In daily life, there are times when you feel that you lose your motivation to do everything and that you feel tired all the time. Even after getting enough rest and sleep, it is sometimes accompanied by a feeling of lethargy, as if the energy has been completely depleted. Lethargy refers to a sluggish state in which it is difficult to perform even simple tasks and activities due to general fatigue and decreased concentration. If the symptoms continue, it is accompanied by a variety of abnormal symptoms such as a decrease in concentration, memory impairment, sleep disturbance, muscle pain, headache, and gastrointestinal problems along with a chronic form of extreme fatigue. In addition, this lethargy causes various physical and mental stress. When our body is under stress, the adrenal cortex secretes the stress hormone cortisol as a defense action to protect each cell and organ inside. When the blood level of cortisol in the body rises higher than normal due to repeated stress, negative emotions such as anxiety and lethargy are accompanied by physical changes and psychological abnormalities. And the accumulation of these negative emotions increases the likelihood of leading to various problems such as depression, burnout syndrome, and anxiety disorder. Therefore, it can be said that it is important to accurately identify the cause of lethargy, and to adopt appropriate management and preventive habits. Let’s take a look at the different causes of lethargy and some ways to overcome it.
Various causes of lethargy
Lethargy can be caused by a wide variety of causes. Lethargy can be caused by various diseases such as hypothyroidism and diabetes, pituitary insufficiency, and hyperparathyroidism due to abnormalities in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland of the brain, which are involved in the secretion of hormones such as vitality and emotion regulation. In addition, due to the occurrence of diabetes, the function of insulin decreases and the cells cannot effectively burn glucose, which can also cause lethargy. In addition, lethargy and fatigue may appear due to related diseases caused by abnormal liver function, an organ that detoxifies wastes and toxins in the body. In addition, lethargy can be caused by diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, endocarditis, malignant tumors, and blood diseases such as anemia, and diseases such as heart failure, obstructive respiratory disease, and rheumatoid arthritis can also accompany lethargy. In addition, lethargy may also appear when there are mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, narcolepsy, and somatic disorder, and women may experience a sense of helplessness due to hormonal changes due to menopause or menstrual cycle. In addition, it is said that lethargy can occur due to the abuse and side effects of various drugs such as sleep inducers, antidepressants, and tranquilizers. Even under severe stress, lethargy can occur due to mental exhaustion, and lethargy can also appear from lack of water intake or dehydration due to excessive sweating. Insufficient intake of nutrients from B vitamins, which are responsible for energy metabolism in the body, can also accompany lethargy. Consuming other sugar-rich foods helps the body produce and supply the energy it needs immediately, but it can quickly cause fatigue and cause lethargy.
How to manage and overcome lethargy
1. Maintaining regular eating habits and lifestyle
As lethargy is exacerbated by irregular lifestyles, it is important to make a habit of a regular life pattern. You need to improve your irregular sleep habits so that you get enough sleep and at the same time have a balanced diet so that you don’t become deficient in key nutrients. In particular, lethargy is known to be caused by a lack of intake of B vitamins, which are involved in energy metabolism in the body. It is also a good way to consume functional foods or nutritional supplements when it is difficult to properly ingest these nutrients through diet. In addition, excessive drinking or binge drinking can upset the balance of normal metabolism, so it is recommended to refrain from it.
2. Proper exercise
It is said that exercise habits performed in a regular pattern can also help a lot in relieving lethargy and reducing fatigue. In particular, regular exercise has the effect of adequately relieving stress, a factor that accounts for a large proportion of the occurrence of lethargy, and is essential for improving physical strength and managing immunity. In addition to exercise, leisure activities for stress control and various habits such as meditation and yoga can also be a good way to overcome lethargy.
3. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment
If the symptoms of lethargy do not improve with the various methods mentioned above, it may be a good way to seek appropriate counseling. Based on the questionnaire and various test results for asthenia, treatment will be carried out according to the identified cause. Treatment for the disease is usually done with medication. As lethargy can worsen more severely due to side effects of the drug, when symptoms worsen, the suspected drug is stopped and treatment is resumed after checking whether the asthenia has improved.
