Autumn is the season characterized by a decrease in temperature and in the number of hours of light perceived by our body, all of which causes alterations in the biorhythm and in the mood . Many people at this time of year feel sadness, tiredness, apathy, weakness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating. These symptoms are called autumn asthenia, they appear due to a poor adaptation of the body to seasonal changes and usually last a few days or weeks. This biological disorder disappears as soon as the body adapts and regulates itself.
What is autumn asthenia?
The main characteristic of asthenia is general fatigue , which is why it is often confused with common tiredness. However, there is an important difference. Fatigue is defined as the inability to maintain initial strength for a continuous period of time and appears as a consequence of intense or prolonged effort. In the case of asthenia, this exhaustion appears after very light effort or even before carrying out any work.
While fatigue caused by an activity disappears after a restful break, asthenia manifests itself in a more lasting form and results in a feeling of physical weakness and a general lack of vitality. These effects reduce the ability to perform tasks of all kinds and are practically unresponsive to rest.
Asthenia usually appears in spring and autumn, as a temporary consequence of the biorhythm changes that these seasons bring about.
Why does asthenia appear in autumn?
Temperature changes are the main cause of mood swings that occur when the season changes . Not only because of the sensation of cold or heat, but also because of the hours of sun exposure and the routines characteristic of each time of year.
In the case of autumn asthenia, three possible and compatible causes are distinguished:
Reduction in sun exposure . In autumn, there are fewer and fewer hours of sunlight during the day and this affects the human body in different ways. Mainly, it alters the production of melatonin, which is the hormone responsible for regulating states of wakefulness. The less exposure to the sun, the more melatonin is secreted and the greater the feeling of tiredness and drowsiness during the day. In addition, this increase causes a decrease in serotonin, known as the happiness hormone, and promotes a state of apathy.
Appearance of colds and flu . With the drop in temperature, cold weather and rain also arrive, causing colds and flu. These conditions cause the immune system to act to protect the body and, in order to do so, consume a certain amount of energy. All this, added to the lack of vitamin D provided by the sun, contributes to the feeling of fatigue.
Getting back into the routine . The autumn period marks the end of summer and all the changes that the routine undergoes during the holidays. In addition to stopping work for a few days, in most cases, plans, meal times and sleep schedules tend to change during the hot months. Therefore, abandoning these excesses and returning to work routines often produces episodes of stress or anxiety that lead to the appearance of asthenia.
Symptoms of autumn asthenia
This type of asthenia, linked to changes resulting from the seasonal transition, is usually mild, short-lived and with symptoms that are not very alarming.
However, it is important to know them in order to identify this syndrome and avoid confusing it with other conditions:
Intense fatigue . This is the main symptom and is distinguished from physical exhaustion because it does not respond to any effort and does not disappear with rest.
Physical weakness and drowsiness . These are effects derived from fatigue and promote other symptoms such as apathy and lack of concentration.
Changes in appetite . Changes in schedules and feelings of fatigue can lead to a lack or excess of hunger.
Irritability and feeling of sadness . The possible anxiety of returning to work and the concentration of some of the above symptoms leads to a psychological alteration of the mood.
Generally, these effects should disappear within 15 days to a month. If they persist, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional to rule out other conditions such as chronic fatigue or anemia.
Asthenia is very common in the general population and any healthy person can suffer from it, although it is more common in women and in people between the ages of 25 and 50.
Older people and children are less likely to suffer from asthenia, although there are pediatric cases of this type of fatigue.
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