.
5. Endogenous vital asthenia. This is most often a youthful asthenic condition, which is more typical for boys. It manifests itself as severe fatigue during any type of intellectual activity, headaches, and sleep disturbances. The peak of exacerbation usually occurs at 14-15 years.
6. Asthenia when using psychoactive drugs. Typical for people who are in psychological dependence from drugs. In this case, not only fatigue is observed, but also exhaustion, pain throughout the body, and the inability to sleep with an unbearable desire to sleep. The person becomes emotionally unbalanced and embittered.

Thus, an asthenic state is a signal to establish the cause of its occurrence. First of all, it is necessary to exclude somatic and endocrine diseases, as well as organic lesions brain. Whatever the cause of this condition, treatment will still be required.

Causes of asthenic conditions

Many factors can provoke neuroses and asthenic conditions, especially if there is such a mental predisposition. You can name factors that can contribute to the development of asthenia:

• Poor hygienic working conditions.
• Prolonged stay in conditions of physical, mental or mental stress.
• Failure to comply with sleep and rest schedules, frequent lack of sleep.
• A radical change in lifestyle, for example, retirement, divorce, etc.
• Excess weight.
• Addiction to alcohol.
• Drinking large quantities of strong coffee and chocolate.
• Maintaining strict dietary restrictions.
• Lack of fluid in the body.
• Impact on the body of toxic and poisonous substances.
• Use of medications.

Any of the listed factors can trigger the development of asthenia, and if there are several of them together, the risk increases.

Drugs that most often cause asthenic disorders

Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, we are forced to take medications that affect the nervous and endocrine systems. Taking them can lead to asthenic and anxiety-neurotic conditions. A big risk in this regard is taking medications from such groups as:

• β-blockers;
• sleeping pills;
• antihypertensive drugs;
• sedatives;
• tranquilizers;
• antiallergic medications;
• glucocorticosteroids;
• hormonal contraceptives.

Since asthenia often develops against the background of other diseases, it is very important to correctly determine the cause of such manifestations. This is especially necessary when a person finds himself in a difficult life situation. It is very important to get advice from a competent specialist in the following cases:

• The onset of menopause in women.
• Pregnancy.
• Long-term loss of appetite.
• Sharp weight loss.
• Severe mood swings.
• The appearance of asthenic signs after injury.
• If asthenia for a long time does not pass.

If a person is given appropriate help in a timely manner, he will get back into his usual healthy groove much faster.

Manifestations of asthenia

It is necessary to understand that this is a whole complex of signs, so it is not surprising that it has quite a variety:

• Increased fatigue and general weakness.
• Constant dissatisfaction with others.
• Irritability.
• The appearance of sexual disorders.
• Inability to concentrate.
• Tearfulness.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Intolerance to loud sounds and bright lights.
• Frequent headaches.
• Loss of appetite.
• Constant feeling of anxiety.
• Increased sweating.
• Trembling in the body and feeling of lack of air.

In order to make a correct and accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to understand that this asthenic condition in adults does not go away after a long rest and can be associated with certain psychophysical stress. Everyone, in principle, can independently diagnose such a syndrome, but making an accurate diagnosis is the prerogative of a doctor.

Asthenia in children

If in adults an asthenic emotional state is most often a problem due to difficulties at home and at work, mental and physical stress, then in children the disease develops differently. Doctors distinguish two options for the development of asthenic conditions in children.

1. In the first case, children with asthenic conditions are very excited. This is usually observed if parents put a lot of stress on the child. After school, he immediately goes to classes or clubs; in the evening, you can observe overexcitement, which does not allow the child to fall asleep. There is overstimulation of the nervous system, and the help of a specialist is needed. If you reduce the load, adjust the daily routine and resort to medications to support the nervous system, then this condition goes away quite quickly.
2. In the second scenario, everything happens the other way around. The child becomes lethargic, apathetic, does not learn school material well, and wants to sleep during the day. You also need to adjust the load and take a course of medications that will support the nervous system.

Asthenic conditions in children are often caused by brain damage. Unfortunately, quite a lot of such children are being born today. Everything happens as in the first case. Parents and grandparents expect too much from their child and try to send him to various sections. In addition, they also require good academic performance.

There comes a moment when the child simply ceases to know what he has already done and what he has not. You should not demand from your children high achievements Each child is individual and learns the material at their own pace. If you begin to notice that your baby has begun to bite his nails, blinks frequently, or has tics, then this is already serious reason for concern.

Children also experience very strongly various conflict situations in the family: divorce of parents, quarrels. They often don’t show it, but inside there is constant nervous tension. In such situations, the help of a specialist is important to bring the child out of an asthenic state.

Diagnosis of asthenia

Most often, a competent specialist always accurately diagnoses “asthenic condition”. Symptoms appear clearly against a background of overexertion, stress and general fatigue. But in the case when the signs of asthenia are slightly hidden behind the symptoms of the underlying disease, problems may arise with making a diagnosis. Only a detailed conversation with the patient can clarify the situation.

Specialists are armed with a scale of asthenic state, which was created by L. D. Malkova. It has already been adapted on the basis of clinical and psychological observations. The scale contains 30 statements that characterize this state.

For the accuracy of the results, everyone must be responsible for themselves; it is not allowed for someone to do this for you. After all answers, the scores are summed up; the entire scale can be divided into 4 ranges:

• 1st - from 30 to 50 points - no asthenia.
• 2nd - starts with 51 and ends with 75 points - a weak manifestation of asthenic conditions.
• 3rd - from 76 to 100 points - moderately severe asthenia.
• 4th - more than 101 points - severe condition.

