Definition of
Lethargy
Lethargy It is a term that comes from the Latin lethargusitself derived from the Greek lḗthargos. The concept refers to a pathological state which is characterized by a dream extended and deep.
certain diseases toxic, infectious and nervous causes the lethargy of those affected. There are, however, different ways of understanding what lethargy is.
In some cases, the notion is linked to a state of prolonged unconsciousness. Subject can be awakened, but soon falls asleep again.
Lethargy, on the other hand, can be related to drowsiness or the doze.
This meaning of lethargy is linked to some diseases; in fact, it can be one of the symptoms of various disorders that, in addition to a profound need to sleep, are characterized by drowsiness, clumsiness, slowness, and alienation of mind.
One of the diseases in which lethargy occurs is narcolepsywhich is also known as gelineau syndrome. Its main characteristic is excessive sleepiness during the day that is impossible to resist.
In addition to lethargy itself, narcolepsy can cause the following symptoms, with varying degrees of severity:
* cataplexy (significant weakness or paralysis of a group of muscles on both sides of the body);
* hypnagogic hallucinations (visions transients that take place between the states of wakefulness and sleep);
* hypnopompic hallucinations (visions that occur in the transition from sleep to wakefulness);
* sleep paralysis (the momentary inability to perform physical movements voluntarily during sleep) transition between sleep and wakefulness);
* interruption of sleep during the night.
Also called lethargy repose that certain species of animals during varied periods of time. In torpor, these specimens reduce their metabolic activities to a minimum, bringing their respiratory rate and body temperature to lower than normal levels.
To survive during torpor without eating, animals resort to food reserves. energy that they were storing in their body in the previous months. While in the warm season they are dedicated to increasing these reserves, in the winter they use them.
Finally, in colloquial language, lethargy is associated with lack of response, action either initiative. For example: “Can you come out of your torpor and help me fix this problem?”, “When my son passed away, I went into a torpor for several years”, “The local team woke up from its lethargy and returned to victory after five games”.
As we can see in these examples, the idea of lethargy applied in a figurative sense can give rise to different interpretations. In the first sentence we understand that the issuer does not approve the lack of activity of your interlocutor, since you consider that you should be helping him to solve his problem. In the second, on the other hand, the “emotional paralysis” comes after the death of a loved one, and this is not something voluntary, but a state that invades us until it threatens to drown us.
Finally, there is talk of a soccer team whose luck was not with them until suddenly their situation is reversed in a match. In this case, lethargy is understood as the impossibility of moving forward, of continuing to climb in a tournament or to grow at a professional level; It is also not voluntary, but may be due to lack of experience, problems of health of the players or, why not?, to issues more typical of chance.
All the meanings exposed in the previous paragraphs can be noticed in the following list of synonyms: hibernationfainting, lightheadedness, paralysis, numbness, coma, clumsiness, drowsiness and doze. Regarding its antonyms, we can highlight wakefulness and activity.