Spring is my favorite season, but every year, when May arrives, the same thing happens to me: it arrives with its flowers, its pollen and its changes in temperature and climate and it takes its toll on me. Extreme tiredness, apathy, trouble sleeping, general malaise, etc. These and other symptoms are what we can notice if at this time of the year we suffer spring asthenia.
Each person can notice it in a different way, since what we know as “spring asthenia” can be due to different causes. The first step is to recognize what is happening to us in order to treat it. Luckily there is some ways to cope better these months and be able to enjoy spring in all its splendor.
There is or there is no spring spring
The reality is that there is no scientific consensus on the existence of what is called “spring asthenia”. This is called asthenia: a documented and proven symptom of other diseases such as cancer, infections or metabolism problems.
Spring asthenia has nothing to do with the previous one and is not considered a medical problem or anything that needs treatment. What we do know is that during these months, many people experience some common symptoms.
Among the most common symptoms are fatigue, physical weakness, irritability, apathy, difficulty concentrating, lack of energy, in some people loss of appetite, loss of sexual desire and even headaches or a feeling of sadness. This set of symptoms would be temporary and would not last more than two weeks.
As indicated by the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians (SEMG), spring asthenia would not be a pathology, but it could be considered a process of adaptation to changing environmental factors. In this sense, they point out that spring can be a season in which we notice more tiredness due to causes such as pollen allergies, changes in daylight hours, temperature, and atmospheric pressure. etc.
What can we do to better cope with these days of spring asthenia
In any case, if this adaptation process causes us discomfort and makes us feel uncomfortable – something that seems to affect people with pollen allergies more – it is interesting that we know what we can do to manage the symptoms.
Maintain a regular sleep schedule
During these days we can experience certain sleep deregulation. Either because the time change has affected us, or because the changes in temperature and light are making it difficult for us to sleep, it may happen that we are sleeping worse.
Therefore, it is important that we try to take care of our sleep hygiene more than normal. Trying to go to sleep and always wake up at the same time, regulate the temperature, light and noise in our room, avoid the consumption of exciting foods and drinks such as coffee, etc., will help us sleep better.
Adequately rehydrate
Dehydration can influence our levels of tiredness and make us feel even more exhausted. With the rise in temperature, we may need to drink more water than during the winter. Therefore, it is important that we make sure we drink enough water.
This will help us regulate our body temperature, will prevent dehydration and will favor our renal and intestinal function.
Anticipate the time change
Ideally, when there are going to be time changes, we anticipate it a few days. That is, during the days before iWe will gradually adapt our routines to the coming time change.
Maintain a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits
It is always important that we maintain a healthy diet, but if we are suffering from spring asthenia, it is especially important that we do so. Making sure that our diet is based on vegetables and fruit as the main food will help us to have the nutrients, vitamins and minerals necessary for our body. In addition, it will help us to have better hydration.
Reduce the consumption of high-calorie foods, sugar and unhealthy fats
Similarly, it will be helpful if reduce the consumption of high-calorie foods and heavy, which will require more resources in the digestive system to be digested and can influence us to feel even more tired. The same goes for foods high in added sugar and fat. In addition, the poor quality of nutrients will make us feel worse.
Have a regular meal time
As with sleep, it is important that we have a regular meal schedule. Make meals always at the same times it will help us to have a stable routinewhich will make it easier for us to adapt to the new schedule and the new light that exists during the day.
perform physical exercise
It is possible that during these days we have to lower the intensity of the physical exercise we do a little, doing it in a somewhat more moderate way. In any case, it is important that we continue to exercise. If we can take advantage of daylight hours to do some exercise outside, even better.
This article was originally published by Iria Reguera in May 2020 and has been revised for republication.
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