Thus, the asthenic state scale (ASS) provides true results that facilitate diagnosis.

Therapy of asthenic syndrome

The treatment of asthenia must be approached comprehensively. Using only one method, achieve positive result impossible. If there is a diagnosis of “asthenic condition”, treatment should include:

1. Adjustment of work and rest schedules.
2. Compilation proper diet nutrition.
3. Elimination of bad habits.
4. Introduction of dosed physical activity.
5. Treatment with medications.
6. Use of physical therapy.
7. Creating and maintaining a normal psychological climate in the family.

Since the nervous system is exhausted in patients, tranquilizers and sleeping pills are prescribed first of all to normalize sleep and relieve stress. It is best to use drugs for these purposes medicinal herbs that have such effects. For example, taking such remedies gives good results.

• Medicine "Valerian P". It has a positive effect on the functioning of the autonomic and central nervous systems.
• Motherwort P product. Normalizes arterial pressure, calms and normalizes sleep.
• Complex "Nervo-Vit". Relieves irritability, tearfulness, increases the body's protective functions.
• The Leveton P complex is made on the basis of Leuzea and helps eliminate daytime drowsiness and reduces fatigue from mental and physical work.

For a speedy recovery, it is also important to take restorative complexes of vitamins and minerals. The doctor will advise which one is better to choose, taking into account the patient’s condition.

Only a whole range of drugs, taken on the recommendation of a doctor, can alleviate a person’s condition and normalize the functioning of his nervous system.

During treatment, you need to pay attention to your diet, include more foods rich in proteins, for example, meat, legumes. It is useful to eat cheese, bananas, turkey meat (these products contain tryptophan), consuming fresh fruits and vegetables, you can replenish the supply of vitamins and minerals in the body.

Therapeutic gymnastics, physiotherapeutic procedures, massage, walks in the fresh air will become indispensable aids in the treatment of asthenic conditions.

Folk recipes for asthenic conditions

Traditional medicine can be called upon to help in the fight against asthenia; in its bins there are recipes to reduce the symptoms of the disease. You can use the following; they have already been tested in practice by more than one patient.

1. Prepare a mixture of equal quantities of hawthorn, chamomile and St. John's wort flowers. Take 1 tsp. mixture and pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes. Strain and drink in small sips before going to bed. The course must be continued for 2 months. This remedy increases vitality and returns interest in life.
2. To invigorate a person, you need to mix an equal amount of lavender, linden, hop cones and St. John's wort flowers. Then 1 tsp. pour boiling water over it and you can drink it like regular tea (2-3 times a day).
3. If you really have no strength at all, then this remedy will help. You need to take 1 tsp. hawthorn flowers, calendula, burdock, rosemary leaves and mix with a small amount of ground coffee. Pour 0.5 liters of hot water and leave for a couple of hours. You need to drink in the morning after meals and in the evening.

These simple recipes will help cope with asthenia.

Features of the treatment of asthenia in children

Children's bodies are much more susceptible to various influences from the outside, so therapy should be prescribed only by a doctor. The following can be advised to parents.

1. Bring your child’s study and rest routine back to normal. It is necessary to adjust the activities in clubs and sections, maybe it is worth giving up something at least for a while.
2. Do not purchase any medications without the advice of a doctor. In this situation, even completely harmless means can only aggravate the condition.
3. After making a diagnosis, the doctor prescribes medications not only taking into account the symptoms, but also the age of the child.
4. The main task of parents is to follow all recommendations.

If all wishes are fulfilled, then, as a rule, the treatment is successful, and the baby’s nervous system returns to normal.

After visiting a doctor, you were diagnosed with an “asthenic condition”? That this is quite serious should become clear after talking with the doctor, so it is necessary to take treatment with all seriousness and responsibility. It is advisable to adhere to the following recommendations:

• Include feasible physical activity in your life - running in the evenings, swimming, cycling.
• Optimize your work and rest schedule.
• Avoid contact with hazardous chemicals whenever possible. If this is related to the type of your activity, then you will have to change it.
• Include protein-rich foods in your diet.
• Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Pay attention to eggs and liver - these foods improve memory.
• In winter, you should think about taking vitamin complexes.
• Maintain a normal microclimate in the family and in the work team.

If you add all this to drug treatment, you will get rid of the asthenic condition much faster.

Prevention of asthenic syndrome

Many people wonder whether it is possible to prevent the development of asthenia? This begs the question: is it necessary? After all, an asthenic state is a kind of protective reaction of the body that protects the nervous system from destruction. If the number and strength of external stimuli reaches a critical level, then protective reflexes are activated " extreme braking", which are manifested by asthenic conditions.

To prevent overstrain of your nervous system, it is recommended:

• Get enough sleep regularly. If there are problems with sleep, then they need to be addressed immediately.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle.
• Do not take on overwhelming physical and mental work.
• Alternate any stress with rest.
• Maintain normal relationships in the family and in the team.

Even if it was not possible to avoid overexertion, and asthenic syndrome overtook you, then a timely visit to the doctor will quickly return everything to its place. The initial stages of the disease are very treatable. You should not self-medicate or hope that gradually everything will go away on its own.

Asthenic syndrome- a feeling of temporary or chronic fatigue, loss of mental and physical energy. From Latin" asthenia "translated as weakness. Asthenic - a person characterized by a lack of strength, depression, and suspiciousness. In psychology, asthenics include people who are dependent, alarming - fearful and avoidant type.

