Asthenia cause symptoms. Asthenia

Asthenic syndrome belongs to the group of psychopathological disorders and is characterized by gradual development. Mental illness develops against the background of many chronic diseases. Asthenic disorder is characterized by frequent headaches and dizziness, decreased performance, increased irritability, and drowsiness.

What is asthenic syndrome?

Asthenic condition is a psychopathological disorder in which the patient complains of fatigue, weakness, irritability and other disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system. This condition is considered one of the most common, as it develops against the background of many pathologies of internal organs and systems, develops in both adults and.

Symptoms caused by asthenic syndrome are permanent. Fatigue, which is the main symptom of this psychopathological disorder, does not disappear after prolonged rest and therefore requires therapeutic intervention.

This syndrome differs from ordinary fatigue, which is of a short-term nature and arises against the background of physical and mental overload, malnutrition and other reasons.

Asthenia is diagnosed when its symptoms bother the patient for months or years.

The reasons for the development of asthenia

In about 45% of patients with asthenia, the causes of its development are due to organic damage to internal organs and systems. The risk group includes people with diseases of the cardiovascular system:

  • hypertension of various etiologies;
  • ischemic heart disease;
  • myocardial infarction;
  • carditis;
  • arrhythmia.

Asthenic disorder can also be provoked by: a deficiency of nutrients supplied to the organs of the central nervous system, excessive energy consumption, metabolic disorders.

Asthenic manifestations are diagnosed against the background of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract:

  • dyspeptic disorders;
  • pancreatuodenitis;
  • peptic ulcer;
  • gastroenterocolitis.

The appearance of asthenia is promoted by diseases of the genitourinary system: cystitis, chronic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis.

Possible reasons for the development of asthenia include disturbances in the work of the endocrine system caused by hypo- and hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and diseases of the adrenal glands.

Asthenic depression often develops after childbirth or as a result of hormonal changes in the body.

Organic reasons also include:

  • systemic pathologies;
  • an allergic reaction;
  • oncological diseases;
  • congenital diseases of the kidneys, heart, lungs;
  • hepatitis of various types;
  • tuberculosis;
  • meningitis;
  • encephalitis;
  • ARVI;
  • autoimmune diseases.

In addition, vegetative-vascular asthenia is isolated, which occurs against the background of VSD.

In addition to organic reasons, asthenization is caused by the cessation of taking a number of medications (withdrawal syndrome), refusal from alcohol or cigarettes, severe stress, prolonged and excessive physical exertion.

Asthenic disorder affects people with low intelligence, living in distant settlements or with dementia. In this case, the cause of the psychopathological state lies in irreversible changes affecting the brain. Vascular diseases (atherosclerosis) also lead to such disorders.

Classification of asthenic syndrome

Depending on the causes of occurrence, functional and somatogenic (somatic) asthenia are distinguished. Both forms of disorder occur with approximately the same frequency.

Functional asthenia is temporary and reversible. This form of disorder develops due to psycho-emotional or physical overload, stress, acute infectious diseases.

Somatogenic asthenia occurs as a result of a prolonged course of chronic diseases.

Depending on the characteristics of asthenic syndrome, its course is subdivided into:

  1. Sharp. In fact, this is another name for functional asthenia. It develops under the influence of severe stress or an infectious disease.
  2. Chronic. This type of disease is characterized by a prolonged course.

Asthenic disorder is also divided into two types, taking into account both causal factors and features of the clinical picture:

  1. Senile. This type of disorder is mainly diagnosed in the elderly. Senile asthenia usually develops as a consequence of vascular pathologies that cause brain damage and provoke dementia.
  2. Neurocirculatory. The cause of asthenia is vegetative-vascular dystonia.

In addition to these types of classifications, asthenia is divided into 2 forms, depending on the features of clinical manifestations:

  1. Hypersthenic. It is characterized by increased irritability. Patients with this form of impairment do not tolerate pungent odors, strong sounds, bright light.
  2. Hyposthenic. The development of this form of asthenic syndrome is accompanied by a decrease in the body's response to external stimuli. As a result, patients experience drowsiness, lethargy, and a state of apathy.

Severe brain pathologies caused by infection or other reasons often cause the development of organic emotionally labile asthenic disorder. This form of the disorder is characterized by mood swings and emotional incontinence.

Organic brain damage provokes the development of such a form of disorder as encephaloasthenic syndrome. This type of disorder is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • inability to remember information;
  • decreased ability to work;
  • weakening of the will;
  • decreased intelligence;
  • inability to adapt.

With encephaloasthenic syndrome, total dementia is often diagnosed.

To determine how to treat asthenia, it is necessary to establish the cause of its occurrence and it is often possible to identify it by the peculiarities of the clinical picture.

Asthenia symptoms

The symptoms of asthenia are varied. The first signs of asthenia appear during the day. Moreover, symptoms that develop in the late afternoon are more pronounced.

The main symptom of functional asthenia is severe fatigue. Patients quickly get tired when doing any business, and their previous performance is not restored even after a long rest. People with asthenic disorder report:


To solve problems, patients have to constantly take short breaks. As a result, against the background of such disorders, asthenic depression develops, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • decreased self-esteem;
  • constant worry;
  • anxiety.

As asthenic syndrome develops, the symptoms are supplemented by signs of psychoemotional disorders. Their appearance is explained by problems that arise due to a decrease in performance. This leads to the fact that patients become irritable and tense. Psycho-emotional disorders are characterized by a sharp change in mood, the predominance of optimistic or pessimistic views. The progression of asthenia causes depressive neurosis.

Associated symptoms

The development of a psychopathological disorder in most patients is accompanied by dysfunction of the autonomic system, which manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:


Asthenia is often accompanied by:

  • prolonged headaches;
  • decreased libido in men;
  • sleep disturbance.

Patients with asthenic syndrome have bad dreams. Patients often wake up during the night. After waking up, patients show weakness, which increases in the evening.

With asthenia, it is possible to increase body temperature up to 38 degrees and an increase in peripheral (cervical, axillary and other) lymph nodes.

