Asthenia: Definition, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis

It is the medical term for muscle fatigue or weakness.

Weakness is the feeling of body fatigue or tiredness. A person experiencing weakness may not be able to move a specific part of their body correctly. They may also experience tremors, which are uncontrollable movements or tics in the area of ​​weakness.

Some people experience weakness in a particular body area, such as the arms or legs.

Others may experience total body weakness, which is often the result of a bacterial or viral infection such as the flu or hepatitis. The fault may be temporary, but it is chronic or continuous in some cases.

Causes

Common causes of asthenia include:

  • Gripe.
  • Thyroid disease
  • Anemia can occur from excessive blood loss during menstruation.
  • Depression.
  • A lack of sleep
  • Poorly controlled or undiagnosed diabetes.
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Vitamin B-12 deficiency.
  • Medication side effects often occur when mild tranquilizers are taken to treat anxiety.
  • Polymyositis is an inflammatory muscle disease.
  • Chemotherapy.

Other more severe causes of weakness include:

  • Cancer.
  • Heart attack.
  • Nerve or muscle injuries.
  • Diseases that affect the nerves or muscles.
  • Medication overdose.
  • Vitamin overdose.
  • Poisoning.

Although weakness caused by cancer can appear slowly over a long period, fault caused by a heart attack or stroke often occurs immediately.

 

In addition to experiencing weakness, other symptoms may appear, such as shortness of breath, pain, and an irregular heartbeat.

What are the symptoms of asthenia?

If you feel weak in one area of ​​your body, you may find that you cannot move that part of your body efficiently. You can also experience:

  • Delayed or slow movement.
  • Uncontrollable shaking or shaking.
  • Muscle spasms.
  • Muscle cramps.
  • Weakness throughout the body.

The weakness of the whole body makes you feel exhausted, similar to the feeling you get when you have the flu. This is known as fatigue, but it is also possible to experience total body weakness without feeling tired.

Some people who experience full-body weakness also experience a fever, flu-like symptoms, or pain in the affected area.

Dangerous symptoms

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Dizziness.
  • Daze.
  • Confusion.
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Changes in vision
  • Chest pain.
  • Difficult breathing

How is asthenia diagnosed?

There are many treatment options for weakness. Determining the underlying cause helps your doctor determine the best method of treatment.

When you visit your doctor, they will review your symptoms. They will ask you when you started experiencing symptoms. This will give your doctor some ideas about what may be causing you to feel weak.

Your doctor may request that you give you a urine sample. They may also take a piece of your blood and send it to a laboratory for testing.

The lab will test these samples for signs of infection and possible medical conditions that can cause weakness.

If you feel pain, your doctor may also order an imaging test to look at the area. Imaging tests may include:

  • X-rays.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging.
  • Computed tomography.
  • Ultrasounds

Your doctor will order a brain scan and EKG if he suspects you have had a heart attack or stroke.

What are the treatment options for weakness?

Once your doctor diagnoses the cause of the weakness, they will discuss treatment options with you.

Treatment may not be necessary if the weakness is a cold or the flu.

Dehydration: If you are dehydrated, increasing your fluid intake can help. However, if you show severe symptoms of dehydration, you may need hospital treatment.

In the hospital, you will receive fluids through an IV line. You may also need medicine to increase your blood pressure.

At this point, the weakness can begin to subside.

Cancer: If cancer is the cause of your weakness, your doctor will provide you with treatment options.

The setting, location, and body structure were all involved in determining a suitable course of treatment. Treatment options for cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.

Chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can also cause weakness.

Blood loss: If your weakness is due to blood loss, you may need iron supplements if you appear to be iron deficient.

You may need a blood transfusion if your anemia is severe. If you need a blood transfusion, you will receive one at the hospital.

This treatment consists of receiving blood from the donor through an IV.

Heart attack: Your doctor will provide you with treatment options for weakness caused by a heart attack.

Forecast

Some of the causes of weakness are part of everyday life. For example, if you have liability due to a cold, time and rest should finally clear up your drawback.

If you have a weakness that stems from a more severe condition, seeing your doctor early and regularly can help you recover from the weakness more quickly.

Taking care of your physical health is an excellent preventive measure. Drinking plenty of fluids, getting adequate rest, and exercising regularly can help you recover from weakness and prevent it.