Asthenia, what it looks like you're tired, actually this is what it is a disease that can put an end to a person’s effectiveness, have Negative influence on his self-esteem and standard of living. Asthenia does not go away without treatment, which is the main difference from episodes of fatigue caused by objective reasons - the need to rest after intense exercise.

Characteristic manifestations and possible causes

Asthenic conditioncan be a consequence of both serious diseases of the body and lifestyle ( frequent change time zones, emotional and physical overload, lack of sleep, etc.). A sthenia - a reason to think about going to the hospital, the main causes its appearance is either a disease of the body or a mental problem.

Objective (organic, caused by health problems):

1. Asthenia often occurs as a consequence of diseases of internal organs, infection, and intoxication.
2. Fatigue and asthenia are sometimes associated with diabetes and in general metabolic disorders.
3. Lack of food or its poor composition (minimal content of vitamins and minerals) logically leads to asthenia, since the body simply does not have energy, it does not receive it in sufficient quantities. Therefore, asthenia is often a companion to anorexia and other eating disorders.
4. Age, senile astheniaallocated to a separate branch of research in gerontology. The percentage of patients with asthenia increases in proportion to age. However, some factors, such as a high level of education, marriage and others, reduce the likelihood of being in the group of people with the disease, which also speaks about the psychological side of the development of asthenia in old age.

Subjective-objective (depending on the conditions and perception of a person):

1. Emotional, mental or physical stress leads to acute forms of asthenia.
2. Nervous and mental illness(especially schizophrenia).

What is hidden behind asthenia?Only a doctor can determine for sure, so at the first symptoms that do not go away within two to three weeks, you should seek the advice of a specialist.

Signs of asthenia:

• Shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat.
• Muscle spasms, cramps, fever.
• Fast fatiguability , loss or decrease in energy, fainting.
• Disorientation.
• Irritability, hot temper, suspiciousness.
• Depressed state, anxiety.
• Sexual asthenia.

Symptoms of astheniadepend on the cause that caused it. Thus, heart problems are usually associated with headaches and a feeling of pressure in the chest. And weakness and weakness are most often observed with any source of asthenia.

Psyche and weakness

A distinction is made between real asthenia, when the body really mobilizes forces to fight the disease and the source of the problem is clearly defined. And functional, in which the body works like a clock, but for some reason the person still cannot finish a single task, everything literally falls out of hand, while he experiences characteristicasthenic emotions(sadness, depression). Thisasthenic conditioncan be very acute, although a person has every chance of quickly getting back on his feet.

In psychology are engaged in the analysis of mental factors leading to asthenia. What does working with people with disabilities include? psychotype asthenics, and treatment of neurasthenia, which may be complicated by other pathologies. INasthenic disorderincludes asthenic psychopathy or dependent personality disorder, which most often affects asthenic psychotype . Let's first consider what's happened asthenic psychopathy, and then neurasthenia, which is described in three phases.

Socio-mental weakness

Dependentpersonality disorder, included in ICD-10, is one of the serious diseases that significantly worsens a person’s quality of life. Asthenia literally does not provide him with the opportunity to take life into his own hands. The disorder corresponds toasthenic typepersonality, who appears in the works of Konstorum, Leonhard, Kaplan and Sadok, although under different names.

A person with an asthenic personality type has following symptoms dependent disorder (in accordance with ICD-10):

• The tendency to transfer responsibility, to throw it off oneself.
• Submission to other people, passive fulfillment of their desires.
• Extreme undemandingness towards those from whom asthenic depending.
• Anxiety and feelings of helplessness when alone (fear of independence), feelings of helplessness and incompetence.
• Desire for approval and advice from others, inability to make decisions without them.

Asthenics This type has a special mental constitution; when they encounter problems, they prefer to avoid them hide . There is even a specialasthenic form of fear, which consists of numbness and inappropriate actions when aware of danger. This psychotype associated with such qualities and features as:

• Conscientiousness, pride, vulnerability, irritable weakness (in a close circle, there is no aggression in it, this irritability is a response to the asthenic’s suspicions that he is being treated poorly), a sense of personal inferiority, hence uncertainty and shyness.
• Frequent headaches, hand tremors, problems with stool, increased heart rate, pressure surges.
• Fatigue, intellectual and emotional.

In general, the asthenic type is not characterized struggle , they easily give in and retreat into the background, just to avoid the aggressiveness of others.Asthenic personalityobsessed with what people think of her, she places high demands on herself and suffers from inadequacy.

Here for the disease one can accept both the personality constitution of an asthenic person and its pathological manifestations.Psychologicalthe portrait practically corresponds to chronic asthenia. Asthenics can and should therapeutic treatment– assistance in setting boundaries, moving the locus of control inward and getting rid of fear.

Fatigue and irritability

Neurasthenia (a sthenic neurosis) first entered the vocabulary of doctors in the 19th century, and was considered a disease of intellectuals. Thisasthenic disordercharacterized by:

• Weakness.
• Fatigue quickly.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Worry.
• Decreased efficiency.

With neurasthenia, the following are often observed:

• Inability to relax.
• Chest pain.
• Accelerated heartbeat.
• Sweaty hands and feet.
• Hyperventilation.
• Sleep disorders.

The exact causes of neurasthenia have not been established, but, as a rule, it is observed before the disease mental trauma combined with severe stress. Thisasthenic disordermay be associated with burnout and chronic fatigue syndrome. It goes through three stages:

1. The beginning of the development of neurasthenia - irritability, slight excitability, bad dream, problems with concentrations. R reaction does not correspond to the stimulus - minor noises can infuriate a neurasthenic person. As a result of lack of sleep and overwork, there are girdling headaches, which are called neurasthenic headaches.

