For those who feel unwell in spring

They say the heat and cold last until the equinox, but we keep going back and forth between warm and cold days. It's cold in the morning but hot during the day, or a cold wind blows in the evening.
In Osaka, the magnolias have started to bloom, and the cherry blossom buds are beginning to swell.
I am Yasaburo Tanaka. I am an acupuncturist and massage therapist.

This is a discussion for those who feel unwell in spring, suggesting that you might be tired without even realizing it.

Because many people feel unwell in spring

Many people are also aware that they are vulnerable in spring

It is the time of year when you want to take off your heavy coat and go out. I imagine many people have plans to gather for graduation and entrance ceremonies, or are getting busy with preparations for a new life.

How is everyone feeling?
Every year, from early spring to Golden Week, many people find themselves feeling unwell.

I feel that more people lose their physical condition in spring than at any other time of the year. I feel it is especially common compared to summer, autumn, or winter.
I have thought a little about the causes and countermeasures from my own perspective.

This is just my personal intuition and limited to my patients and their families, so please feel free to read it lightly.

They say spring sleep knows no dawn, but

Aren't there days when you feel unusually sleepy in spring?
There is even a saying, 'Spring sleep knows no dawn.'

Does it mean that spring is so comfortable that you end up sleeping a lot? That might indeed be true.

But isn't that,
【actually because your body is tired?】

Feeling sleepy isn't just because it's getting warmer and more comfortable.
If your fatigue hasn't been relieved, your body will seek rest and try to sleep.

When you are sleepy, get some proper sleep.

Even if you spend the same amount of time in bed as always, if you are feeling sleepy,
shouldn't you consider that your body is demanding that much more sleep?

In spring, various changes also affect the body

Speaking of feeling unwell in spring, there is hay fever

When it comes to feeling unwell in spring, isn't hay fever the first thing that comes to mind?
I myself take over-the-counter medicine for hay fever.
It is suppressed quite a bit by the medicine, but my nose and eyes are not clear every day.

When I sneeze, it doesn't stop, and I blow my nose many times a day. This is quite stressful and hard work.

Blowing and sniffing your nose involves quite a bit of exercise for the muscles around your shoulders and neck.
In fact, there are many patients with strong tension in the muscles around their shoulders and neck.

And when your nose is stuffy, it becomes difficult to breathe. Just breathing alone consumes extra energy.

And that applies to when you are sleeping, too.
If your nose is stuffy, you cannot sleep soundly.
If you cannot sleep soundly, fatigue accumulates.

Consuming extra energy and not being able to sleep soundly.

In such a state, isn't it natural to feel sleepy?

Sunlight gets stronger → UV rays get stronger

The spring sunshine is warm and pleasant, isn't it?
As the sunlight gets stronger, plants start to grow all at once. I suppose they get that much energy from the sun.

However, for the human body,
stronger sunlight means stronger UV rayswhich is what it amounts to.

Both your eyes and skin are subjected to UV damage.
Don't you find the spring sunshine dazzling?
Both your eyes and skin take damage. And your body uses energy to repair that.

Of course, sunbathing is necessary. Sunbathing is the best way to regulate your internal clock.
But that is also a matter of degree.
Haven't you heard the saying, "Start your UV protection in spring"?

Sunburn is the same as a burn if it goes too far. It's good to keep in mind that it can be a burden on your body.

And just like with pollen, you use various muscles to squint against the glare.
This can also be a cause of stiff shoulders and headaches.

Don't you ever find that your eyes get extremely tired while looking at a display?

Spring has drastic temperature fluctuations

Is it hot where you live today?
Or is it cold?
They say it's a cycle of three cold days and four warm days, but even within a single day, it can be warm in the morning and then suddenly turn cold in the evening, right?

Your autonomic nervous system is working at full power to keep up with these dizzying changes in the weather.
It is constantly adjusting to maintain body temperature, trying to release heat if it's hot and retain it if it's cold.
In spring, when temperatures are unstable, just keeping your body temperature constant can be exhausting.

For me, if I walk around during the day and sweat, and then it suddenly gets cold in the evening, I catch a cold right away...
I'll post a note about coldness and the autonomic nervous system.

And one more thing, about the body's reaction when it suddenly gets cold.
When it suddenly gets cold, you unconsciously hunch your shoulders or curl up your body, right? This is using your muscles to create heat and warm your body.

It's necessary to maintain body temperature, but this also fatigues your muscles and causes stiff shoulders and necks.

Since it can get cold suddenly, you should be careful to adjust with your clothing.

Since it's spring after all

The dark, cold winter is over, and spring is bright and warm.
Since it's not as cold as midwinter, you might be able to get by even if you're feeling a little under the weather.

But don't overdo it.
You will definitely have to pay for it later.
I hope you will think about your physical condition so that you can fully enjoy your fun plans.

When you're sleepy, the best thing to do is to get some proper sleep.
Please get enough sleep to recover from your fatigue and have a wonderful spring.