| 0%"> | | | | important to begin treatment for this illness |
| Once upon a time, if you looked in the | | | | immediately. While there is no cure, there are |
| encyclopedia, you wouldn’t have seen any | | | | things you can do, most of which are lifestyle |
| reference to chronic fatigue syndrome because it | | | | changes. It’s important to remain active, |
| didn’t exist. People who actually suffered | | | | exercise regularly and get out of the house when |
| from it were told that it was all in their mind and | | | | you can as depression is one of the common side |
| made to feel like they were crazy. Fortunately, | | | | effects of this illness, mostly from wondering |
| that was a long time ago. Today, while we | | | | what the actual problem is. |
| don’t know what causes it and don’t | | | | There are some theories, though not proven, as |
| have a cure for it, we do know it exists. Question | | | | to what causes CFS. One of them is that it is |
| is, how do YOU know if you have it? This article | | | | caused by a virus such as Epstein-Barr or a |
| will try to give you some answers. | | | | herpes virus. However, this is just a theory and |
| The hard part about diagnosing CFS is that many | | | | so far no specific virus has been identified as a |
| of the symptoms are also common to other | | | | cause. |
| illnesses such as headache, fatigue, joint pain, | | | | Another theory is that CFS may be caused by an |
| forgetfulness, confusion, irritability, lymph node | | | | inflammation along the nervous system that may |
| tenderness, mild fever, muscle aches, muscle | | | | be some sort of immune response similar to what |
| weakness and sort throat. Any of these | | | | happens to people who suffer from MS. |
| symptoms can be caused by a number of other | | | | And then of course there is always age, any prior |
| problems. Therefore, it is important to eliminate | | | | illnesses, stress, diet, environment and even |
| the other possibilities first before a diagnosis of | | | | genetics to consider. Research is still being done in |
| CFS can be made. And that’s not always | | | | this area. |
| easy. | | | | For more information on this very real disease, |
| However, once the other possibilities have been | | | | please check out the link in my signature. There is |
| eliminated and a diagnosis is made, it’s | | | | help available. |