Psychotherapist NMRC named after. Bekhtereva: Post-Covid asthenia is when desire does not coincide with possibilities

Classification of asthenia

There are several classifications of asthenia:
1. By origin:

• somatogenic;
• post-traumatic;
• postpartum;
• post-infectious.

2. For the reasons why asthenia occurs:

• functional;
• organic.

Functional asthenia in children and adults is the body’s reaction to depression, stress, physical or mental overload. This asthenia syndrome is temporary and completely reversible.

Organic asthenia is a consequence of any disturbances in the functioning of the body (brain infections, vascular disorders, neurological diseases, traumatic brain injuries and a number of others).

3. According to clinical manifestations:

• hyposthenic form - manifested by a reduced response to external stimuli (drowsiness, apathy, lethargy);
• hypersthenic form - manifested by increased irritability and excitability (the patient is irritated, does not tolerate noise, bright light).

4. According to the duration of the course, asthenia in children and adults is divided into acute and chronic. Acute asthenia syndrome is usually functional, while chronic asthenia is organic. One type of asthenia is chronic fatigue syndrome.

Varieties

Depending on the cause, there are several types of asthenopia. The main varieties, as well as the characteristics of pathologies, are reflected in the following table.

Causes of asthenia

The development of asthenia occurs when, under the influence of a number of reasons, energy sources in the human body are depleted. Overexertion, deficiency of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, metabolic disorders - all this together leads to asthenia.

The main reasons for the development of this condition of the body are:

• infectious diseases;
• lactation period;
• gastrointestinal pathologies (ulcers, dyspepsia, gastritis, colitis, enteritis, pancreatitis and a number of others);
• pregnancy;
• recovery period after operations;
• vascular and myocardial diseases (high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart attack, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia);
• postpartum period;
• respiratory diseases (asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, COPD);
• traumatic brain injuries;
• kidney pathologies;
• mental disorders (schizophrenia, depression);
• pathologies of the endocrine system (hypothyroidism, diabetes, hyperthyroidism);
• diseases of the nervous system (multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, neurocirculatory dystonia);
• psycho-emotional stress;
• blood pathologies (anemia);
• tumors;
• taking certain medications.

In addition, asthenia can occur as a result of physical or mental fatigue, monotonous work in a confined space under artificial lighting, night shifts, and so on.

What vitamins are needed for vigor?

Vitamins for vigor include a whole complex of biologically active substances that need to be taken together. It is necessary to try to determine by external signs which group is lacking and select a drug that maximally compensates for the deficiency.

So, if you are looking for what vitamins you need for fatigue and drowsiness, pay attention to the composition. There should be the following groups:

1. Vitamin A. Retinol and substances similar in structure play an important protective role in the body. It prevents tissue damage from bacteria, viruses, and fungi. With its deficiency, diseases of the mucous membranes of the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, internal genital organs, etc. begin. Vitamin A indirectly affects the immune system; it is also involved in the synthesis of red blood cells.
2. B vitamins. When you are tired and looking for missing vitamins, this usually leads to the discovery of a deficiency of substances from group B. This is an important group that ensures the health of the central nervous system, especially during times of stress and anxiety. The best vitamins for fatigue and drowsiness are B1, B2, B3, B12, folic acid, B6 and others. They normalize mental state and fight symptoms of depression. These substances come mainly from plant foods (with the exception of B12). These are legumes, citrus fruits, greens. But sometimes these vitamins are supplied in small quantities when you lose strength, so it is important to take them as part of multivitamin complexes.
3. Vitamin D: If you feel sleepy, it is also important to take vitamin D, since this substance is responsible not only for the skeletal system, but also for the healthy growth of immune system cells. Very often, rapid fatigue and drowsiness are the causes of a lack of vitamins of this particular group (vitamin D is a complex of several substances similar in structure). A weakened body is less resistant to the action of viruses and bacteria, which leads to greater lethargy and drowsiness. If the cause of drowsiness is a lack of vitamin D, it is necessary to include red fish, dairy products, fortified cereals, meat in the diet and take additional vitamins for stress and fatigue.