2. The second stage of neurasthenia - the neurasthenic is easily irritated, but quickly cools down, exhausted to the limit, is often impatient and fussy, sleeps poorly at night.

3. The third stage of neurasthenia is apathy, depression and drowsiness. A person becomes isolated on himself, his feelings.

It would be optimal for people suffering from this disease to refrain from intensive activities and work during treatment. If this is not possible, any sources of stress should be minimized.

How to improve your condition?

Although asthenia is not life threatening unless caused serious illness, it significantly reduces its quality. A person often becomes unable to perform the simplest tasks. May prevent the development of asthenia or alleviate its symptoms:

1. Time control. Alternating rest and activity, switching between forms of activity.
2. Eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals.
3. Refusal of diets and intense sports, although light physical activity is definitely necessary.
4. Normalization of sleep/wake patterns.

If you deviate from a healthy lifestyle after treatment, there is a risk of again get sick. A sthenic manifestationswill stretch over time and may develop into a chronic disease.

Asthenic syndromewhich is not caused by infections, diseases or other organic reasons, can be alleviated with relaxation and concentration exercises.

Asthenic conditionscharacterized by increased excitability, inability to tolerate stress and make significant emotional or intellectual efforts. Meditation and attention training, as well as reducing the number of irritants at home and at work (turning off devices that make sounds, distracting devices) will help you stay focused longer and reduce anxiety levels.

The most unexpected answer to the question "how to deal with asthenia“came from the University of Michigan, however, asthenics were not studied there, but the data from their experiment allows us to extend it to people with asthenia. Asthenic will increase concentration, reduce anxiety and reduce impulsivity with just an hour of sleep. Trying by force of will to continue to work or engage in some useful work, a person risks further aggravating his mental state.

Asthenic depressionrequires more complex treatment, including antidepressants and psychostimulants. A specialist will determine which drugs are suitable and in what case. If hints of a disorder are detected, then a comprehensive analysis of the body is required. Oftenasthenia in schizophreniahides the latter, and it, being the cause of fatigue and irritability, will grow, remaining unnoticed.

At the first sign asthenia can be usedtreatment with folk remedies- honey, relaxing herbs - chamomile, valerian, linden, yarrow, tincture of eleutherococcus, aromatherapy with essential oils lavender and eucalyptus. However, when using them, you need to remember that some people are individually intolerant to the components of herbs or extracts, and also, if the condition does not change or worsens, consult a doctor.

Asthenia is the starting point of many psychopathological processes. Timely treatment will not only improve a person’s quality of life, but also protect against more serious problems.

Almost all of us are familiar with the condition “ no strength to act": fatigue, fatigue that does not disappear after leisure, muscle weakness. However, many interpret their painful condition, like a slight malaise, hoping that the loss of strength will go away on its own. However, overwhelming impotence, a significant decrease in performance, rapid fatigue from habitual stress are symptoms of an abnormal state of the body called asthenia.

Signs of asthenic syndrome observed for more than one month and not associated with viral or bacterial diseases, requires the adoption of comprehensive therapeutic measures. It is worth noting that asthenia not only does not allow an individual to live a full and rich life, it can act as a symptom of more serious problems in the body or transform into an affective disorder - depression.

The term "asthenia" borrowed from Latin (Asthenia) and means "weakness". Asthenic status implies that the human central nervous system is in an exhausted state, all systems are working at the limit of their capabilities. Manifestations of asthenia are severe neuropsychic weakness, immediate depletion of nervous system resources, decreased tolerance to standard mental and physical stress, and a noticeable decline in a person’s ability to work.

In addition to the overwhelming feeling of weakness, weakness, exhaustion, a person’s emotional state undergoes changes, and defects in cognitive functions arise. A person suffering from asthenia often experiences mood changes with a predominance of despondency and depression, which outwardly manifest as tearfulness. A person becomes nervous and irritable, which causes conflicts in his environment.

Symptoms of asthenia: restlessness, fussiness, desire to complete all tasks at the same time and quickly. However, due to rapid depletion nervous processes, inability to concentrate, the person cannot complete the things he has started. The constant companions of asthenia are a variety of pain sensations of a psychogenic nature: headache, “aches” in the joints and muscles, discomfort and cramps in the abdominal area.

Causes

Asthenic syndrome is caused by the presence of certain congenital and acquired factors, which, under unfavorable circumstances, provoke the onset of the disorder. The reasons for the development of asthenia are the following:

• inherited predisposition to asthenic and depressive states;
• innate properties of the nervous system, causing its weakness and rapid exhaustion;
• asthenic personality type.

Probable causes of asthenia:

• acquired defects of the central nervous system due to traumatic brain injury or vascular diseases;
• acute infectious diseases affecting the brain;
• endocrine pathologies;
• oncological diseases.

A separate group of causes of asthenia also includes their consequences:

• uncontrolled reception psychotropic drugs, drug addiction, abrupt withdrawal of psychostimulants;
• drug use, withdrawal syndrome;
• alcoholism, withdrawal symptoms.

Among the “social” causes of asthenia, psychologists highlight the excessive demands of modernity, forcing a person to exist in “emergency mode.” The most harmful factors in this group are:

• political and economic instability in the country;
• high unemployment;
• poor financial situation of many citizens;
• excessive information overload;
• high demands on the performance and activity of an individual striving to build a successful career;
• serious competition in the labor market.

