Adynamia: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Adynamia refers to a state of general exhaustion and marked listlessness. It occurs as a result of various physical and mental disorders.

What is adynamia?

Adynamia refers to a state of general exhaustion and marked listlessness. Adynamia is not a disease in its own right, but rather a symptom. Regardless of its origin, this symptom always has the appearance of a general lack of energy. Thus, the organism is so exhausted because it lacks energy for the maintenance of important physical processes. It is irrelevant how this lack of energy comes about. However, important bodily processes are reduced in adynamia in order to save energy. The causes of adynamia are manifold. It is often based on very different diseases. These can be mental as well as physical disorders. A typical mental disorder with a pronounced lack of drive is, for example, depression. Important physical disorders that can develop adynamia include Addison’s disease, hypokalemias, hypercalcemias, chronic fatigue syndrome CFS, and muscular dystrophies.

Causes

Thus, there is no single cause of adynamia. However, a generalized process plays a role in the specific expression of the symptom. If energy is lacking for any reason, there is a reduction in important physical functions. One of the causes of energy deficiency is the disturbance of energy production. This is true, among other things, when the nutrients supplied cannot be properly utilized, for example, when nutrients are malabsorbed in the intestine. Or glucose cannot be used properly in the case of insulin deficiency (diabetes). Since energy is produced by combustion, a lack of oxygen, for example, can also lead to adynamia. In addition, all chemical processes of life take place in an aqueous environment. In the case of a disease characterized by severe dehydration, this also prevents the provision of energy. Furthermore, various hormonal disorders can inhibit energy-releasing processes, such as in Addison’s disease. Many mental illnesses are also based on disturbances in the transmission of nerve impulses, so that energetic processes do not even get started. Last but not least, it can also be that the body provides sufficient energy but has to use it to defend itself against hostile attacks by microorganisms. Then energy is also lacking elsewhere and adynamia occurs.

Symptoms, complaints and signs

In adynamia, various symptoms of exhaustion occur. Sufferers feel tired and listless, lack motivation, and experience an overall decreased sense of well-being. Depression and apathetic states often occur, manifested by listlessness and withdrawal from social life. Physical complaints may also occur. For example, some sufferers experience headaches, which can develop into full-blown migraines as the disease progresses. Acute or chronic muscle pain can also occur. This is often accompanied by twitching, movement disorders and sensory disturbances in the affected area. The prolonged exhaustion also affects the gastrointestinal tract – nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps and occasionally stress-induced diarrhea occur. In the long term, irritable bowel syndrome may result. Adynamia can cause fever, which is manifested by sweating, an elevated pulse, and other typical signs of illness. Other physical symptoms include neck and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and chills. Depending on the severity of the disease, these symptoms can significantly affect well-being and lead to debilitating mental and physical fatigue. In most cases, the onset of symptoms is gradual and intensifies as the disease progresses.

Diagnosis and course

The diagnosis of adynamia is easily made. It is, after all, “only” a symptom, which one can already determine by sight. The real task is to diagnose the underlying disease. To do this, the physician must look at the other symptoms and perform appropriate diagnostic measures based on existing experience. For example, in Addison’s disease, the hormones cortisol and aldosterone are deficient. An indication of this disease is the massive brown discoloration of the skin. The diagnosis can be confirmed by appropriate laboratory tests.With other diseases, this is often not so simple. This is especially true for conditions where adynamia is the leading symptom, such as CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and certain mental illnesses.

When should you see a doctor?

Adynamia refers to the opposite of dynamism and abundance of energy. When it comes to a pronounced exhaustion situation and increasing lack of drive, the affected person should take it seriously. The background of this sudden or gradual loss of energy should be clarified by a doctor. However, adynamia is more a symptom of a disease than a disease itself. What is important is the realization that for some reason the body has cut back all energies to indicate a problem. The visit of an affected person to the doctor should be made at the latest when the adynamia leads to an increasing withdrawal from social obligations and makes daily tasks impossible. Occupational restrictions are to be expected as a consequence of the weakness. The family doctor is the first port of call, since he knows the patient. If the family doctor takes his patient’s exhaustion and lack of energy seriously, he initiates numerous investigations to clarify the situation. The variety of possible triggers is problematic. If psychological problems such as depression or burnout are suspected, a referral to a psychiatrist or a specialized clinic is to be expected. If physical causes are suspected, various medical professionals may be consulted. An internal medicine doctor may look for metabolic imbalances or thyroid dysfunction. He or she should also look at other possibilities to track down the adynamia.

