[KoK! Health] Constant Sleepiness in Spring... Could Be a Sign of Immune Weakness During Seasonal Change

During the change of seasons in spring, when the spring breeze and cold snaps alternate, drowsiness tends to overwhelm people more than usual. This symptom, commonly called 'chunggonjeung' (spring fatigue), causes drowsiness to flood in by the afternoon, along with complaints of fatigue and loss of motivation.

　

In transitional seasons like these, when the temperature difference between day and night becomes large, various symptoms such as easy fatigue and lethargy often appear. In particular, chunggonjeung is known as a signal indicating a decline in the body's immunity. This is because the body, which had adapted to consistently low temperatures during winter, uses more energy than usual in various organs such as the skin, muscles, blood vessels, and sympathetic nerves while adjusting to the changing weather.

During the body's adaptation to environmental changes, the overactivated sympathetic nervous system reduces appetite and causes problems with nutrient intake, resulting in poor production of immune cells. Especially since vitamins are heavily consumed during metabolic processes and can easily become deficient, it is beneficial to consume vitamins through vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin B and C, such as apples, tangerines, chili peppers, and onions, as well as spring herbs like shepherd's purse, mugwort, and wild chives.

Additionally, when immunity decreases, fatigue recovery slows down, inflammation in the body does not heal well, and one becomes more vulnerable to various diseases. During the transitional season, when people mainly stay indoors, the dry environment and polluted air can make one susceptible to rhinitis, pharyngitis, colds, and other illnesses. To prevent seasonal illnesses, it is advisable to maintain indoor humidity at around 50% and keep the temperature between 19 and 23 degrees Celsius. Before bedtime, caffeine and alcohol intake should be avoided, and noise and light should be minimized to create an environment conducive to sound sleep. It is also important to get sufficient sleep of about 7 to 8 hours per day.

When immunity decline is severe, medical methods such as stem cell injections can also be a solution. Oh Chang-hyun, the chief director of Banobagi Plastic Surgery Clinic, advised, “During transitional seasons with large temperature differences, supplying smooth oxygen and nutrients through stem cells can enable rapid immune recovery along with anti-aging effects and fatigue improvement.”