Asthenia Treatment in Delhi, India

Asthenia comes in a variety of forms & categories. The following are the classifications based on causes:

1. Nerve asthenic syndrome: The central nervous system is severely compromised in this type of neurosis. This puts the person in a foul mood, makes them irritated, and is potentially violent.
2. Expressed asthenic syndrome: In this condition, individuals are prone to anxiety due to their disturbed mental states since they are oversensitive to signals throughout stressful times.
3. Cerebroasthenic syndrome: This emerges due to an undiscovered illness or head trauma disrupting the functioning of neural tissue of the brain. This frequently emerges as uncontrollable emotions in the patients.
4. Asthenia with flu: Muscle weakness is a typical symptom of this infection, making individuals angry and emotionally stunted and limiting their ability to function.
5. Vegetative syndrome: It can affect both children and adults and is noticeable at times of severe illness.
6. Asthenic depression: A person may have abrupt, unpredictable mood changes. Impaired attention, loss of memory, and irritability are all possible symptoms.
7. Alcohol asthenia: In alcoholics, this is a common symptom.

There are multiple reasons resulting in Asthenia; the most prevalent causes are listed below:

• Anxiety or depression - accounts for about half of all Asthenia cases. In reality, it remains unnoticed and untreated in most instances. Persons with life-limiting illnesses are more likely to experience it. It affects a patient's ability to function & standard of living.
• Sedentary lifestyle - As per the World Health Organization, 60-85 per cent of individuals worldwide do not get enough physical exercise. Their muscles get weaker as a result of their lethargy.
• Ageing - With growing age, cells & tissues' capacity to preserve homeostasis decreases, and indications of asthenia become more common, especially when the individual is under anxiety.
• Infections - This illness is caused by a long-term acute condition, including TB, hepatitis, or endocarditis, weakening the muscles.
• Chronic diseases - Myasthenia gravis is an illness that affects fast, widespread weakening, and other chronic diseases such as sleeplessness, Insulin insensitivity, kidney problems, & cancer can all impact one's standard of living.
• Pregnancy -In many situations, pregnancy is connected with exhaustion and poor energy levels, which is especially prevalent during the 3rd trimester. Changes in levels of progesterone cause a decrease in energy state.
• Drug-induced myopathies - They are relatively common side effects of pharmacological treatment. Proximal muscular weakness, elevated levels of a muscle enzyme, & electromyographic alterations are all prevalent signs. Some medicine pairing can cause acute muscular dystrophy.
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy - Chemotherapy medications can impact a person's general health & agility. The following are a few of them:
• Cisplatin and carboplatin - Affect body movement sensation of the inner ear.
• A heavy dose of cytosine arabinoside and fluorouracil - Can cause an imbalance.
• Vitamin deficiencies - Vitamin deficiency can make some people feel disoriented, weary, & unable to do regular tasks.

When the symptoms described above appear, a physician should be called for a correct diagnosis and assessment of the patient's health and to check out any significant underlying illness.

Blood tests:

• Complete blood count test with vitamin B12, ferritin and folate levels
• Inflammatory markers test to rule out any diseases
• Autoantibody test for autoimmune disease
• Biochemical tests:

• Blood glucose
• Thyroid function tests
• Serum electrolytes
• Liver function tests
• Vitamin D levels
• Renal function tests
• Thyroid function tests
• Iron Profile
• B12 & folate levels

Urine tests

• Diabetes
• Liver or renal illness
• Pregnancies, particularly in women of reproductive age who have recently developed chronic lethargy.

Other tests

The doctor can recommend tests like:

• HIV test
• For heart electrocardiogram (ECG), an echocardiogram
• Tuberculin testing
• Chest x-ray to exclude tuberculosis.
• A urine toxicology test may be recommended in some circumstances, particularly if substance addiction is suspected.

Treatment for asthenia depends on the underlying cause. In many cases, supportive therapy and counselling may help. The various treatments include:

1. Symptomatic pain relief with the help of antidepressants and NSAIDs
2. Nonpharmacologic management of chronic insomnia
3. Asthenia due to stress-related neurotic disorders:

   Psychologists, specialist doctors, and therapists can help people with panic disorder disorders, panic disorder and stress response syndrome

   • Antidepressants are prescribed to address depression-related fatigue.
   • Cognitive behavioural therapy is also beneficial.
4. Asthenia due to infections: Antibiotics can be useful in treating weakness or decreased energy due to infection.
5. Asthenia due to autoimmune disorders: immune-suppressing drugs are useful in treating asthenia caused by an autoimmune disease.
6. Correction of deficiencies like iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12 or folic acid

Other approaches to treating asthenia include:

1. Physical therapy: It may assess safety problems, improve mobility, and provide support with muscle strength training.
2. Occupational therapy: People who have had chemotherapy or surgeries may face imbalance or movement issues, so this program teaches them to accomplish daily chores more efficiently.

Asthenia problems can develop:

• Sleep disturbances
• Fatigue
• Hyperesthesia
• Inability to perform or finish tasks.
• Reduction in muscle strength, such as muscular dystrophy.

• Lack of active lifestyle- Individuals who are less active and fit are more likely to get asthenia.
• Increase in mental anxiety
• A bad diet that includes junk food might contribute to asthenia
• Extremely high daily intakes of caffeine and alcohol
• Persistent fatigue or energy loss and weak muscles
• Excessive and strenuous exercises or dieting
• Lack of good night's sleep

The prognosis of patients is dependent on the cause of asthenia. In most cases, patients usually recover within a few months.

Reviewed by Dr. Namrita Singh, Associate Director - Internal Medicine on 22-Mar-2023.