Spring fatigue is a familiar term to most. The first warm days of the year cause many people to feel tired, fatigued, dizzy and have circulatory problems in the spring. When temperatures rise, one in two people in Germany feels irritable and fatigued, tired and listless. The body needs about four weeks to get used to the spring temperatures.
Fatigue in spring
Weather changes such as the moody April weather also often lead to the adaptation phase being prolonged even further: the constant changes between warm and cold put a strain on the circulation, especially of people who are sensitive to the weather: Especially when temperatures rise, blood vessels dilate and blood pressure drops. There’s nothing you can do about the big weather, but the typical complaints of springtime fatigue can be kept within tolerable limits with sun, air, exercise and the right diet.
Spring fatigue: cause
When the days start to get longer again and the temperatures rise, our bodies are slow to get going at first, as our internal clocks first have to adjust. The cause of springtime fatigue is not yet fully understood. What is certain, however, is that the body’s two hormones, serotonin and melatonin, are involved in complaints such as dizziness, circulatory problems or fatigue.
- Serotonin is responsible for activating the body and for good mood. The hormone is produced under the influence of light. The light stimuli reach the hypothalamus, a hormonal gland in the brain that controls serotonin production. The more and the longer our bodies are exposed to natural light, the more serotonin they can produce. So the increased sunlight in spring boosts our serotonin production.
- With the increase in serotonin, the production of melatonin is simultaneously throttled. The so-called sleep hormone ensures that we can sleep restfully at night.
- The formation of both hormones in the body is therefore significantly regulated by the amount of light: In winter, when it gets dark early outside, the message to the body is therefore rather “hibernation”, while the spring light signals “wake up”.
5 Tips against spring fatigue: what to do?
- Plenty of exercise and walks in the sunlight boost hormone levels.
- Alternating showers harden the immune system and make ready for the start of spring.
- Hardening is good, yet do not overexert. End an active day with a cozy evening.
- Plenty of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, whole grains and legumes displace winter flab.
- For persistent fatigue, fatigue and concentration problems, vitamins, minerals and trace elements can help.
