Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
“Asthenia"is the medical term describing weakness or a lack of energy and strength either across the entire body or in specific body parts. It often develops in people withcanceroranemiabut can also occur in the wake of chronic wasting diseases and diseases that affect the performance of the adrenal gland.
This article discusses the types, symptoms, causes, and treatment options associated with asthenia.
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Types of Asthenia
The three types of asthenia are:
What Are the Symptoms of Asthenia?
The symptoms of asthenia will differ depending on how the body is affected. If just one area experiences asthenia, you may develop symptoms such as:
In full-body asthenia, you will feel rundown overall. This leads to symptoms such as:
Full-body asthenia may also cause you to feel fatigued, but that’s not always the case. Mental fatigue and headaches can also occur in asthenia.
Symptoms That Require Emergency Medical AttentionAlthough rare, asthenia could be a sign of heart attack or stroke.The emergency medical symptoms to look for include:Light-headedness or dizzinessDifficulty speakingVision changesChest pain or difficulty breathingConfusionSevere headacheNumbness on one side of the body
Symptoms That Require Emergency Medical Attention
Although rare, asthenia could be a sign of heart attack or stroke.The emergency medical symptoms to look for include:Light-headedness or dizzinessDifficulty speakingVision changesChest pain or difficulty breathingConfusionSevere headacheNumbness on one side of the body
Although rare, asthenia could be a sign of heart attack or stroke.The emergency medical symptoms to look for include:
Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
What Causes Asthenia?
Causes of asthenia can be broken down into two categories: underlying health disorders and side effects of medication.
Some possible health disorders that can lead to asthenia are:
Certain medications are shown to cause weakness and tiredness in some, including:
Asthenia vs. Weakness: What’s the Difference?
Common Causes of Generalized Weakness
How Is Asthenia Diagnosed?
Since there are many possible causes of asthenia, medical providers will perform a complete physical exam and collect a health history. They will also ask about other symptoms you may be experiencing along with asthenia. The goal is to narrow down possible causes so that the proper tests can be ordered.
In general, medical providers will likely want to perform the following:
Why Is Proper Diagnosis so Important?There are so many causes of asthenia, and other health conditions present similarly, such as chronic fatigue. Because of that, it’s essential to diagnose asthenia and its cause early on to provide timely, effective treatment.
Why Is Proper Diagnosis so Important?
There are so many causes of asthenia, and other health conditions present similarly, such as chronic fatigue. Because of that, it’s essential to diagnose asthenia and its cause early on to provide timely, effective treatment.
How Is Asthenia Treated?
Treatment for asthenia relies heavily on the diagnostic process. Once the underlying cause is discovered, medical providers can go on to treat the condition causing asthenia.
Summary
To understand what is causing asthenia, medical providers will run various tests to help confirm or rule out specific health disorders. Since some severe conditions are associated with asthenia, diagnosing quickly is vital to ensuring prompt and effective treatment.
If you are experiencing asthenia, contact your medical provider. They will help get to the bottom of the cause. Since asthenia can indicate a severe and life-threatening condition, such as stroke, it’s essential to understand and monitor symptoms and call emergency medical services if you experience any signs of stroke.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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