| Chronic fatigue syndrome, also called chronic | | | | diseases. The actual cause of the disease is still |
| fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome, is a | | | | unknown, but research points to mechanisms in |
| condition in which a person experiences severe | | | | both the central nervous system and the immune |
| symptoms of persistent fatigue and malaise | | | | system building upon each other as the ultimate |
| (feeling like one has the flu). These symptoms | | | | cause of this condition. Chronic fatigue syndrome |
| must last for a prolonged period of time, usually | | | | does have some aspects in common with |
| more than six months, before a diagnosis of | | | | fibromyalgia and some possible disease |
| chronic fatigue syndrome is made. The symptoms | | | | mechanisms in common as well, so these two |
| of this disorder can vary and are sometimes | | | | diseases may be related. The research on this is |
| difficult to pinpoint. | | | | still inconclusive. |
| The primary symptom of this condition is fatigue. | | | | Chronic fatigue syndrome usually occurs suddenly, |
| This is persistent fatigue that does not go away | | | | often after an episode of flu or bronchitis. It |
| with rest. Malaise, or flu like feeling, may | | | | usually occurs in people age 40 to 50 and occurs |
| accompany this fatigue. The severity varies from | | | | most often in women. While this disease is not |
| person to person and may range anywhere from | | | | fatal, the outlook for recovery is also not |
| a mild tired feeling to completely bedridden. Many | | | | optimistic. |
| people with this syndrome however, are limited in | | | | Treatment for this disease usually focuses on |
| their ability to complete daily activities. | | | | learning to adjust a person's lifestyle to live with |
| Other symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome | | | | the symptoms. Medications may be prescribed to |
| include muscle and joint pain, recurrent sore | | | | address individual symptoms. Physical and |
| throat, swollen lymph nodes, irritable bowel, | | | | occupational therapies to address exercise, |
| periods of low blood pressure, sleep disturbances, | | | | activity pacing, adaptations, and other lifestyle |
| low blood pressure, headaches, depression, and | | | | changes are also often prescribed. Counseling and |
| difficulty regulating body temperature. All of these | | | | behavior therapy may be needed, especially if a |
| symptoms vary in presence and degree of | | | | person is experiencing cognitive symptoms such |
| severity from person to person. | | | | as brain fog. Alternative therapies like acupuncture |
| Based on current research, chronic fatigue | | | | may also be helpful, but should be attempted |
| syndrome appears to be a disease that stands on | | | | under guidance of a physician. |
| its own, rather than a condition related to other | | | | |