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What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a somewhat mysterious disease in which the affected individual feels extreme fatigue over a prolonged period of time. While we are all familiar with the occasional day where we seem to lack energy, CFS is far more complex and severe.
Unlike usual fatigue, which is usually helped by a few nights of good sleep and proper nutrition, the feeling of exhaustion experienced in chronic fatigue syndrome does not disappear with rest and only seems to get worse over time.
Affected individuals often feel too tired to perform routine daily tasks, and things that once brought pleasure soon become an effort.
Chronic Fatigue is often compared to a long incurable hangover with common symptoms being profound weakness, inability to concentrate or focus, listlessness and aches and pain – and while a couple of aspirin and a good nights sleep will cure a hangover – people with CFS often suffer these symptoms with little relief.
Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Unfortunately there are no blood tests or imaging scans that can diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome and it tends to be a diagnosis of exclusion.
What your health care practitioner is likely to do is obtain a detailed medical history, perform an extensive physical examination and run a number of tests to rule out other possible medical conditions.
If the fatigue and other accompanying symptoms persist over a 6 month period, are recurrent and debilitating; and do not improve with bed rest, then CFS may be diagnosed.
Because this condition can present vague symptoms which have no clear explanation many people with symptoms of CFS may go undiagnosed and may even be led to believe that their symptoms are psychological or that they are malingering. This can be devastating for a person who is already struggling to cope with the severe toll the illness has taken on their lives.
What are the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?Persistent or recurrent mental and physical fatigue that cannot be explained or relieved by restExtreme exhaustion following physical activity that may last up to 24 hours.Poor sleep, insomnia or vivid dreams Pain, including muscle and or joint pain, frequent headaches, abdominal pain, chest pain or non-localized nerve painCold or Flu-like symptoms including sore throat, tender lymph nodes, and a general feeling of sickness.Cognitive symptoms which may include confusion, memory loss or forgetfulness, mental fatigue or ‘brain fog’, and impaired concentrationPerceptual and sensory disturbances such as disorientation, clumsiness, photophobia or sensitivity to noisePalpitations or arrhythmiasNauseaLightheadedness or feelings of dizzinessChanges in appetite (poor appetite or increased appetite) often resulting in weight-gain or weight-loss.Poor temperature control Close
What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
CFS is an illness that has baffled physicians and scientists for more than a century. While there is no definite identifiable cause of this disorder, some theories suggest that the syndrome may be related to a number of other medical conditions such as:
Anemia (low iron in blood)
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Environmental toxicity
Allergies
Candidiasis
Immune deficiency
Past viral infection
While the causes of CFS are generally unknown and a common topic of debate and contention amidst medical professionals, most physicians concur that the syndrome is not fictitious and does in fact exist.
Help for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Since there is no identifiable cause for chronic fatigue, and the physiology of the syndrome remains unknown, treatment often aims at relieving symptoms and teaching the patient to cope with the illness.
A holistic approach may incorporate moderate physical activity, dietary supplements and natural remedies to help you cope with the symptoms. Your physician may recommend or prescribe a drug treatment aimed at reducing specific symptoms such as pain, fatigue and anxiety.
Prescription drugs may include antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and stimulants such as modofanil (Provigil). Many CFS patients are particularly sensitive to medications (especially those related to the central nervous system) and the wrong medication or dosage has been known to aggravate symptoms.
http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-symptoms.html
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a somewhat mysterious disease in which the affected individual feels extreme fatigue over a prolonged period of time. While we are all familiar with the occasional day where we seem to lack energy, CFS is far more complex and severe.
Unlike usual fatigue, which is usually helped by a few nights of good sleep and proper nutrition, the feeling of exhaustion experienced in chronic fatigue syndrome does not disappear with rest and only seems to get worse over time.
Affected individuals often feel too tired to perform routine daily tasks, and things that once brought pleasure soon become an effort.
Chronic Fatigue is often compared to a long incurable hangover with common symptoms being profound weakness, inability to concentrate or focus, listlessness and aches and pain – and while a couple of aspirin and a good nights sleep will cure a hangover – people with CFS often suffer these symptoms with little relief.
Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Unfortunately there are no blood tests or imaging scans that can diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome and it tends to be a diagnosis of exclusion.
What your health care practitioner is likely to do is obtain a detailed medical history, perform an extensive physical examination and run a number of tests to rule out other possible medical conditions.
If the fatigue and other accompanying symptoms persist over a 6 month period, are recurrent and debilitating; and do not improve with bed rest, then CFS may be diagnosed.
Because this condition can present vague symptoms which have no clear explanation many people with symptoms of CFS may go undiagnosed and may even be led to believe that their symptoms are psychological or that they are malingering. This can be devastating for a person who is already struggling to cope with the severe toll the illness has taken on their lives.
What are the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?Persistent or recurrent mental and physical fatigue that cannot be explained or relieved by restExtreme exhaustion following physical activity that may last up to 24 hours.Poor sleep, insomnia or vivid dreams Pain, including muscle and or joint pain, frequent headaches, abdominal pain, chest pain or non-localized nerve painCold or Flu-like symptoms including sore throat, tender lymph nodes, and a general feeling of sickness.Cognitive symptoms which may include confusion, memory loss or forgetfulness, mental fatigue or ‘brain fog’, and impaired concentrationPerceptual and sensory disturbances such as disorientation, clumsiness, photophobia or sensitivity to noisePalpitations or arrhythmiasNauseaLightheadedness or feelings of dizzinessChanges in appetite (poor appetite or increased appetite) often resulting in weight-gain or weight-loss.Poor temperature control Close
What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
CFS is an illness that has baffled physicians and scientists for more than a century. While there is no definite identifiable cause of this disorder, some theories suggest that the syndrome may be related to a number of other medical conditions such as:
Anemia (low iron in blood)
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Environmental toxicity
Allergies
Candidiasis
Immune deficiency
Past viral infection
While the causes of CFS are generally unknown and a common topic of debate and contention amidst medical professionals, most physicians concur that the syndrome is not fictitious and does in fact exist.
Help for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Since there is no identifiable cause for chronic fatigue, and the physiology of the syndrome remains unknown, treatment often aims at relieving symptoms and teaching the patient to cope with the illness.
A holistic approach may incorporate moderate physical activity, dietary supplements and natural remedies to help you cope with the symptoms. Your physician may recommend or prescribe a drug treatment aimed at reducing specific symptoms such as pain, fatigue and anxiety.
Prescription drugs may include antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and stimulants such as modofanil (Provigil). Many CFS patients are particularly sensitive to medications (especially those related to the central nervous system) and the wrong medication or dosage has been known to aggravate symptoms.
http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-symptoms.html