Neurocirculatory disorder

A neurocirculatory disorder that occurs against the background of dysfunction of the autonomic system is characterized by multiple symptoms. Each sign of a pathological disorder is combined into several syndromes:

  1. Cardiac. It is diagnosed in an average of 90% of patients with this disease. The development of cardiac syndrome is accompanied by painful sensations that are localized in the chest. In this case, the appearance of a symptom is not associated with dysfunction of the heart muscle.
  2. Sympathicotonic. This syndrome is characterized by the presence of tachycardia, surges in blood pressure, blanching of the skin, and motor excitement.
  3. Vagotonic. It has a weak heartbeat. With vagotonic syndrome, low blood pressure is observed, which provokes headaches, dizziness, hyperhidrosis, and intestinal upset.
  4. Mental. The syndrome manifests itself in the form of unreasonable attacks of fear and mood swings.
  5. Asthenic. Patients with this syndrome react sharply to changing weather conditions and get tired quickly.
  6. Respiratory. Patients have difficulty breathing (feeling short of breath).

Neurocircular asthenia is characterized by the appearance of several syndromes at the same time.

Symptoms depending on the causative factor

Neurotic disorders that cause asthenic syndrome are manifested in the form of increased muscle tone, due to which patients complain of constant weakness.

With vascular pathologies, the brain has an urgent need for nutrients Oh. Such violations provoke a decrease in muscle tone and slowed down thinking.

Oncological diseases of the brain and organic damage to its tissues cause:


With organic lesions of the brain, the symptoms are persistent and long-lasting.

Similar clinical phenomena occur after trauma to the central nervous system. In this case, it is possible to join the clinical manifestations of autonomic disorders. Moreover, the symptoms of VSD become more pronounced during the course of respiratory and other diseases.

Asthenic syndrome, which occurs against the background of ARVI, manifests itself as a hypersthenic disorder, in which there is increased irritability and nervousness. If the respiratory illness becomes severe, the disorder takes on a hyposthenic form. With this development, there is a gradual decline in cognitive functions and performance.

Diagnosis of asthenic manifestations

Due to the fact that with asthenic syndrome there are multiple symptoms characteristic of various mental disorders, this nervous pathology is difficult to diagnose.

To accurately determine the disease, the patient is tested, during which it is necessary to answer more than 10 questions. The survey results show the presence or absence of symptoms characteristic of asthenia.

The psychopathological disorder must be differentiated from other similar disorders:

  • hypochondriacal neurosis;
  • hypersomnia;
  • depressive neurosis.

In this case, additional research helps to identify the cause. Asthenic syndrome is diagnosed by performing a number of laboratory tests:


If there is a suspicion of damage to the central nervous system or VSD, an MRI of the brain is prescribed. Additional examinations are also carried out to identify violations in the work of other organs.

How is asthenia treated?

Treatment of asthenia is carried out provided that other forms of disorders characterized by similar clinical manifestations are excluded. The therapy regimen is selected taking into account the disease that caused the asthenic disorder.

To cure asthenia, the patient must make significant lifestyle adjustments. It is important to avoid stressful situations until full recovery. For this, patients are often prescribed treatment in a sanatorium.

To get rid of asthenia, drugs help, the action of which is aimed at eliminating the disease that caused this disorder. Treatment with medicines, depending on the nature of the pathology, is carried out under the supervision of a physician, and it is mandatory if therapy for asthenia with VSD is prescribed.

Medicines are prescribed as prescribed by a specialist and for treatment at home.

Drug therapy

Drugs are selected taking into account the cause and the nature of the symptoms of the disease. At the initial stage of treatment, drugs are used in a minimum dosage.

Functional asthenia is treated with nootropics:


Nootropics are used for severe cognitive impairment. It is recommended to supplement these medicines with adaptogens, which include extracts:

  • ginseng;
  • rhodiola rosea;
  • lemongrass;
  • eleutherococcus.

A good result is demonstrated by antiasthenic drugs with a sedative effect: "Novo-passit", "Sedasen".

Asthenic depression, depending on the complexity, is treated with antidepressants or tranquilizers. The first group of drugs includes:


From tranquilizers for asthenia used "Phenibut", "Atarax", "Clonazepam". Antidepressants and tranquilizers are allowed to be used only after consulting a doctor.

In organic asthenic disorder and other forms of psychopathological condition, neuroleptics (Teralen, Eglonil) and B vitamins are also prescribed.

Regardless of the form of asthenia, symptoms and treatment, a set of measures must be applied for the successful recovery of the patient. The pills do not help unless the patient makes lifestyle adjustments.

Psychotherapeutic treatment

Asthenic disorders are successfully treated through psychotherapeutic therapy. In this case, various techniques are used:

  1. Influencing the general condition of the patient and eliminating individual manifestations of anxiety-asthenic syndrome. To achieve the desired result, the methods of self-hypnosis, hypnosis, auto-training and others are used. Such treatment of asthenic syndrome in adults reduces anxiety and improves the patient's condition.
  2. Methods affecting the mechanisms of development of the disorder. Asthenic syndrome is treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy, neuro-linguistic programming.

If necessary, psychotherapeutic techniques are used, through which the factor of the appearance of the disorder is eliminated. This approach allows you to identify the relationship between certain events (for example, conflicts within the family) and the development of asthenia.

Non-drug treatments

For asthenia, treatment should be comprehensive. Already at the initial stage, patients need:

  • get rid of bad habits;
  • normalize rest and work regimes;
  • avoid conflict situations;
  • exercise daily.

By observing the above rules, you can get rid of a disorder such as asthenic depression.

In addition to the named methods of treatment, physiotherapeutic measures are used:

  • Charcot's shower;
  • phototherapy;
  • acupuncture;
  • massage and others.

Non-drug treatments are unable to fully combat organic asthenic disorder. However, this approach helps to reduce the intensity of symptoms characteristic of this type of psychopathological disorder.

Prevention of asthenic phenomena

Understanding the characteristics of asthenia, what kind of disease it is, helps to independently choose measures to prevent this mental disorder. To avoid its development, it is necessary to treat any diseases in a timely manner.

Asthenic conditions often occur against the background of physical and mental fatigue, therefore, in order to prevent it, it is recommended to fully rest and sleep at least 7-8 hours a day. If necessary, you can take drugs that strengthen the immune system and tone the nervous system.

Asthenic reactions respond well to treatment with timely medical attention. The prolonged development of asthenic syndrome gives complications in the form of neuroses, schizophrenia and chronic depression.