The following reasons contribute to the development of asthenia:

• low level of medical care;
• availability of narcotic substances to the average person;
• global alcoholization of the population of the post-Soviet space;
• lack of physical activity among office workers;
• lack of relaxation and relaxation skills;
• improper or meager diet due to lack of financial resources among people.

Clinical signs of asthenia

The development of asthenia can be assumed based on the patient’s complaints: his sensations are focused on the very process of painful experiences of his condition. A person really suffers a lot, because he cannot understand the reasons and in any way eliminate the all-consuming weakness, insurmountable fatigue, and complete powerlessness. The individual describes that he has lost “vital energy” and is unable to perform either professional duties or everyday activities. A patient with asthenia indicates that he lacks the “tone and strength” to qualitatively perform a stereotyped intellectual task.

An important sign of asthenia is a lack of vigor after a full night’s sleep. The person indicates that his condition is: “as if he didn’t go to bed at all, but worked all night long.”

Often the patient complains that he has become indifferent to current events. However, questioning the patient establishes that he retains an interest in life and is capable of enjoying himself, but he simply does not have the strength to begin and complete any enjoyable activities.

Objective clinical signs of asthenia are the phenomena of hyperesthesia: an inadequately high response to the action of stimuli of minor strength. Symptoms of asthenic status: excessive sensitivity of the patient not only to external stimuli, but also to internal stimuli.

A person loses calm and becomes agitated by normally inconspicuous external signals: people talking, the speech of a television announcer, birdsong, the sounds of dripping water, creaking doors. In addition to sound stimuli, the individual is disturbed by the visual signals received: flashes of bright light, flashing pictures on the monitor, natural movements, gestures and facial expressions of people. High tactile reactions are noted: some individuals cannot tolerate the process of combing, others suffer from touching the body of underwear. A tightly tied tie, tight-fitting clothes, and tight shoes get on the nerves of an asthenic person.

A subject with asthenia reacts violently to the normal processes of his body: he is unsettled by the sensation of heartbeat, sounds when inhaling and exhaling, rumbling in the digestive tract.

He is intensely experiencing the emerging pain syndromes, often describing that the headache is simply “driving you crazy”: “your head is cracking, splitting, seething like a cauldron.” In this case, the appearance of cephalgia is cyclical: headache is minimal in morning hours and feels like heaviness in the head, and intensifies after lunch as fatigue sets in. Many patients with asthenia are characterized by increased meteosensitivity: the malaise intensifies during shifts. weather conditions, flights in areas with different climatic conditions.

Symptoms of asthenia also appear at the vegetative level, up to sympathoadrenal crises. During the period of vegetative failures, the subject is determined to have:

• increased heart rate;
• blood pressure surges;
• instability of body position, unsteadiness of gait;
• tremor of the limbs.

The person describes that a “dark veil” or “flies are flying” appeared before his eyes. He finds it difficult to breathe and feels like “the ground is disappearing from under his feet.” He is overcome by hot flashes, which are replaced by internal chills.

Asthenia and depression almost always make changes in sleep and wakefulness. During the day, the asthenic person is lethargic and drowsy, and at night he is deprived of sleep. He can't fall asleep on time. Plunging into sleep, he is overcome by nightmares. With asthenia, frequent awakenings at night are noted. Rising time is pushed back to later morning hours. At the same time, getting out of bed, he feels as if half asleep.

When asthenia undergoes changes psychological characteristics personality, behavior pattern, cognitive abilities. A unique portrait of the patient will help demonstrate a typical asthenic person.

Portrait of an asthenic

Such a personality can be characterized by its inseparable trait - defensiveness (defensive position). A defensive person is not ready to show the required degree of aggressiveness and assertiveness when faced with the difficulties of life. His credo is to silently protest, withdraw into himself, run away and hide from problems.

To discharge the accumulated indignation, short outbursts of rage are observed in the immediate environment, but such an outburst of irritation quickly ends due to the rapid onset of depletion of mental resources. Such an attack is caused by accumulated grievances and suspicions that all people hate him. A flash of hysteria is replaced by apologies, regrets, and tears of repentance.

An asthenic is a conscientious and compassionate nature, completely devoid of indifference and insensitivity. A conflict that greatly disturbs him is burning in his soul, in which two principles are combined: the experience of a fairly exaggerated inferiority complex and painful pride. With asthenia, the subject often attributes imaginary shortcomings to himself and is very ashamed of them. He always gives in when faced with human arrogance and rudeness.

The external manifestation of low self-esteem is indecision, lack of confidence in one’s abilities, constant doubts, and shyness. In an unusual situation, when the gaze of others is directed at the asthenic person, he tries to move away to a decent distance, blushes, lowers his shoulders, tries not to look into the eyes of his opponent, and shifts from foot to foot.

A distinctive feature of an asthenic is increased impressionability, sensitivity, and “mimosa-likeness.” He cannot recover for a long time after an unpleasant event, and the sight of violence can cause him to faint. The subject is sensitive to offensive and rude words, for this reason he becomes uncommunicative, meticulously choosing his circle of acquaintances.

A feature of a person with asthenia is an alarming suspiciousness, implying significant exaggeration existing risk. The asthenic person “manages” to predict danger even in situations where there is no minimal threat. Instead of painstakingly analyzing the situation and inventing ways to protect himself, he simply refuses to take action.

