Asthenia
Asthenia is characterized by physical weakness and lacking energy. It isn’t a condition but rather a standard indicator of various chronic and acute medical disorders. It may also develop as an adverse reaction to specific medications. Some potential triggers of asthenia include nutrient imbalances like deficiency of vitamin B-12, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue, infections, blood diseases like anemia, cardiovascular conditions, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, metabolic diseases like diabetes, lung disease, and chronic pain.
Depending on its trigger, asthenia can either cause full-body or regional weakness. The signs of the former can include a fever, flu-like symptoms, tiredness, and malaise, while the latter is associated with muscle cramps and spasms, tremors or shaking, and slowed or delayed movement. In severe cases, asthenia may indicate a heart attack or stroke, triggering symptoms like difficulty understanding or speaking, disturbed vision, balance loss, lack of coordination, confusion, severe headaches, and paralysis.
Chest pain, squeezing, pressure, jaw, or back discomfort, breathing difficulties, cold sweats, and nausea may also be signs of an impending heart attack. Therefore, those who experience these symptoms should immediately phone emergency services, or they could result in serious complications that can develop into life-threatening problems and lead to death.
