Health experts advise on managing summer and late-season fatigue

Medical professionals are highlighting the phenomenon of summer fatigue and its late-season manifestation, often referred to as ‘late summer fatigue’ (zansho-bate). This condition occurs when the physical toll of high temperatures, humidity, and sleep deprivation accumulates throughout the summer, often surfacing as exhaustion once temperatures begin to drop and the body's sympathetic nervous system relaxes.

Key symptoms include persistent lethargy, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating. Experts note that these symptoms can be caused by the autonomic nervous system struggling to transition between seasonal modes, mineral and vitamin depletion due to sweating and poor diet, and accumulated sleep debt.

To combat these effects, health experts recommend ‘active recovery’—such as light walking or warm baths—rather than just passive rest. Nutritional focus should be placed on easy-to-digest foods rich in Vitamin B1, magnesium, and protein. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and using lukewarm baths (38–40°C) are also advised to stabilize the autonomic nervous system.