Asthenia makes it difficult to perform usual activities labor process. Absent-mindedness and rapid fatigue lead to the fact that a person performs duties poorly or does not have time to complete the work in full. At the same time, the subject is deprived of strength not only by physically or intellectually complex tasks, but also by a normal conversation with an interlocutor, performing stereotyped actions. Due to the dispersion of attention, a person cannot connect together a long chain of tasks, which often creates an erroneous opinion about intellectual disability asthenics.

Treatment options

Since asthenia is not only an independent anomaly, but is also associated with a variety of neurological diseases, somatic ailments, mental disorders, the choice of treatment method requires a comprehensive examination of the patient. If the underlying disease is diagnosed, treatment is aimed at eliminating the factors that provoked it and minimizing the manifestation of signs of asthenia.

What to do if asthenia is not associated with other diseases? The basis for the treatment of asthenic syndrome is general strengthening measures that help normalize the functioning of the central nervous system. A patient diagnosed with asthenic status is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures, a massage course, acupuncture, a complex physical therapy. Properly selected water procedures are of great importance for stabilizing the well-coordinated functioning of the body: cold and hot shower in the morning, swimming in a pool or open water during the day and a relaxing warm bath with essential oils in the evening.

For asthenia, the statement “movement is life” is true. Therefore, a special place in the treatment of the abnormal condition is given to daily walks in the fresh air and active sports. The patient is recommended to arrange his weekly schedule in such a way that he can devote his entire weekend to active entertainment: hiking in the mountains, cycling, walking in the forest. For gardening lovers, working in a personal plot is a natural healer, restoring a depleted nervous system in a natural way.

However, when starting the “rehabilitation” of your body, you should remember: in the initial stages, excessive physical activity is unacceptable. The intensity and duration of exercise should be increased gradually, without expecting instant results.

Treatment of asthenia is impossible without a review of the diet and proper planning. daily menu. Persons with asthenic status should eat at least four times a day at equal intervals. The main “fueling” should occur during breakfast and lunch; after lunch, preference should be given to light low-calorie foods. The daily diet must include porridge from cereal crops, vegetables and fruits of local origin, lean meats, sea fish and seafood, nuts, dairy products.

Many people suffering fatigue, mistakenly believe that coffee and energy drinks can “get them back on track.” This is a rather dangerous misconception: all products containing caffeine actually activate the nervous system for a short period of time, but such stimulation occurs due to the intensive consumption of mental energy, so vigor is soon replaced by debilitating fatigue. How to overcome asthenia? Rule for asthenics: drink enough pure still water(at least two liters per day).

Among the irreplaceable measures, without which it is impossible to overcome asthenia, is changing the daily work schedule. Asthenics should forget about a ten-hour or more working day, perform professional duties for no more than eight hours with a mandatory rest break at lunchtime. At the same time, the daytime break should be reserved not only for eating and discussing problems at the dinner table. This hour should be devoted to breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and methods for relieving emotional stress.

How to get rid of asthenia once and for all? Eliminate stressful situations, minimize the expenditure of nervous energy on conflicts, quarrels, and showdowns. Without normalizing the atmosphere at home and at work, it will not be possible to restore the resources of the nervous system. Therefore, in difficult situations, all patients with asthenia are recommended to seek the help of a psychologist or psychotherapist to select the most adequate methods to eliminate stressors. Since asthenia is often a manifestation of the personal constitution, the doctor will suggest ways to “neutralize” unfavorable individual traits and help with choosing measures to transform the characterological portrait.

How to deal with asthenia without resorting to the “chemical” arsenal of the pharmaceutical industry? In simple situations, it is advisable to carry out a long course of treatment with natural stimulants and tonics. As a rule, vitamin C, E, group B and mineral complexes. It will not be superfluous to use tinctures:

• lures;
• ginseng root;
• Eleutherococcus;
• Leuzea;
• Schisandra chinensis;
• Rhodiola

For asthenia of various origins, treatment often includes amino acids that promote the formation of energy at the molecular level. Good action shows drugs: Stimol and L-arginine. A fairly common companion to asthenic syndrome is minor defects in the cognitive and mnestic sphere, the functions of which can be restored by nootropic drugs, for example: Phezam or Cortexinum.

If asthenia has developed against the background of impaired cerebral blood supply or is associated with alcoholism, it should be included in treatment effective remedy Mildronate. In the treatment of severe asthenic forms, it is appropriate to use psychostimulants, for example: Meridil (Meridiltim) or Sydnocarbum.

In case of protracted and persistent asthenia, additional diagnostic measures. If confirmed asthenic depression are treated with antidepressants.

Instead of an afterword

Although asthenia is a common phenomenon of our time, and many people exist in an asthenic status for years, this condition is not the norm. Timely medical assistance, establishing the true cause of the anomaly, changing the usual way of life, psychotherapeutic work will allow you to feel like a completely different person: energetic and cheerful, and will give you a chance to feel the fullness of life.

Article rating:

read also

03/19/2019 at 21:32 Everyone has their own ways of overcoming asthenia. At first I tried drinking coffee to calm myself down. But there was little sense, fatigue passed on a short time, and then manifested itself with even greater force. Enerion helped, strength gradually began to appear from it, weakness went away, that is, clear progress was visible. Then I started walking, exercising, and gradually getting into the normal rhythm of life.

05/06/2018 at 23:49 You definitely shouldn’t drink coffee, there seems to be some effect at first, but then it only gets worse - on own experience verified. If you need good pharmaceutical support, then it is better to ask your doctor to prescribe cardionate, it really works and gives a long-term effect.