Fatigue after a hard day is a normal phenomenon that the body can handle. But if even a long rest does not help to feel better, it makes sense to suspect a "problem" in the nervous system. Asthenic conditions are gradually becoming a painful norm for modern society. How to deal with pathology? Why does it arise and what symptoms are inherent in it?

Asthenia - what is it?

Asthenia is also known as neuropsychic weakness, asthenic syndrome, asthenic condition, asthenic reaction. This is a pathological condition in which the patient suffers from rapid fatigue and increased exhaustion, due to which performance decreases, mood swings are observed and, in general, general health worsens.

Any asthenic disorder is considered a relatively mild syndrome, and the importance of its therapy may be underestimated. Nevertheless, in this state, a person loses the ability to normal life. Often, nervous asthenia serves as a favorable background for the formation and development of other, more severe mental or somatic disorders. Although effective treatments exist today, unhealthy fatigue continues to be ignored by many sufferers.

Asthenia: causes of the syndrome

The manifestation of an asthenic state is associated with excessive consumption of the "reserves" of the central nervous system. There is also a failure in the functioning of the reticular activating system, which is responsible for active wakefulness. The reasons due to which physical or mental asthenia develops are mainly:

  1. Violation of mental activity. Depression, schizophrenia, cognitive disorders are associated with pathological changes in the structure of the brain and suppression of impulses entering it. Often such patients in childhood had to face ridicule, aggression, violence, excessive demands from adults.
  2. Diseases of the nervous system, accompanied by vascular and organic lesions. This group includes: neurocirculatory dystonia, encephalitis and other ailments of an inflammatory nature, Alzheimer's disease. Due to the consistently increased muscle tone, patients suffer from pain and chronic fatigue.
  3. Infectious and inflammatory pathologies. Asthenia can occur against the background of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, tuberculosis, food toxic infection, etc. The waste products of pathogens also have a negative effect on the patient's condition.
  4. Endocrine pathologies. This is about diabetes mellitus and hyper / hypothyroidism. Due to these diseases, energy processes in the body are disrupted.
  5. Problems with the digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory system. Any pathology, be it colitis, hypertension or bronchial asthma, makes the body vulnerable and provokes its exhaustion. Chronically lowered immunity also contributes to this.
  6. Injuries. Basically, injuries to the head and spine are dangerous. Moreover, chronic trauma in the form of osteochondrosis can also have a negative impact.
  7. Physical, mental, emotional stress. If a person does not know how to properly organize his daily routine, sooner or later he will face asthenia. Also, the degree of stress has a significant effect: the one who is constantly worried and worried, quickly "exhausts" his nervous system.

Pathological exhaustion can both accompany the disease and serve as its consequence - until the body recovers. An asthenic state, provoked by nervous experiences, worries, conflicts, is called neurasthenia.

Functional and organic asthenia - what is it?

Asthenia, depending on the causes of development, is of two main types. Exists:

  1. Functional asthenia. It is observed in 45% of cases. This type of asthenia is called reactive and belongs to temporary conditions. This category includes:
  • prenosological asthenia - a common fatigue that occurs in managers, executives, "white collars";
  • postpartum asthenia - characteristic of women who have just given birth;
  • iatrogenic asthenia - occurs due to medical error or as side effect medications taken;
  • chronic asthenia - such that it periodically worsens;
  • overexertion asthenia - associated with mental or physical fatigue;
  • post-infectious asthenia - manifests itself after diseases of an infectious nature;
  • psychiatric asthenia - accompanies functional borderline disorders (depression, insomnia, anxiety, etc.)
  • Organic asthenia. It is diagnosed in 55% of patients. Pathology is formed against the background of irreversible damage to the central nervous system. If the exhaustion of the nervous system is associated with illness or abuse psychoactive substances(drugs, strong drugs), then there is an organic asthenic disorder.
  • The organic syndrome is usually more severe because it is associated with damage to the central nervous system. Functional asthenic states are generally reversible and can respond well to therapy: in some cases, the syndrome even disappears on its own, if only the provoking factor stops acting.

    Asthenia: symptoms of a pathological condition

    The signs with which asthenia of the nervous system manifests itself are varied. In many cases, the symptoms depend on the cause of the pathology, for example:

    • with the atherosclerotic nature of asthenia, the patient complains of memory lapses and increased tearfulness;
    • with hypertension, patients talk about pain in the region of the heart;
    • with gastritis, there is discomfort in the stomach.

    But there are also standard symptoms of asthenia. Among them:

    1. Increased fatigue.
    2. Concentration problems, forgetfulness.
    3. Difficulty finding words during a conversation, vague wording of thoughts.
    4. Lack of improvement after rest, heaviness in the head after a night's sleep.
    5. Tension, anxiety, excitement, conviction of their own failure.
    6. Rapid loss of composure, grumpiness, pickiness, mood swings.

    Signs of asthenia are least pronounced in the first half of the day, usually starting to appear in the afternoon and in the evening.

    Asthenic personality disorder - what is it?

    Asthenic today is understood as a dependent personality disorder. At the same time, a person:

    • feels helpless, incapable, incompetent;
    • constantly looking for support from others;
    • seeks to shift responsibility for his life to others;
    • cannot make independent decisions;
    • feels fear of an independent life;
    • afraid to be alone;
    • obeys the needs of others.

    Addictive disorder belongs to the group of panic and anxiety disorders. It is not directly related to asthenia.

    Asthenia: how to treat it yourself?

    Self-therapy for asthenia mainly involves lifestyle changes. Necessary:

    1. Refuse night shifts at work. Be sure to sleep 7-8 hours a night.
    2. Rest during the day, do not overwork.
    3. Minimize stress levels. Change jobs if necessary.
    4. Do gymnastics daily.
    5. Eat properly.
    6. Stop using alcohol and drugs, get rid of nicotine addiction.

    In fact, this is all that a person can do himself. If the change in the daily routine did not help, the treatment of asthenia will have to be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. Especially if the problem is not caused by stress and overwork, but by some kind of disease.

    Asthenic condition: treatment by a psychotherapist

    Psychotherapy is an important component of the treatment of asthenic conditions. Today, there are three main directions:

    1. Etiotropic. The impact is on the immediate cause of asthenia in order to make a person take a critical look at his condition. Children's conflicts and traumas are analyzed, family and gestalt therapy is carried out.
    2. Pathogenic. The goal of therapy is to interrupt the chain of pathology formation. NLP techniques, correction of conditioned reflexes, influence on cognitive-behavioral acts are used.
    3. Symptomatic. The goal of treatment is to eliminate interfering symptoms. For this, they practice auto-training, suggestions, hypnosis.

