The transition from summer to autumn, the change in temperature, shorter, less bright days, and worse weather can affect our energy levels and our mood more than we imagine.

We call asthenia the state of generalized exhaustion or fatigue, which appears without having performed any significant task or effort, and which generally persists over time and does not improve with rest. Furthermore, this physical weakness and lack of energy also has an impact on the state of mind, at the same time experiencing a lack of vitality.

Asthenia usually appears in the spring and autumn seasons, and is a temporary consequence of the biorhythm changes that our body experiences during these seasons.

Main symptoms of autumn asthenia

  • Intense fatigue. It is the main manifestation and differs from physical exhaustion itself because it does not appear as a result of effort, and apparently does not disappear with rest.
  • Physical weakness, pronounced drowsiness. They can end up leading to other symptoms such as apathy, irritability and lack of concentration.
  • Alterations in appetite. Fatigue and tiredness can cause both types of effects, lack or excess of hunger.
  • Irritability, mood changes, feeling sad. To the changes in the biorhythm, there is also the return to work, the routine, the end of the vacation period. These can increase our stress/anxiety levels, causing a profound alteration in our mood.

Why does this asthenia appear?

The main causes would be:

  • Reduction in sun exposure. The number of hours of daylight decreases drastically (we go from having daylight almost until 10 at night, to not having it after 6 in the afternoon). This directly impacts the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep-wake rhythms. Melatonin begins to be secreted in our body when the sun goes down, so that, having more hours of darkness, more melatonin is secreted and This makes us more drowsy.
    Furthermore, the reduction in daylight hours also causes serotonin levels to drop, favoring a state of apathy.
  • Appearance of colds. With the arrival of the cold, flu and colds also arrive, which keep our immune system “busy” to protect the body, consuming a greater amount of energy.
  • Lack of vitamin D. Decreased sun exposure causes our vitamin D levels to drop significantly, this also makes us feel more fatigued.
  • Back to routine. Recovering our work routine and forcing ourselves to “compensate” for possible excesses committed during the summer can cause an increase in stress and anxiety levels, also contributing to mental fatigue that can translate into physical exhaustion.

¿How to deal with autumn asthenia?

It is convenient to know that this is a transitory state, which will disappear in a few weeks, as soon as our body gets used to the “new” rhythm of our daily lives.

As usual, one of the best ways to combat it is by practicing physical exercise. This, in addition to reducing stress levels themselves, helps us fall asleep and obtain a restful sleep.

To give our body a boost, we can always resort to taking supplements that give us extra energy.

On our Instagram @farmaciadelosaustrias you can find different product recommendations to combat this asthenia.