04/27/2018 at 13:43 Meldonium, by the way, not only for ischemia and alcoholism, as it is written here. In general, an excellent drug for any asthenia, I took it in the form of Cardionate capsules after the operation, and really did not feel any weakness characteristic of this condition.

Asthenia is a psychopathological disorder that gradually progresses. Symptoms of asthenia are high fatigue, exhaustion of attention is also characteristic, and lability of emotions with instability and significant mood swings are observed. Asthenized patients have weakened self-control, they are impatient and often irritated.

Asthenia significantly reduces the ability to work, and intolerance to various stimuli occurs: sound, visual, as well as strong odors. The course of mental, neurological, and somatic diseases is complicated by asthenia. This disorder has no specific age category or gender.

Asthenia - what is it?

Asthenia is a psychopathological condition that is characterized by weakness, severe fatigue, incontinence of emotions with mood instability, irritability, hyperesthesia,.

Senile asthenia is a state of mental pathology that combines several syndromes. The main ones are neurosis-like and also cerebrasthenic. This type of asthenia most often indicates vascular pathology; the choroid plexuses of the brain are mainly affected. Senile asthenia occurs in older people, namely after 65 years. Cerebral asthenia, which manifests itself at the beginning of the disease, eventually leads to vascular dementia, or dementia.

Asthenic syndrome occurs in the practice of every doctor. Symptoms of asthenia are nonspecific and very often this is the initial stage mental disorders. The cause is often a violation of the neurotic structure, which subsequently leads to more complex, even irreversible, diseases.

Asthenic disorders, due to their nonspecificity, are quite common. Most people have experienced the symptoms of this disease. Research has noted an increase in asthenia in the population; this can be explained by the fact that modern people are constantly exposed to high levels of stress, stress is especially dangerous.

Neurasthenia is distinguished separately; its main manifestation is irritable weakness. This term was first used in the 19th century, but it is still relevant today. This disease was first described by G. Beard. Even in the main classification of diagnoses ICD-10, neurasthenia remained as an independent nosological unit, this confirms the real presence of such a condition and the importance of an individual therapeutic approach.

Neurocirculatory asthenia is a complex of disorders, of which the key ones are vegetative disorders. The stability of our body is ensured by many systems, among them important role Vegetative also plays. Changes or disruptions in its functioning lead to changes in the entire organism. Neurocirculatory asthenia is an exclusionary diagnosis that can be made with a complete examination of the body and the absence of any structural pathology. There are several types of neurocirculatory asthenia: cardiac, hypertensive, hypotonic, vagotonic and mixed. The most common is the first type.

Functional asthenia is not associated with organic pathology. Its main difference from neurocirculatory asthenia is the absence of pronounced autonomic dysfunctions. It often manifests itself in healthy people who have been exposed to a variety of stress factors. Functional asthenia is detected in half of the cases and, with proper diagnosis, goes away completely. Gastric asthenia is a subtype of functional, the main symptom is dysfunction digestive system. And although no organic pathology is detected, this form can cause significant discomfort and greatly reduces the quality of life.

Causes of asthenia

Considering the many types and impressive prevalence of asthenia, several groups of causes of asthenia are distinguished.

The first is the reasons that form organic asthenia. These are somatic diseases, structural damage to organs, injuries and surgical interventions. Below are the main organic causes.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system: all types of arrhythmias, and all types secondary hypertension, ischemic disease, especially carditis.

Lesions of the gastrointestinal system: pancreaduodenitis, gastroenterocolitis, peptic ulcer, dyspeptic disorders.

Pathology of the genitourinary system - chronic kidney disease, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis.

All systemic diseases, and oncopathology, as well as neurological diseases, strokes. Congenital pathology of the kidneys, lungs, heart defects.

Infectious diseases: and encephalitis, hepatitis A,B,C,D,E, as well as other types, HIV and AIDS, as its final stage.

Organic asthenia is also included in the structure of degenerative brain diseases: Alzheimer's disease, various types of dementia.

Common characteristic causes of asthenia: nervous tension; malnutrition, with a lack of important microelements; metabolic pathology. These prerequisites can turn into asthenia with additional factors.

Functional asthenia can occur acutely with sudden stress or overload at work, or it can be of a sluggish chronic nature: in women after childbirth, with withdrawal syndrome of certain drugs, for example, antidepressants, antipsychotics or narcotic substances (alcohol, nicotine, etc.).

Because the mental illness accompanied by anxiety, insomnia and fear, then all mentally ill people quickly become asthenic.

Neurocirculatory asthenia occurs when the autonomic nervous system is disrupted. Stress and the negative iatrogenic influence of doctors also have a negative impact. Physical inactivity, increased levels of radiation, and poor nutrition also lead to the development of neurocirculatory asthenia. It can also be caused by chronic respiratory diseases, tonsillitis, hyperinsolation, and chronic intoxication of the body.

There are also factors whose presence increases the risk of this disease: hormonal fluctuations, for example, when taking hormones, pregnancy or abortion; hereditary mental preconditions, inferiority of neurohormonal systems; low level of social living conditions.

Senile asthenia occurs more often in elderly, single women with high level intelligence, who live in distant villages and cannot provide themselves with a high level of living conditions. The main reason - irreversible changes brain due to gradual degeneration of neurons. The cause of degeneration is age-related changes and vascular pathologies, for example, atherosclerotic lesions.

Symptoms and signs of asthenia

All symptoms of asthenia include three groups.

♦ The first group is the actual manifestations of asthenia as a psychopathological syndrome. The main symptoms belonging to this group are listed below.