    Often, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes are enough to achieve recovery. Additionally may be recommended: exercise therapy, massage, water procedures, acupuncture.

    Asthenia: treatment - drugs

    Medical therapy for asthenia is carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor. Applicable:

    1. Nootropics (Piracetam, Pyritinol). They increase the resistance of the psyche to overload, stimulate memory.
    2. Tranquilizers (Phenibut, Atarax, Clonazepam). Suppress anxiety.
    3. Antidepressants (fluoxetine, imipramine). They help to normalize sleep and appetite, improve mood, enhance mental activity.
    4. Atypical antipsychotics (clozapine, aripiprazole). They accelerate metabolic processes and make cells of the cerebral cortex more resistant to negative influences.
    5. Sedatives (Valerian, Novopassit). They enhance the effect of other medicines. They regulate the processes of inhibition and excitation.

    If necessary, other drugs may be prescribed for asthenia. In each case, the therapy is selected individually.

    Asthenia is a condition that cannot be ignored. If the feeling of powerlessness does not disappear in a few days, but only intensifies, you need to take action. And the main one is a visit to a specialist.

    (asthenic syndrome) is a gradually developing psychopathological disorder that accompanies many diseases of the body. Asthenia is manifested by fatigue, decreased mental and physical performance, sleep disturbances, increased irritability or vice versa lethargy, emotional instability, autonomic disorders. To identify asthenia allows a thorough survey of the patient, the study of his psycho-emotional and mnestic spheres. A complete diagnostic examination is also necessary to identify the underlying disease that caused the asthenia. Asthenia is treated by choosing the optimal work regime and a rational diet, using adaptogens, neuroprotectors and psychotropic drugs (neuroleptics, antidepressants).

    ICD-10

    R53 Malaise and fatigue

    General information

    Asthenia is by far the most common syndrome in medicine. It accompanies many infections (ARVI, influenza, foodborne diseases, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, etc.), somatic diseases (acute and chronic gastritis, ulcer 12p.intestinal ulcer, enterocolitis, pneumonia, arrhythmia, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, neurocirculatory dystonia and proliferative .), psychopathological conditions, postpartum, post-traumatic and postoperative period. For this reason, specialists in almost any field encounter asthenia: gastroenterology, cardiology, neurology. Asthenia can be the first sign of an incipient disease, accompany its height or be observed during the period of convalescence.

    Asthenia should be distinguished from ordinary fatigue, which occurs after excessive physical or mental stress, change of time zones or climate, non-observance of the regime of work and rest. Unlike physiological fatigue, asthenia develops gradually, persists for a long time (months and years), does not go away after a good rest and needs medical intervention.

    Asthenia causes

    According to many authors, asthenia is based on overstrain and depletion of higher nervous activity. The immediate cause of asthenia can be an inadequate intake of nutrients, excessive energy expenditure, or metabolic disorders. Any factors leading to depletion of the body can potentiate the development of asthenia: acute and chronic diseases, intoxication, poor nutrition, mental disorders, mental and physical overload, chronic stress, etc.

    Asthenia classification

    Due to the occurrence in clinical practice, organic and functional asthenia is distinguished. Organic asthenia occurs in 45% of cases and is associated with the patient's chronic somatic diseases or progressive organic pathology. In neurology, organic asthenia accompanies infectious organic lesions of the brain (encephalitis, abscess, tumor), severe craniocerebral trauma, demyelinating diseases (multiple encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis), vascular disorders (chronic cerebral ischemia, hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke), degenerative processes (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, senile chorea). Functional asthenia accounts for 55% of cases and is a temporary reversible condition. Functional asthenia is also called reactive asthenia, since in essence it is the body's reaction to a stressful situation, physical fatigue or an acute illness.

    According to the etiological factor, somatogenic, post-traumatic, postpartum, post-infectious asthenia are also distinguished.

    According to the peculiarities of clinical manifestations, asthenia is divided into hyper- and hyposthenic forms. Hypersthenic asthenia is accompanied by increased sensory excitability, as a result of which the patient is irritable and does not tolerate loud sounds, noise, bright light. Hyposthenic asthenia, on the contrary, is characterized by a decrease in susceptibility to external stimuli, which leads to lethargy and drowsiness of the patient. Hypersthenic asthenia is a milder form and with an increase in asthenic syndrome it can turn into hyposthenic asthenia.

    Depending on the duration of the asthenic syndrome, asthenia is classified into acute and chronic. Acute asthenia is usually functional in nature. It develops after severe stress, acute illness (bronchitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, gastritis) or infection (measles, flu, rubella, infectious mononucleosis, dysentery). Chronic asthenia has a long course and is often organic. Chronic functional asthenia includes chronic fatigue syndrome.

    Asthenia associated with depletion of higher nervous activity, neurasthenia, is distinguished separately.

    Clinical manifestations of asthenia

    Symptom complex characteristic of asthenia includes 3 components: own clinical manifestations of asthenia; disorders associated with the underlying pathological condition; disorders due to the patient's psychological reaction to the disease. The manifestations of the asthenic syndrome itself are often absent or weakly expressed in the morning hours, appear and grow during the day. In the evening, asthenia reaches its maximum manifestation, which forces patients to necessarily take rest before continuing to work or go to household chores.

    Fatigue... The main complaint of asthenia is fatigue. Patients note that they get tired faster than before, and the feeling of fatigue does not disappear even after a long rest. When it comes to physical labor, then there is a general weakness and unwillingness to do their usual work. In the case of intellectual work, the situation is much more complicated. Patients complain of difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, decreased alertness and intelligence. They note difficulties in formulating their own thoughts and their verbal expression. Patients with asthenia often cannot concentrate on thinking about one specific problem, find it difficult to find words to express any idea, are absent-minded and somewhat lethargic when making decisions. In order to do the work that is feasible before, they are forced to take breaks; to solve the set task, they try to think it over not as a whole, but by breaking it into parts. However, this does not bring the desired results, increases the feeling of fatigue, increases anxiety and causes confidence in one's own intellectual inconsistency.