Asthenia: symptoms

Manifestations of asthenia are usually mild or completely absent in the morning. The characteristic clinical picture is usually observed in the late afternoon. The main symptoms of asthenia are:

1. Fatigue. This symptom is observed in all forms of the disease. Fatigue accumulates gradually and becomes constant over time; even rest and proper sleep do not help get rid of it.

When performing physical work, the patient feels severe weakness and aversion to performing any usual manipulations.

During intellectual work, a person cannot concentrate, his attentiveness and intelligence decrease, and his memory deteriorates. When trying to verbally express his thoughts, he experiences difficulty finding the right words.

All this leads to the fact that the assigned tasks are not completed, which causes even more stress, generates self-doubt and further aggravates the negative general state, increasing fatigue and anxiety.

2. Psycho-emotional disorders. They arise due to a decrease in work productivity, which provokes increased patient attention to the problem. A person becomes irritable, quick-tempered, overly tense, he often loses self-control and breaks into a scream.

After outbursts of anger, depression and a pessimistic mood are observed, which can lead to the development of pathological conditions of the body such as depressive neurosis, hypochondria, and neurasthenia.

3. Sleep disorders. With asthenia, the patient may experience problems falling asleep, have nightmares, and may wake up several times during the night. All this leads to the fact that after waking up the patient does not feel vigor and a surge of strength, but weakness and apathy.

4. Autonomic disorders. With asthenia, there is always a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which can be manifested by pressure changes, increased heart rate, constipation, weakened pulse, increased sweating, a feeling of heat or chilliness.

RECOMMENDATIONS

So, after COVID-19 it is especially important:

• 1) regulate your own workload, do not overload the nervous system, give yourself time to recover, avoid making responsible decisions;
• 2) maintain a balance between rest and work;
• 3) nourish yourself mentally and physically;
• 4) follow doctors’ recommendations on nutrition, vitamins, and exercises;
• 5) notice excessive negative reactions, depression, stop the flow of gloomy thoughts, regrets, grievances and, if necessary, consult a doctor.

Diagnosis of asthenia

Most often, diagnosing the disease does not present much difficulty for an experienced specialist. The diagnosis is made based on a survey of the patient, analysis of his complaints (for general fatigue, stress, overexertion), and external examination.

An important stage of diagnosis is to identify the underlying disease that led to the occurrence of asthenic syndrome. This will help develop the correct treatment and relieve the patient from asthenia in a short time.

To determine the degree of asthenia, a special Malkova asthenic state scale was developed. It is a questionnaire consisting of 30 questions to which the patient must answer yes or no.

After this, the points are calculated and the current state of the person is determined:

• 30-50 points – no asthenia;
• 51-75 points – initial form of asthenia;
• 76-100 points – moderate asthenia;
• more than 101 points – severe asthenia.

Vitamin complexes for fatigue

So, what vitamins should you take for fatigue and drowsiness? All you have to do is go to any pharmacy and choose the vitamin complex you need. Ideally, you need to consult a doctor and together determine what is best for your body. When choosing vitamins for chronic fatigue, you should also consider the medications you take regularly. They can interact with each other, leading to unexpected effects.

In view of this, it is recommended that you first visit a doctor and find out the cause of fatigue. If it lies in ordinary vitamin deficiency, the therapist will prescribe the recommended complex of vitamins. Such an algorithm will help avoid serious adverse reactions and ineffective treatment.

When choosing vitamin complexes, you should give preference to more reliable and well-known manufacturers who use high-quality natural raw materials in production. Otherwise, the body may not absorb a large flow of substances that are beneficial to it, and they will gradually be eliminated from the gastrointestinal tract without being absorbed. So, let's look at the most popular and sought-after vitamin complexes.

Alphabet Energy

This is a vitamin complex that is created for people engaged in heavy mental or physical activity. The complex of substances is divided into three doses. In the morning the patient takes thiamine, folic acid, lemongrass and eleutherococcus extract. A group of these components enhances mental activity and eliminates drowsiness.

During the day, taking the drug leads to restoration of performance, accelerates metabolic processes, and allows you to withstand high loads. In the evening, the drug is necessary to strengthen the immune system and launch recovery processes in the body. The drug is often prescribed in such cases:

• pregnancy;
• insomnia;
• hypertension;
• increased nervous excitability.

