| What is chronic fatigue syndrome? | | | | years. |
| We all get tired. Many of us have felt depressed | | | | Causes of Chronic fatigue |
| at times. But the mystery known as chronic | | | | For many people, CFS can begin after a bout with |
| fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not like the normal ups | | | | a minor illness such as a cold, or an intestinal bug. |
| and downs we experience in everyday life. The | | | | Often, people say that their illnesses started |
| early sign of this illness is a strong and noticeable | | | | during a period of high stress. In others, CFS |
| fatigue that comes on suddenly and often comes | | | | develops more gradually, with no clear illness or |
| and goes or never stops. You sometimes feel too | | | | other event starting it. While no one knows what |
| tired to do normal activities or are easily | | | | causes CFS, for more than a century, doctors |
| exhausted with no apparent reason. Unlike the | | | | have reported seeing illnesses similar to it. In the |
| mind fog of a serious hangover, to which | | | | 1860s, Dr. George Beard named a similar or |
| researchers have compared CFS, the profound | | | | identical syndrome "neurasthenia" because he |
| weakness of CFS does not go away with a few | | | | thought it was a nervous disorder with weakness |
| good nights of sleep. Instead, it slyly steals your | | | | and fatigue. |
| energy and vigour over months and sometimes | | | | |