    Psycho-emotional disorders... A decrease in productivity in professional activity causes the emergence of negative psycho-emotional states associated with the patient's attitude to the problem that has arisen. At the same time, patients with asthenia become hot-tempered, tense, picky and irritable, and quickly lose their composure. They have sharp mood swings, states of depression or anxiety, extremes in assessing what is happening (unreasonable pessimism or optimism). Aggravation of psycho-emotional disorders characteristic of asthenia can lead to the development of neurasthenia, depressive or hypochondriacal neurosis.

    Autonomic disorders... Asthenia is almost always accompanied by disorders of the autonomic nervous system. These include tachycardia, pulse lability, changes in blood pressure, chilliness or a feeling of heat in the body, generalized or localized (palms, armpits or feet) hyperhidrosis, decreased appetite, constipation, pain along the intestines. With asthenia, headaches and a "heavy" head are possible. In men, a decrease in potency is often noted.

    Sleep disturbances... Depending on the form of asthenia, it can be accompanied by sleep disorders of various types. Hypersthenic asthenia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, restless and intense dreams, nocturnal awakenings, early waking up and feeling fatigued after sleep. Some patients feel that they practically do not sleep at night, although in reality this is not the case. Hyposthenic asthenia is characterized by the occurrence of daytime sleepiness. At the same time, problems with falling asleep and poor quality of night sleep remain.

    Diagnostics of the asthenia

    Asthenia itself usually does not cause diagnostic difficulties for a doctor of any profile. In cases where asthenia is a consequence of stress, trauma, illness, or acts as a harbinger of pathological changes beginning in the body, its symptoms are pronounced. If asthenia occurs against the background of an existing disease, then its manifestations may fade into the background and be not so noticeable behind the symptoms of the underlying disease. In such cases, signs of asthenia can be identified by interviewing the patient and detailing his complaints. Particular attention should be paid to questions about the patient's mood, the state of his sleep, his attitude to work and other duties, as well as to his own condition. Not every patient with asthenia will be able to tell the doctor about their problems in the field of intellectual activity. Some patients tend to exaggerate existing abnormalities. To get an objective picture, a neurologist, along with a neurological examination, must conduct a study of the patient's mnestic sphere, assess his emotional state and response to various external signals. In some cases, it is necessary to differentiate asthenia from hypochondriacal neurosis, hypersomnia, depressive neurosis.

    Diagnosis of asthenic syndrome requires a mandatory examination of the patient for the underlying disease, which caused the development of asthenia. For this purpose, additional consultations can be carried out with a gastroenterologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, pulmonologist, ultrasound of the kidneys, MRI of the brain, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, etc.

    Asthenia treatment

    General recommendations for asthenia are reduced to the selection of the optimal mode of work and rest; refusal from contact with various harmful effects, including alcohol consumption; the introduction of healthy physical activity into the daily regimen; adherence to a fortified diet corresponding to the underlying disease. The best option is a long rest and a change of scenery: vacation, spa treatment, a tourist trip, etc.

    For patients with asthenia, foods rich in tryptophan (bananas, turkey meat, cheese, wholemeal bread), vitamin B (liver, eggs) and other vitamins (rose hips, black currants, sea buckthorn, kiwi, strawberries, citrus fruits, apples, salads from raw vegetables) are useful and fresh fruit juices). A calm work environment and psychological comfort at home are essential for patients with asthenia.

    Medical treatment of asthenia in general medical practice is reduced to the appointment of adaptogens: ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, Chinese magnolia vine, Eleutherococcus, pantocrine. In the United States, the practice of treating asthenia with large doses of B vitamins is adopted. However, this method of therapy is limited in the use of a high percentage of adverse allergic reactions. A number of authors believe that complex vitamin therapy is optimal, which includes not only vitamins of group B, but also C, PP, as well as trace elements involved in their metabolism (zinc, magnesium, calcium). Often, nootropics and neuroprotectors (ginkgo biloba, piracetam, gamma-aminobutyric acid, cinnarizine + piracetam, picamelone, hopantenic acid) are used in the treatment of asthenia. However, their effectiveness in asthenia has not been conclusively proven due to the lack of large studies in this area.

    In many cases, asthenia requires symptomatic psychotropic treatment, which can only be selected by a narrow specialist: a neurologist, psychiatrist or psychotherapist. So, individually for asthenia, antidepressants are prescribed - inhibitors of the reuptake of serotonin and dopamine, antipsychotics (antipsychotics), procholinergic drugs (salbutiamine).

    The success of the treatment of asthenia resulting from any disease largely depends on the effectiveness of the treatment of the latter. If it is possible to cure the underlying disease, then the symptoms of asthenia, as a rule, disappear or significantly decrease. With prolonged remission chronic illness, manifestations of accompanying asthenia are also minimized.

    Article author: Maria Barnikova (psychiatrist)

    Asthenia: how to overcome painful impotence?

    17.06.2016

    Maria Barnikova

    Asthenia - a state of severe neuropsychic weakness may indicate the onset of somatogenic disorders.

    Almost every one of us is familiar with the state “ no power to act»: Rapid fatigue, fatigue that does not disappear after leisure, muscle weakness. However, many interpret their painful condition as a slight indisposition, hoping that the loss of strength will go away on its own. However, overwhelming impotence, a significant decrease in working capacity, 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, require complex therapeutic measures. It is worth noting that asthenia not only does not allow an individual to live fully and richly, it can act as a symptom of more serious malfunctions 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 central nervous system of a person is in a depleted state, all systems are working at the limit of their capabilities. The manifestations of asthenia are severe neuropsychic weakness, instant depletion of the resources of the nervous system, decreased tolerance to standard mental and physical stress, a noticeable decline in a person's working capacity.

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

    Symptoms of asthenia: restlessness, fussiness, thirst to do all things at the same time and as soon as possible. However, due to the rapid exhaustion of nervous processes, the inability to concentrate, the person cannot complete the work she has begun. The constant companions of asthenia are various painful sensations of a psychogenic nature: headache, "aches" in the joints and muscles, discomfort and cramps in the abdomen.