Duovit

The product contains vitamins B, E, D, C, as well as minerals that the body uses in various metabolic processes. Duovit is prescribed to pregnant and breastfeeding women. It is also indicated in the following cases:

• unbalanced diet;
• increased physical activity;
• recovery after surgery;
• lack of vegetables and fruits;
• with increased fatigue and drowsiness;
• to strengthen the body of athletes, etc.

Selmevit

Another multivitamin complex containing 9 minerals and 13 vitamins. All components of the drug interact in a complex, which has a restorative effect during stress, increases endurance, and eliminates drowsiness and fatigue.

Doctors recommend drinking Selmevit in courses to strengthen the immune system and keep the body in an efficient and vigorous state. Regular intake of such vitamins makes the patient more resistant to adverse external conditions.

Enerion

This product contains a synthetic derivative of thiamine (vitamin B1) - salbutiamine. The drug is prescribed for the treatment of vitamin deficiency, asthenia, chronic fatigue caused by physical or mental activity. The action of the product is quite fast - it is enough to take it for a week for the body’s condition to improve. Thanks to taking Enerion, attention and tissue endurance to oxygen starvation improves. The drug is prescribed for rapid recovery of the body after infectious diseases.

Revien

This biological supplement contains not vitamins, but microelements, which are no less important for improving the tone of the whole body. It includes ginseng and hop extract, selenium, iron, zinc. A complex of natural substances restores the body after stress, prevents loss of strength, improves cognitive functions of the brain, and reduces emotional stress.

Vitrum Energy

Another dietary supplement that includes, in addition to ginseng extract and microelements, vitamins. It is prescribed for pathologies of the endocrine and nervous system, as well as to combat fatigue, stress, loss of performance, drowsiness, and problems with sexual function. The drug is useful during recovery after surgery, during periods of widespread incidence of colds and flu.

Vitrum Centuri

A powerful multivitamin complex containing 12 types of microelements and vitamins. The drug is designed more to strengthen the cardiovascular system, but can also eliminate drowsiness. The drug is indicated for the treatment of apathy, loss of performance, and emotional depression.

Vitrum Centuri restores the performance of the entire body, eliminates the consequences of experienced stress. The drug is also prescribed to improve immunity, for elderly people, and as a preventive measure against vitamin deficiency. Vitrum Centuri is also included in the treatment regimen for atherosclerosis.

Makrovit

A vitamin complex containing nicotinamide, vitamins B and vitamin E. It is taken to restore working condition after heavy exertion, restore a healthy emotional state, eliminate drowsiness and fatigue. The drug is useful to drink in winter and spring as a prevention of vitamin deficiency. Athletes often use this remedy for quick recovery after training or competition. Indicated for pregnant and lactating women.

Doppel Hertz Energotonic

A special aromatic elixir with vitamins, plant tinctures, minerals and essential oils. In total it contains about 30 components that bring the body into a state of vigor. The elixir is indicated for the treatment of the following conditions:

• anemia;
• pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
• drowsiness, fatigue, loss of performance;
• depression of the central nervous system;
• general deterioration of health.

Dynamisan

The tablet form contains vitamins, ginseng extract, various amino acids, and minerals. All of them together have the following effect:

• reducing the likelihood of depression;
• strengthening the immune system;
• improvement of energy processes in tissues;
• improving memory and other cognitive abilities;
• increased performance.

The dietary supplement is especially effective for older people and people who have undergone surgery.

Supradin

A complex prescribed by doctors during times of severe body weakness and increased drowsiness. The drug restores normal metabolism, normalizes energy balance, makes the body more resilient, and normalizes blood pressure. The product can be used as a preventive measure to increase attention and learning ability, as well as for people leading an active lifestyle.

Multi-tabs asset

A well-known vitamin complex that is prescribed to combat asthenia, psycho-emotional stress, low level of work ability, increased fatigue and drowsiness. In addition, Multi-Tabs improves sexual activity, accelerates recovery from illness, and is indicated for use by athletes so that they recover faster after exercise.

The product also contains vitamin K. This substance is responsible for strengthening the walls of blood vessels and preventing the development of osteoporosis.

