| Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS for short) is an | | | | major impact on the quality of life. |
| illness characterised by persistent medically | | | | Chronic fatigue syndrome is very hard to |
| unexplained fatigue.CFS may also be called myalgic | | | | diagnose, and many people go for years without |
| encephalomyelitis (ME),Epstein-Barr | | | | knowing that they have it. No laboratory tests |
| disease,post-viral fatigue syndrome,or chronic | | | | are available to confirm a diagnosis of chronic |
| fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome | | | | fatigue syndrome.The diagnosis of CFS is made |
| (CFIDS). | | | | only if no other cause,including side effects of |
| Chronic fatigue syndrome has frequently been | | | | drugs,is found to explain the fatigue. |
| viewed as hypochondriacal behavior or "yuppie | | | | Unexplained chronic fatigue cases can be classified |
| flu".But most experts now agree that chronic | | | | as CFS if the patient has a minimum of four of |
| fatigue syndrome is a distinct disease with | | | | the following eight symptoms:impairment of |
| physical symptoms. | | | | short-term memory and concentration,sore |
| The most prominent symptom of CFS is an | | | | throat,tender lymph nodes,muscle pain,multi-joint |
| unexplained feeling of fatigue,which is not relieved | | | | pain,headaches of a new type or pattern or |
| by rest.Symptoms of chronic fatigue also include | | | | severity,unrefreshing sleep,and fatigue lasting |
| muscle and joint pain, muscle weakness, bowel | | | | more than 24 hours after physical exertion. |
| problems,unexplained headaches, | | | | For a patient to be officially diagnosed with chronic |
| forgetfulness,poor concentration,confusion,poor | | | | fatigue syndrome, the symptoms must have |
| temperature control and difficulty | | | | persisted for at least six months. |
| sleeping.Fibromyalgia and arthritis are frequent | | | | If the patient's symptoms do not meet the |
| accompaniments to patients with chronic fatigue | | | | criteria for CFS, then the condition is referred to |
| syndrome. | | | | as idiopathic chronic fatigue. |
| The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not well | | | | Chronic fatigue syndrome is a frustrating illness |
| understood. | | | | that affects people of all ages.Because there is no |
| Conditions that have been proposed to trigger the | | | | specific diagnostic test for chronic fatigue |
| development of chronic fatigue include virus | | | | syndrome,no one knows how many people suffer |
| infection and toxins.Some theories suggests that | | | | from this illness.It is estimated that half a million |
| chronic fatigue is related to | | | | Americans suffer from CFS. Women are |
| stress,overwork,physical inactivity,problems with | | | | diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome two to |
| the immune system,low blood pressure,or | | | | four times as often as men are.It's not |
| hormonal imbalance.Colitis,hypoglycemia and | | | | clear,however,whether CFS affects women more |
| brucellosis can also cause chronic fatigue | | | | frequently - or if women report it to their doctors |
| syndrome. | | | | more often than men do. |
| Regardless of the cause, chronic fatigue has a | | | | |