    Causes

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

    • inherited predisposition to asthenic and depressive conditions;
    • 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 includes their consequences:

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

    Among the "social" causes of asthenia, psychologists single out the excessive demands of the present, forcing a person to exist in an "emergency mode". In this group, the most harmful factors are:

    • political, economic instability in the country;
    • high unemployment rate;
    • poor financial situation of many citizens;
    • excessive information overload;
    • high requirements for 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;
    • the availability of narcotic substances to the average man in the street;
    • global alcoholization of the population of the post-Soviet space;
    • lack of physical activity among office workers;
    • lack of relaxation and relaxation skills;
    • wrong or poor diet due to lack of financial resources in people.

    Clinical signs of asthenia

    It is possible to assume about the development of asthenia according to the patient's complaints: his feelings 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, irresistible fatigue, complete powerlessness. The individual describes that he has lost his "vital energy", can not perform any professional duties or household activities. A patient with asthenia indicates that he lacks "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 man points out that his state is: "as if he did not go to bed at all, but worked all night long."

    Often the patient complains that he has become indifferent to the events taking place. However, questioning the patient reveals that he has retained an interest in life and is able to have fun, but he simply does not have the strength to start and finish any pleasant activities.

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

    A person loses his calmness and becomes agitated from normally inconspicuous external signals: the conversation of people, the speech of a television announcer, the singing of birds, the sounds of dripping water, the creak of doors. In addition to sound stimuli, the individual is deprived of rest by the received visual signals: flashes of bright light, flickering of pictures on the monitor, natural movements, gestures and facial expressions of people. High tactile reactions are noted: some persons cannot endure the process of combing, others suffer from touching the body of underwear. A tightly knotted tie, tight-fitting clothes, tight shoes get on the nerves of asthenic.

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

    He is intensely experiencing the arisen pain syndromes, often describing that the headache simply "drives you crazy": "the head is cracking, splitting, seething like a cauldron." At the same time, the appearance of cephalalgia is cyclical: the headache is minimal in the morning and feels like a heaviness in the head, and intensifies in the afternoon as fatigue sets in. Many patients with asthenia are characterized by increased meteosensitivity: malaise increases with changing weather conditions, flights in areas with different climatic conditions.

    Symptoms of asthenia are also manifested at the vegetative level, up to sympathoadrenal crises. During the period of vegetative disruptions, the subject is determined:

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

    The persona describes that a "dark veil" or "flies are flying" appeared before his eyes. It is difficult for him to breathe and he feels how "the earth is leaving 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 is lethargic and drowsy, and at night he is deprived of sleep. He is unable to fall asleep on time. Falling asleep, he is overcome by nightmares. With asthenia, frequent awakenings at night are noted. Rise time is postponed to later morning hours. At the same time, getting out of bed, he feels like half asleep.

    With asthenia, the psychological characteristics of the personality, the model of behavior, and cognitive abilities undergo changes. A kind of portrait of the patient will help to demonstrate a typical asthenic.

    Portrait of asthenik

    To characterize such a person is capable of its inseparable feature - defensivity (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, withdrawn into himself, run away and hide from problems.

    As a discharge of the accumulated indignation, short outbursts of rage are observed in the close environment, however, such a surge of irritation is rapidly ending due to the rapid onset of depletion of mental resources. Such an attack is caused by the accumulated resentment and suspicion that all people hate him. The outburst of hysteria is replaced by apologies, regrets, and tears of remorse.

    Asthenic is a conscientious and compassionate nature, completely devoid of indifference and insensitivity. In his soul, a very disturbing conflict burns, in which two principles are combined: the experience of a fairly exaggerated inferiority complex and painful pride. In asthenia, the subject often ascribes to himself imaginary shortcomings and is very ashamed of them. He always gives in when faced with human impudence and rudeness.

    The external manifestation of low self-esteem is indecision, lack of confidence in their abilities, constant doubts, shyness. In an unfamiliar environment, when the gaze of others is turned to the asthenic, he tries to move away to a decent distance, blushes, lowers his shoulders, tries not to look his opponent in the eye, shifts from foot to foot.

    A distinctive feature of asthenic is heightened impressionability, sensitivity, "mimosa-like". He cannot recover for a long time after an unpleasant event, and the type of violence can cause fainting. The subject painfully perceives offensive and rude words, for this reason, becomes uncommunicative, meticulously composing a circle of his acquaintances.

    A feature of a person with asthenia is anxious suspiciousness, implying a significant exaggeration of the existing risk. Asthenik "manages" to predict the danger even in situations where there is no minimal threat. Instead of painstakingly analyzing the situation and inventing ways of securing, he simply refuses measures.

    Asthenia significantly complicates the performance of the usual work process. Absent-mindedness and fatigue leads 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 physically or intellectually difficult tasks, but also the usual conversation with the interlocutor, performing routine actions. Due to the lack of concentration of attention, a person cannot put together a long chain of tasks, which often creates an erroneous opinion about the intellectual deficiency of the asthenic.

    Treatment methods

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

    What if asthenia is not associated with other diseases? The basis in the treatment of asthenic syndrome is general strengthening measures that contribute to the normalization of the functioning of the central nervous system. A patient who has an asthenic status is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures, a course of massage, acupuncture, and a complex of physiotherapy exercises. Of great importance for stabilizing the well-coordinated work of the body is correctly selected water procedures: a contrast shower in the morning, swimming in a pool or open water body in the afternoon 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 an abnormal condition is given to daily walks in the fresh air, and doing outdoor sports. The patient is advised to draw up his weekly schedule in such a way that he can devote the whole weekend to active entertainment: hiking in the mountains, cycling, walking in the woods. For gardening enthusiasts, work in the garden is a natural healer, restoring the exhausted nervous system in a natural way.

    However, when starting to "rehabilitate" your body, you should remember: at the initial stages, excessive physical activity is unacceptable. The intensity and duration of classes should be increased gradually, without expecting an instant result.

    Treatment of asthenia is impossible without a review of the diet and competent planning of the daily menu. Persons with asthenic status should eat at least four times a day at the same time interval. The main "refueling" should be at breakfast and lunch, after lunch it is necessary to give preference to light, low-calorie foods. The daily diet must necessarily contain cereals, vegetables and fruits of local origin, lean meats, sea fish and seafood, nuts, dairy products.

    Many people suffering from rapid fatigue mistakenly believe that coffee and energy drinks are capable of "getting them back in order". This is a rather dangerous misconception: all products containing caffeine really activate the nervous system for a short period of time, however, such stimulation occurs due to the intense expenditure of mental energy, so soon cheerfulness is replaced by exhausting fatigue. How to overcome asthenia? The rule for asthenics: drink a sufficient amount of clean, non-carbonated water (at least two liters per day).

