| Could improving your sleep lessen the symptoms | | | | with CFS often wonder sometimes if they are |
| of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)? | | | | imagining their symptoms. But CFS is very real |
| Our aim here is to understand the connection | | | | and can lead to broken marriages and wrecked |
| between the two as it may be possible to | | | | careers. |
| confuse the symptoms of CFS and sleep | | | | It is very important for those who suspect they |
| deprivation. There are however definite | | | | have CFS to seek medical attention straight |
| differences. | | | | away. If you feel your doctor is not taking you |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms | | | | seriously, get a second and even a third opinion. It |
| The main symptom of CFS and probably the | | | | helps if you have been seeing the same doctor |
| hardest to live with, is constant and persistent | | | | for some time, as they know you and can |
| fatigue lasting 6 months or more. Others include: | | | | recognize that you are not a "hypochondriac" or a |
| Feeling feverish | | | | time waster looking for sympathy. |
| Sore throat | | | | CFS is certainly not new, although the association |
| Muscle aches and pains | | | | of symptoms under the name Chronic Fatigue |
| Tender or swollen lymph nodes | | | | Syndrome only took place in the 1990s. Previously |
| Joint pain | | | | it was largely overlooked or thought to be |
| More headaches than usual | | | | something else, for example low blood sugar, |
| Abnormal lethargy after exercise | | | | Lyme disease, allergies, fybromyalgia, yeast |
| Poor concentration | | | | infections etc. |
| Depression | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment |
| Poor quality sleep | | | | These vary from antidepressants, steroids, |
| Although not everyone who suffers with CFS will | | | | immune system medications and anti-histamines |
| display all of the above, two or more of these | | | | to the more holistic treatments like evening |
| symptoms would definitely bear further | | | | primrose oil, diet therapy, cognitive behavioural |
| investigation. By contrast, sleep deprived people | | | | therapy, removal of dental fillings (mercury |
| would not usually experience swollen lymph nodes, | | | | poisoning) and gentle exercise programs. |
| joint pain, feverishness or sore throat. | | | | Although lack of a definite treatment for CFS |
| CFS often follows a bout of flu or other | | | | leaves a lot to be desired, the above treatments, |
| respiratory disease. It's onset can be quite sudden | | | | whether all or a combination, can prove fairly |
| following recovery of the initial disease. It occurs | | | | effective. The broad answer seems to be to |
| more frequently in middle age and elderly people, | | | | treat the symptoms as they occur and make the |
| and twice as often in women as men. Sleep | | | | effort to improve quality of sleep. |
| deprivation is not so choosey! It can affect male, | | | | The quality of sleep of patients must have a |
| female and all ages alike. | | | | direct effect on the severity of the disease. If |
| CFS is a debilitating illness which is hard to | | | | depression is the main problem, treatment of that |
| diagnose due to the symptoms being non specific. | | | | can significantly improve the quality of sleep, thus |
| Also the symptoms described by the sufferers | | | | relieving somewhat the persistent fatigue. |
| often cannot be verified. For instance, patients | | | | In conclusion. a combination of better quality sleep |
| often describe feeling feverish although their | | | | with gentle exercise, optimal diet and cognitive |
| temperature is normal. | | | | behavioural therapy would go a long way to |
| Recent studies indicate CFS may in fact be an | | | | improving the lives of patients with CFS. |
| immune disorder due to inflammation of the | | | | This article is for informational purposes only and |
| immune system, but there are medical | | | | should not be taken as medical advice. Please see |
| practitioners who still believe it to be a disease of | | | | your health care provider. |
| "malingerers". In fact some of those suffering | | | | |