Treatment and therapy

Treatment of adynamia, of course, involves therapy for the underlying condition. In many cases, this is straightforward. For example, the hormone deficiency present in Addison’s disease can be treated by substitution therapy. Hormone administration is indicated here on a permanent basis because the hormone-producing organ, the adrenal gland, is irreversibly destroyed in this disease. Treatment of dehydration after severe water loss is also easily compensated by electrolyte infusions. After severe infections have been recognized, they can also be treated well. The same is true for diabetes. It becomes more difficult with cancer, because cancer treatment with chemotherapy again increases adynamia. Here, life-saving treatment of the underlying disease has priority. The treatment of diseases with adynamia as the main symptom, such as CFS or depression, is particularly complicated because the causes are often unknown.

Outlook and prognosis

Adynamia generally makes the patient feel very tired and listless. The patient’s ability to cope with stress drops extremely, and withdrawal from social life occurs. In most cases, the further course of adynamia depends strongly on the causative disease. However, it is not uncommon for psychological complaints and depression to develop. These have a very negative effect on the daily life and relationships of the affected person and can thus lead to severe discomfort and sadness. In some cases, the affected person also suffers from suicidal thoughts. In some cases, sufferers may also self-harm. What treatment is necessary for adynamia depends primarily on the underlying condition. In some cases, psychological treatment is completely sufficient. Not infrequently, however, there are physical causes for adynamia, so that, for example, surgical interventions are also necessary to alleviate these complaints. Therefore, it is also not possible to generally predict whether life expectancy will be reduced by adynamia.

Prevention

A general recommendation for preventing adynamia is to maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, plenty of exercise, no smoking, and little negative stress. This reduces the likelihood of developing conditions that cause adynamia, but it cannot eliminate it.

Follow-up

The extent to which follow-up care is necessary after diagnosed adynamia depends on the underlying condition. Some patients succeed in permanently abolishing the typical symptoms. However, immunity is then not established. Rather, the success is due to the absence of the triggering disease. Those affected can then make their own contribution to getting better.General preventive measures are generally considered sensible. These include a healthy diet, daily exercise and abstaining from addictive substances. In some cases, however, long-term treatment is indicated. In some cases, aftercare accompanies them for the rest of their lives. If the cause is a hormonal disorder of the adrenal glands, substitution therapy is necessary. Blood tests and an adjustment of the therapy take place at regular intervals. In the case of cancer, follow-up care is usually postponed. The focus is on treating the tumor disease. Ideally, the adynamia will then subside on its own. According to medical opinion, depression is considered a problematic cause. Because of the often unexplained motives, treatment is difficult. Physicians determine psychotherapies and a medicamentous company. A worsening of the situation cannot be excluded. Even small stresses in everyday life are therefore can be associated with major consequences.

What you can do yourself

Symptoms such as fatigue, chronic exhaustion, fatigue and listlessness are summarized under the keyword “adynamia”. Adynamia can have various causes (for example, depression). It is important to get to the bottom of these causes medically. However, those affected can also help to improve their condition themselves. It has been proven that regular exercise has an activating effect. Blood circulation is stimulated, the body is supplied with additional oxygen, new synaptic connections are formed in the brain and new blood vessels are created. Emotional stress is also reduced. A balanced, healthy diet with sufficient vitamins, fiber and other important nutrients also helps improve overall health. The body needs certain nutrients to function smoothly. Eating regularly, but moderately and mindfully, is important. In addition, a proper balance between activity and rest periods is helpful. Sufficient sleep (seven to eight hours) and healthy activities throughout the day with appropriate downtime help improve many processes in the body. Where possible, sufferers should try to activate themselves. However, it is also important to avoid excessive demands. Alcohol and nicotine should be largely avoided, as these stimulants rob the body of additional strength.