| Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, was first | | | | reason or treatment. |
| identified in the 1980s, but the cause is very hard | | | | It is a very debilitating ailment, greatly affecting |
| to determine. It encompasses many different | | | | the persons' quality of life. The un- restful sleep, |
| symptoms and discomforts. It is defined as | | | | and any combination of symptoms can further |
| significant fatigue for a period of more than six | | | | contribute to a host ofother problems, such as |
| months, not related to exertion or lack of sleep, | | | | loss of concentration, dizziness, depression, mood |
| and associated with other symptoms. The patient | | | | disorders, and short-term memory impairment. |
| feels fluey, no energy, frequent headaches, sore | | | | To further add to the difficulty of diagnosis are |
| joints and lymph nodes, and has trouble | | | | other conditions like fibromyalgia, which has most |
| concentrating. | | | | of the same symptoms. Pre-existing conditions |
| The most common CFS symptoms are: | | | | like chronic viral illnesses, lupus, rheumatoid |
| Fatigue | | | | arthritis, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis, sleep disorder, |
| Constant deep, incapacitating mental and physical | | | | adverse effects of medication, severe obesity, |
| exhaustion, which does not disappear through | | | | and psychiatric illnesses all impact on the diagnosis |
| rest. Rather than alleviate this long term fatigue, | | | | and treatment. |
| exercise of any kind only aggravates it. | | | | There is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome; |
| Pain | | | | only treatments for the symptoms, such as |
| CFS pain is generally in the muscles, joints | | | | headaches and sore throats. The treatment by |
| (without swelling or inflammation), and lymph | | | | conventional and alternative means both aim at |
| nodes. Common complaints are also irritable bowel | | | | the restoration of normal sleep and elimination of |
| syndrome, chest pains and sore throats. | | | | pain. |
| Cognition | | | | Treatments vary from antidepressants, steroids, |
| Patients may suffer from forgetfulness and | | | | immune system medications, anti-histamines to |
| confusion.Their thinking, focusing and verbal skills | | | | homeopathic treatments like evening primrose oil, |
| are often affected as well. | | | | diet therapy,cognitive behavioral therapy, and |
| Hypersensitivity | | | | gentle exercise programs. Although lack of a |
| Most CFS sufferers are very sensitive to light, | | | | definite treatment for CFS leaves a lot to be |
| sound, chemicals and food. The sensitivity to | | | | desired, the above treatments, whether all or |
| foods, odors, substances, and medications can | | | | acombination, can prove fairly effective. |
| make treatment difficult. Patients who already had | | | | If depression is the main problem, treatment of |
| a history of allergies and conditions, like asthma, | | | | that can significantly improve the quality of sleep, |
| now tend to suffer more acutely from those | | | | thus affording some relief of the persistent |
| symptoms. Oversensitivity of all the senses | | | | fatigue. Psychologists can identify personal factors, |
| contributes to abnormal tiredness, migraines, and | | | | such as personality styles, unhelpful thought |
| even seizures. | | | | patterns, and attitudes. They can also help |
| Body Temperature Imbalance | | | | patients identify overwork-collapse patterns and |
| CFS patients have trouble stabilizing their body | | | | train them to reduce the physical, psychological |
| temperature, constantly fluctuating between too | | | | and emotional stressors. |
| hot and too cold. They often complain of | | | | Diet is of utmost importance. It is important to |
| fever-like symptoms. This may be due to the | | | | include essential fatty acids in your daily food |
| affected hypothalamus, the organ controlling body | | | | intake as well as powerful antioxidants to restore |
| temperature. | | | | the immune system. Both have shown significant |
| Sleep Issues | | | | improvement in chronic fatigue syndrome |
| No amount of sleep and rest can make these | | | | symptoms. |
| sufferers feel better. Most have trouble getting a | | | | Heavy metal may also be a cause of CFS. In the |
| good night's sleep. Even with regular sleep | | | | case of mercury poisoning, dental fillings would |
| schedule and after prolonged deep sleep, they | | | | need to be removed. |
| wake up exhausted. | | | | NB |
| Chronic fatigue syndrome is very hard to | | | | This information about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
| diagnose because of the many different | | | | has been gleaned from various sources. It may |
| symptoms. Every patient is different and | | | | not be fully accurate and is intended only as |
| presents varying combinations and severity of the | | | | information. Only your doctor can make the right |
| main symptoms above. Furthermore, the | | | | diagnosis and prescribe treatment right for you! |
| symptoms may come and go seemingly without | | | | |