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

    How to get rid of asthenia once and for all? Eliminate stressful situations, minimize the expenditure of nervous energy for conflicts, quarrels, clarification of relationships. 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 advised to seek the help of a psychologist or psychotherapist to select the most adequate methods for eliminating stressors. Since asthenia is often a manifestation of a personality constitution, the doctor will suggest ways to "neutralize" unfavorable individual traits and will help with the selection of 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, tonics. As a rule, the intake of vitamin C, E, group B and mineral complexes is prescribed. It will not be superfluous to use tinctures:

    • lure;
    • ginseng root;
    • eleutherococcus;
    • leuzea;
    • Chinese lemongrass;
    • rhodiola.

    In asthenia of various origins, amino acids are often present in the treatment, which contribute to the formation of energy at the molecular level. A good effect is shown by drugs: stimulus (Stimol) and L-arginine (L-arginine). A fairly common companion of asthenic syndrome is minor defects in the cognitive and mnestic spheres, the functions of which will be restored by nootropics, for example: fezam (Phezam) or cortexin (Cortexinum) ...

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

    In the case of a protracted and persistent course of asthenia, additional diagnostic measures should be taken. If asthenic depression is confirmed, antidepressant treatment is performed.

    Instead of an afterword

    Although asthenia is a common phenomenon of our time, and has existed in asthenic status for many 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 vigorous, will give you a chance to feel the fullness of life.

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    15.10.2019 at 14:23 It seems to me that now a huge number of people are suffering from asthenia, although not everyone is aware that this is a serious disease and most often this condition is attributed to vitamin deficiency, loss of strength, etc., she herself went through it. I just understood it in time and went to the doctor. The doctor prescribed treatment for me with a recognan, took it once a day. Somewhere from the middle of the course of treatment, I saw that there was more energy, during the day I could solve more problems at the same time, I solved them qualitatively. I could calmly fall asleep at 10 in the evening and wake up at 6 in the morning vigorous, which I did not have before.

    Valentine

    09/07/2019 at 16:22 Yes, now asthenia is almost the norm for our lifestyle ... We went through this, coped with the problem with the help of a doctor who prescribed a course of Recognan. Now I don't even remember the problems and calmly cope with the increased workload.

    07/31/2019 at 11:54 I got this state when there was a blockage at work and turnover. Some of the people were laid off, they had to work for two or three and combine incompatible duties. Already in the morning I got up tired and broken, and I still have to work all day. And then I decided to start fighting this condition. Movies first, cafes on weekends, nature. But when there was no particular effect, she began to take Mildronate (a colleague advised). No, there was no instantaneous action, but after a couple of weeks of taking it, I felt again all the bright colors of life and began to cope with work quickly and simplified a lot. As a colleague told me, this tool helps to cope with mental and physical stress. And this is exactly what I needed.

    19.03.2019 at 21:32 Everyone has their own ways of overcoming asthenia. At first I tried to drink coffee to get myself in order. But there was little sense, the fatigue passed for a short time, and then it manifested itself with even greater force. Enerion helped, strengths began to appear from him gradually, weakness went away, that is, clear progress was visible. Then she began to walk, load up, gradually enter the usual rhythm of life

    05/06/2018 at 23:49 Coffee is definitely not worth drinking, some action seems to be there at first, but then it only gets worse - it has been tested on my own experience. If you need good farm support, it is better to ask your doctor to prescribe cardionat, 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 drank it in the form of Cardionat capsules after the operation, I really did not feel any weakness characteristic of this state.

    Asthenia is a psychopathological disorder, the characteristic symptoms of which are fatigue, weakness, sleep disturbances, and hypersthesia.

    The danger of this pathology is that it is the initial stage in the development of mental disorders and more complex psychopathological processes. It is also important that asthenia is considered a very common pathology that occurs in diseases in psychiatric, neurological and general somatic practice.

    The disease should be distinguished from the feeling of fatigue caused by a change in time zones, non-observance of the work and rest regimen, mental overstrain. Asthenia differs from fatigue caused by these reasons in that it does not manifest itself after the patient has rested.

    What it is?

    Asthenia is an imperceptibly progressive psychopathological disorder.

    This pathology means powerlessness, painful condition or chronic fatigue, manifested in exhaustion of the body with increased fatigue and an extreme degree of instability of mood, impatience, sleep disturbance, restlessness, weakening of self-control, loss of the ability to physical and prolonged mental stress, intolerance to bright light, pungent odors and loud sounds.

    Causes of occurrence

    Often, severe asthenia occurs after previous illnesses or against their background, after prolonged stress. Experts consider asthenia to be a psychopathological condition and rank it as the initial stage of development of serious neurological and mental diseases.

    This disorder should be differentiated from the usual weakness or fatigue after illness. The main distinguishing criterion is the fact that after fatigue and illness, the body independently and gradually returns to normal after adequate sleep and nutrition, good rest. And asthenia without complex therapy can last for months, and in some cases for years.

    Common causes of asthenia include:

    • overstrain of higher nervous activity;
    • lack of intake of nutrients and essential trace elements;
    • pathological disorder of metabolic processes.

    In most cases, all of the above factors at different age periods arise in the life of each individual, but they do not always provoke the development of asthenic disorders.

    Disorders and injuries in the work of the nervous system, somatic diseases can push the development of asthenia. Moreover, the symptoms and signs of asthenia can be noted both in the midst of the disease, and before the disease itself or during the recovery period.

    Among the diseases that lead to asthenia, experts distinguish several groups:

    • neurological disorders;
    • renal pathologies - chronic pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis;
    • gastrointestinal diseases - severe dyspeptic disorders, gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis, enterocolitis;
    • infections - food poisoning, ARVI, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis;
    • diseases of the cardiovascular system - arrhythmias, heart attack, hypertension;
    • diseases of the bronchopulmonary system - chronic bronchitis, pneumonia;
    • trauma, postoperative period.

    This disorder often develops in individuals who do not imagine their existence without work and for this reason do not sleep enough and deny themselves rest. This condition can develop in the initial period of the course of a disease of internal organs, for example, with coronary disease and accompany it, being one of its manifestations (for example, with tuberculosis, peptic ulcer and other chronic diseases), or reveal itself as a consequence of an acute illness that has ended ( flu, pneumonia).

