What is the difference between asthenia and fatigue?

Why are we tired? Fatigue can be caused by a mental health problem, a physical health problem, or a reaction to the environment. This is often the result confusionconfusion these various factors. Overwork, stress, infection, health problems, illness, sleep disorders, family difficulties, anemia, poor diet or even Covid-19 can cause asthenia, which is commonly called fatigue.

Reactive fatigue occurs as a result of lifestyle disorders or short-term illnesses. durationduration. This is temporary. The most common sources of fatigue are:

• insufficient rest: insufficient sleep (late nights, etc.) or irregular sleep (repeated time differences, etc.);
• boredom and demotivation at work or, conversely, overwork;
• situation of professional or family stress;
• exercises physicalphysical intense or, conversely, sedentary lifestyle;
• viral, bacterial or, less commonly, parasitic infectious disease;
• operational act, childbirthchildbirth ;
• taking toxic substances or medications: psychotropic drugspsychotropic drugssedatives, antidepressants, diureticsdiuretics, painkillerspainkillers, antihistaminesantihistaminesdrugs, alcoholalcohol…

What is asthenia?

Asthenia is abnormal fatigue when it persists even after rest (or when it only partially disappears). The person experiences an unpleasant and painful feeling of being unable to perform daily activities. We often talk about:

• fatigue;
• exhaustion;
• absence’energyenergy ;
• weakness ;
• intellectual inefficiency;
• a feeling of defeat, exhaustion, “flatness”, “deadness”…

We are talking about chronic asthenia if these symptomssymptoms last more than six months.

What do we mean by chronic fatigue syndrome?

This disease begins suddenly, most often in people around 35 years of age, who are often very busy with their daily activities. Symptoms last more than six months and can vary:

• constant asthenia;
• severe fatigue and intolerance to standing;
• discomfort after training;
• disturbances in concentration and memory;
• painpain muscles and joints.

The socio-occupational impact of this disease is profound. There are several reasons: infection, immunological problems and psychological disorders.

What about psychological asthenia?

Mental asthenia (psychasthenia) is the most common fatigue. It is characterized by morning fatigue or even other accompanying symptoms:

• sleep problems;
• lack of enthusiasm, loss of motivation;
• loss of appetite, multiple pains.

Mental fatigue or psychological asthenia, in medical terms, is manifested by a feeling of intellectual and emotional exhaustion, irritability, and mood changes.