Seasonal Asthenia

Feeling more tired than usual? Too sluggish to face the day? Exhausted by the time you go to bed? You might be suffering from spring asthenia, a fairly typical disorder that you can fight by living healthier.

Spring asthenia is usually defined as a constant state of exhaustion and fatigue caused by the changing season and associated with excess sunlight. Along with fatigue, asthenia can also be accompanied by feelings of melancholy and, in some cases, mild depression.

“Numerous studies have shown that the weather can have a major impact on our bodies, both physically and mentally”, explains Bruno Ribeiro, head of the Cognitive Development and Brain Stimulation Unit at SHA Wellness Clinic.

About half of the population subjected to seasonal patterns of sunlight suffers from this disorder. It lasts about two weeks on average and has its origin in the hypothalamus, a gland located in the brain that regulates things like temperature, thirst, appetite, sleep and wakefulness. It suffers changes during daylight savings and when there are changes in sunlight and especially the weather.

It is essential to maintain healthy lifestyle habits, the essence of the SHA method, in order to balance our organism in the face of any eventual episode that may alter us physically and mentally.

SHA Wellness Clinic suggests four simple tips to avoid or mitigate the impact of spring asthenia:

1. Exercise: It helps to release tension, improves our physical and mental health and provides a feeling of gratitude and happiness.
2. Eat well: Include energy-boosting foods packed into your diet. Vitamin D replaces the lack of sunlight the body needs. Obviously, fruit and vegetables will be at the top of the list, but green vegetables such as kale, rocket and chard are even more important. And with spring being the ideal time to cleanse the liver, add plenty of liver-friendly foods such as beetroot, artichoke, garlic and lemon.
3. Breathe deeply: Doing deep breathing exercises like Pranayama helps to detoxify the mind and lungs. Try to do them in the morning and evening.
4. Rest: It is especially important to get enough rest. Our body rests and repairs itself during the night. Therefore, it is crucial to provide it with enough downtime.

Spring is a time when the body must adapt to the new season; if you eat well, get adequate rest and exercise, your body will naturally and easily cleanse and renew itself.