Fatigue is the first thing that worries patients and they talk about it with their family doctor. It is very important not to ignore this complaint and ask the patient in detail when it appeared and how it manifests itself. We all experience fatigue, but this is not asthenia. It is important that with asthenia, fatigue remains after rest and significantly complicates life. Such people are distracted, anxious, lack initiative, and over time completely lose their ability to work.

Vegetative symptoms. Changes in blood vessels and heart: increased heart rate, irregular pulse, pressure surges. Dermographic reactions occur easily. Fever or chills, increased local or general sweating may occur. Often there is discomfort in the stomach, dyspeptic disorders and spastic constipation. It is also possible, depending on the nature and localization.

Change in sleep. The sleep is shallow with a large number of dreams that are unpleasant in content; people often wake up and cannot fall asleep. After sleep there is no feeling of complete rest, and drowsiness remains during the daytime.

People with asthenia feel relatively well in the morning, but in the evening their condition worsens.

♦ The second group is the symptoms of the underlying disease, which appear together with asthenia. Depending on the disease that plagues the patient, complaints can differ radically. They are diagnosed by doctors of different profiles.

The course of asthenia differs with various diseases. When muscle tone is increased, striated muscles are especially involved. Muscle tone decreases, if there is chronic circulatory failure, the person becomes lethargic. There is incontinence of emotions, causeless crying. Thinking is difficult and slow. With neoplasia that affects the brain, weakness and apathy are expressed. Symptoms resemble myasthenia gravis: irritability, hypochondria, anxiety, and sleep pathology.

Traumatic asthenia, depending on the degree of injury, can be functional (cerabrestenia) or organic (encephalopathy). With encephalopathy, the patient becomes weaker. Memory deteriorates, emotions are unstable. These people are irritable, but the state can change abruptly to lethargy and indifference to the environment.

New knowledge is poorly absorbed. Cerebroasthenia does not manifest itself so clearly, but its course is long. With proper care, its symptoms practically disappear, but with minimal overload they worsen. After acute respiratory infections, asthenia initially has a hypersthenic character. Nervousness, a feeling of internal discomfort and irritability do not leave patients. With complicated infections, more severe hyposthenic asthenia develops. The patient is inactive, weak and drowsy, and any rustling sounds irritate him. Over time, a decrease in ability to work and an unwillingness to work appear. With a prolonged course, vestibular disorders, memory impairment, and absent-mindedness appear.

♦ The third group of symptoms arises as a patient’s reaction to his asthenic condition. A person does not understand his condition and worries, so his character changes. Patients become rude, aggressive, and often lose their self-control. If asthenia is not treated, neurasthenia may also develop.

Treatment of asthenia

In order to cure asthenia, it is necessary to correctly treat the disease against which it arose. To do this, it should be diagnosed in a timely manner and appropriate treatment prescribed. If therapy for the underlying disease is prescribed, you can proceed to the treatment of asthenia itself. To do this, it is worth using the developed step-by-step scheme, which is common in the practice of doctors.

Daily regime. It is very important to plan your daily schedule in such a way as to be able to fully rest; daily walks outside are especially useful before bed. Moderate physical activity is beneficial; it helps keep the body in good shape. For asthenia, water exercises, swimming, and contrast showers have a beneficial effect. It is advisable to give up bad habits and various excesses. Some patients should even choose a different type of activity.

You need a healthy and balanced diet. Nutritious breakfast, which will provide a quarter of the daily calorie level. It should include complex carbons: cereals, grains, etc. Products that contain the essential amino acid tryptophan are useful - dairy products, eggs, bananas, turkey meat, whole grain bread. It is important to eat meat, fish, nuts, and vegetables. It is harmful to be overtired; you need to rest on time. Eating seasonal vegetables, fruits, and berries has a beneficial effect.

Traditional treatment begins with taking adaptogens - tincture of ginseng root, lemongrass leaves, and eleutherococcus herb. Vitamins in combination with microelements - Zn, Mg, K, Ca - help well. Vitamin B1 -2.5% - 2ml intramuscularly, Ascorbic acid 5% - 2ml intramuscularly 1 time per day, duration one month.

Nootropics are used for deterioration of brain activity, which has been confirmed psychological tests or objective data. Aminalon – gamma-aminobutyric acid 300-1000 mg/day. Acefan has a mild stimulating effect, dose 300-1000 mg/day. Pyriditol improves the energy metabolism of glucose in the brain, dose – 0.3-0.4 g for a course of 1-3 months. Piracetam – stabilizes cerebral functions, dose: 20-30g/day.

It is better to entrust the prescription of antidepressants to a psychiatrist according to strict indications. Antidepressants with a stimulating effect are better suited. Pyrazidol - 150-200 mg/day, Azafen - 150-200 mg/day, Melipramine - 200-250 mg/day and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Such patients are also helped by certain methods of psychotherapy: suggestive therapy, autogenic relaxation, occupational therapy, sociotherapy and art therapy, aromatherapy and music therapy.

Alternative medicine: use of herbs with a calming effect: mint, chamomile, lemon balm. Can be taken instead of tea, which has a mild calming effect.

Some patients are indicated for sanatorium-resort treatment, while rest in nature and a relaxing massage with elements of stimulation are suitable for the soul.

A person’s health returns to normal after completing a full course of treatment. The genome of individual individuals contains a tendency to asthenia, which can lead to chronicity of this pathological condition. Preventative treatment, lack of stress and proper daily routine greatly reduce the risk of recurrent disease.