Spring is already here and, although it seems that with this season the good mood and energy have to come, in some people the opposite happens. Fatigue, mood swings, appetite alterations, sleep disorders … are some of the characteristics of the so-called spring asthenia, which usually appears with the seasonal change during the first weeks of spring. In fact, the word asthenia comes from the Greek “asthenia,” whose meaning is the “quality of being without strength.”
Although it is considered mild and usually remits alone after a few days, in some people it can become very difficult to perform the daily tasks normally. With the arrival of spring, the agency must adapt to the new environmental conditions, which require higher daily energy consumption.
Symptoms of spring asthenia
There is still a discussion about whether spring asthenia should be considered a pathology to be treated, the tendency is to consider it an adaptive disorder. There is no diagnosis or scientific evidence to demonstrate its strict relationship with spring but rather is considered a response to the adaptation to the increase of light hours, temperature and time change characteristic of this time of year. The main symptoms are:
– Tiredness
– Irritability
– Difficulty concentrating
– Anxiety
– Loss of appetite
– Lack of motivation
– Decrease in libido
– Sleep disorders, especially difficulty in falling asleep
– Headaches
– Lack of energy
If the symptoms of asthenia persist in time or are very intense, they may be associated with other health problems sometimes not previously diagnosed as could be the allergies that are also associated with this time of year. In this case, you should consult your doctor, because it could be another underlying problem.
Keys to face the spring asthenia
Since it is not considered a disease, there is no specific treatment, only lifestyle-related advice or guidelines that can help prevent and reduce symptoms:
– Moderate physical exercise will help stress release and sleep reconciliation
– Maintain proper sleep hygiene and follow the ideal sleep hours recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which range from 7 to 8.
– Setting routines and schedules is very important to combat the stress that the time change can cause in the first days
– Having good hydration is key to reducing mental fatigue and difficulty concentrating
– Make five meals a day to maintain a regular schedule and mealtime and avoid snacking between meals.
– Take foods rich in vitamins and minerals that provide you with energy and strengthen your immune system.
Foods that will benefit you and others that will harm you
There are some foods that are key to combating spring asthenia, but there are others that instead of health can make symptoms worse. In the first section there are mainly fruits and vegetables, indispensable as they provide vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. Other foods such as lentils or quinoa will also help combat the asthenia.
As for the foods that may be discouraged we find coffee and other drinks with caffeine, as they can increase nervousness and hinder rest; alcohol, which brings a sense of lethargy and hinders physical and mental activity; and industrial bakery, the combination of sugars, saturated fats and refined flours from which they usually produce in the body a sense of decay, tiredness and widespread heaviness.
Sometimes, despite controlling all these aspects, it may also be necessary to take some restorative based on vitamins, minerals and plant extracts such as ginseng or royal jelly, always taken under medical prescription and for a specific time.