Apilak

Complex preparation of natural origin based on royal jelly of bees. This substance contains many minerals and vitamins, hormones, enzymes, and other beneficial substances. Apilak has the following effects:

• normalization of blood pressure;
• increasing resistance to stress and emotional stress;
• improving memory quality;
• increasing resistance to viral and infectious agents;
• restoration of normal appetite;
• elimination of chronic fatigue syndrome.

When using preparations of plant, animal and synthetic origin that contain many vitamins, you must obtain the prior approval of your doctor. If you choose the right product (it can even be a biological supplement), you can overcome the symptoms of drowsiness and excessive fatigue. If not, you can lose a lot of money and not solve the problem, but only make it worse.

Moscow State University named after. M.V. Lomonosov

source

Asthenia: treatment

First of all, it is necessary to normalize the work and rest regime, temporarily refuse to perform heavy mental or physical work, and give the body a rest. In addition, you need to give up bad habits, start doing exercise therapy according to the program developed by your doctor, and eat right. The ideal option would be to take a vacation and change your surroundings, go to the sea or just relax in nature in a quiet place.

Patients with asthenia need to introduce foods rich in tryptophan (cheese, turkey meat, bananas) and vitamins (fresh fruits and vegetables) into their diet. It is very important that the patient feels calm and comfortable at work and at home.

Drug treatment of asthenia consists of prescribing adaptogens (B vitamins, Eleutherococcus, Schisandra chinensis, Radiola rosea, ginseng).

However, it should be remembered that almost all of the above remedies can cause side effects in the form of allergic reactions in some patients, so this therapy is not suitable for everyone.

In some cases, the attending physician prescribes neuroprotectors and nootropics (picamelon, cinnaresin, piracetam, ginko biloba).

In severe forms of asthenia, psychotropic symptomatic treatment is indicated, which can be prescribed by a specialized specialist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist. This treatment usually includes antipsychotics and antidepressants.

The success of treatment for secondary asthenia, which is a symptom of a disease, depends on timely and high-quality treatment of the underlying pathology. If everything is done correctly, then asthenia in this case will disappear on its own.

In our online store you can purchase the following drugs for the treatment of asthenia, which can be used as part of complex therapy for this disease:

• Complex B-50;
• Co-Enzyme B-Complex;
• Ginkgo biloba;
• Glycine;
• Gotu Kola;
• Dimethylglycine;
• Omega-3;
• Gotu Kola and a number of others.

Before using any drug, you should consult your doctor.

Find Resources

You need to find some healthy resources to fuel you. Unhealthy resources - alcohol, shopping, adrenaline rush - only worsen the situation.

A warm or comfortable contrast shower keeps the body in good shape. Do not overuse coffee and tonic drinks.

It is advisable to provide yourself with positive emotions, find several pleasant resources and alternate them. For a calm, friendly state of health, we need oxytocin - the hormone of tenderness. It occurs when we communicate with loved ones, see their faces, and also when we watch small children and furry animals. Pleasant emotions, laughter, joy and the production of antidepressant hormones - endorphin and serotonin - can be provided by our favorite comedies and watching stand-up performances. Some people immerse themselves in the world of art, others just watch videos of cats.

For asthenic conditions, doctors recommend hawthorn tinctures and rosehip drinks as folk remedies; ginseng, eleutherococcus, and lemongrass also tone up; however, all prescriptions, including herbal infusions, must be taken taking into account the overall picture of the patient’s condition and under the guidance of a specialist.

Post-Covid insomnia. How to establish a regime after coronavirus? More details

Prevention of asthenia

Asthenia, the symptoms and treatments for which are described above, can be prevented. To prevent the disease, the following recommendations must be followed:

• normalize work and rest schedules;
• avoid stress;
• engage in physical education and exercise therapy, spend more time in the fresh air;
• eat right, eat more protein foods, fresh fruits and vegetables;
• maintain a normal microclimate at work and in the family;
• strengthen the body's immune defense, engage in hardening;
• periodically undergo a comprehensive examination of the body for early diagnosis of possible diseases, which facilitates subsequent treatment and improves the prognosis.

Health to you!