    Symptoms

    Asthenia has characteristic symptoms, which are divided into three main groups:

    • own manifestations of asthenia; loss of strength
    • disorders underlying the disease;
    • the patient's psychological reaction to asthenia itself.
    1. Vegetative disorders. The development of asthenia almost always leads to jumps in blood pressure, an increase in the pulse rate, interruptions in the work of the heart, to a decrease in appetite, headaches and dizziness, to a feeling of heat or, on the contrary, chills throughout the body. Disorder of sexual function is observed.
    2. Fatigue. With asthenia, fatigue does not go away even after a long rest, it does not allow a person to concentrate on work, leads to absent-mindedness and a complete lack of desire for any activity. Even one's own control and efforts do not help a person return to the desired mode of life.
    3. Sleep disturbance. With asthenia, a person cannot fall asleep for a long time, wakes up in the middle of the night or wakes up early. Restless sleep, does not bring the necessary rest.

    A person experiencing the influence of asthenic disorders realizes that something is wrong with him and begins to react differently to his condition. There are outbursts of rudeness, aggression, sudden mood swings are observed, and composure is often lost. The long course of asthenia leads to the development of depression and neurasthenia.

    • A characteristic sign of asthenia is the condition in which the patient feels good in the morning, and after lunch all the symptoms and signs of the disease begin to increase.
    • By the evening, asthenic disorder usually reaches its maximum. With asthenia, there is also an increased sensitivity to bright light sources, harsh sounds.

    Asthenic disorders affect people of all ages, often signs of the disease are detected in children and adolescents. In modern boys and girls, asthenia is often associated with the intake of psychogenic and narcotic drugs.

    Diagnostics

    Asthenia is diagnosed by interviewing the patient in order to detail his complaints. Particular attention in the survey should be paid to questions about mood, sleep quality, attitudes to work and other responsibilities, as well as to their own general state. Since some exaggerate the existing deviations, in order to get an objective picture, the doctor needs to conduct a study of the mnestic sphere, to assess his response to stimuli and emotional state.

    Asthenia treatment

    With the appearance of asthenia, the main goals of treatment will be to improve the patient's quality of life, increase the level of his activity and productivity, reduce the manifestation of asthenia and its accompanying symptoms. Therapy depends on the clinical manifestations and the etiology of the disease. If asthenia is secondary, the underlying disease must be treated initially. In the case of a reactive nature of asthenia, medical tactics should be aimed at correcting the factors that led to the breakdown.

    If the causes of asthenia are stress, physical or psycho-emotional fatigue, the doctor may advise to normalize the modes of sleep and wakefulness, work and rest. Therapy for primary asthenia involves an integrated approach: psychotherapeutic techniques, physical training, drug therapy.

    Exercise is one of the most important methods of treating asthenia. It has been proven that the therapy with dosed physical training in combination with educational programs helps to improve the patient's well-being. Hydrotherapy has also proven its effectiveness: Charcot douche, swimming, contrast douche. According to the doctor's indications, massage, gymnastics, physiotherapy, acupuncture can also be prescribed.

    Psychotherapeutic approaches are actively used in treatment. For example, symptomatic psychotherapy is aimed at improving the general health of the patient, eliminating the feeling of fatigue and anxiety. This approach includes hypnosis, self-hypnosis, auto-training, suggestion. Personality-oriented psychotherapy is also considered to be an effective method of treating asthenia.

    Drug treatment

    Such treatment of asthenia in general medical practice is reduced to the appointment of adaptogens: ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, Chinese magnolia vine, Eleutherococcus, pantocrine. In the United States, the practice of treating asthenia with large doses of B vitamins has been adopted.

    However, this method of therapy is limited in the use of a high percentage of adverse allergic reactions. A number of authors believe that complex vitamin therapy is optimal, which includes not only vitamins of group B, but also C, PP, as well as trace elements involved in their metabolism (zinc, magnesium, calcium). Often, nootropics and neuroprotectors (ginkgo biloba, piracetam, gamma-aminobutyric acid, cinnarizine + piracetam, picamelone, hopantenic acid) are used in the treatment of asthenia. However, their effectiveness in asthenia has not been conclusively proven due to the lack of large studies in this area.

    In many cases, asthenia requires symptomatic psychotropic treatment, which can only be selected by a narrow specialist: a neurologist, psychiatrist or psychotherapist. So, individually for asthenia, antidepressants are prescribed - inhibitors of the reuptake of serotonin and dopamine, antipsychotics (antipsychotics), procholinergic drugs (salbutiamine).

    The success of the treatment of asthenia resulting from any disease largely depends on the effectiveness of the treatment of the latter. If it is possible to cure the underlying disease, then the symptoms of asthenia, as a rule, disappear or significantly decrease. With prolonged remission of a chronic disease, the manifestations of accompanying asthenia are also minimized.

    Folk remedies

    Medicinal plants have tonic and soothing properties. And this is exactly what is needed for asthenia. Such recipes are very effective:

    • Tincture based on medicinal herbs. For cooking, you need valerian roots, hop cones, lemon balm and chamomile inflorescences. Take all components in equal proportions, grind and mix thoroughly. To prepare the infusion, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over a spoonful of the collection. Then the product will be infused for 20 minutes. After that, the entire volume should be drunk during the day in small sips.
    • Herbal tea for decoction. It is recommended to mix lemon balm, oregano, yarrow and chamomile inflorescences. All components must be crushed. Then 3 tablespoons of this collection need to be poured into 1 liter of boiling water. The medicine must be boiled over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Then strain. Every time before meals, you need to drink half a glass.
    • Herbal infusion. You will need chamomile, motherwort and valerian roots. To achieve the maximum effect, you also need to add hawthorn. All components should be taken in equal volumes. Then mix them thoroughly and take 4 spoons of herbal. Pour everything with a liter of boiling water. The product is infused in a thermos for at least 6 hours. Then the resulting infusion should be filtered and taken three times a day. The liquid should be warm at the same time. The dose is 0.5 cups. You need to drink the medicine before eating.

    In addition, homeopathy is used for many nervous disorders.

    Prevention

    Prevention of asthenia includes:

    • maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
    • rejection of bad habits;
    • proper nutrition;
    • playing sports;
    • emotional unloading;
    • adherence to proper sleep patterns.