| Could improving your sleep lessen the symptoms | | | | symptoms. But CFS is very real and can lead to |
| of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)?Our aim here | | | | broken marriages and wrecked careers.It is very |
| is to understand the connection between the two | | | | important for those who suspect they have CFS |
| as it may be possible to confuse the symptoms | | | | to seek medical attention straight away. If you |
| of CFS and sleep deprivation. There are however | | | | feel your doctor is not taking you seriously, get a |
| definite differences.Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | | | | second and even a third opinion. It helps if you |
| SymptomsThe main symptom of CFS and | | | | have been seeing the same doctor for some |
| probably the hardest to live with, is constant and | | | | time, as they know you and can recognize that |
| persistent fatigue lasting 6 months or more. | | | | you are not a "hypochondriac" or a time waster |
| Others include:Feeling feverish | | | | looking for sympathy.CFS is certainly not new, |
| Sore throat | | | | although the association of symptoms under the |
| Muscle aches and pains | | | | name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome only took place |
| Tender or swollen lymph nodes | | | | in the 1990s. Previously it was largely overlooked |
| Joint pain | | | | or thought to be something else, for example low |
| More headaches than usual | | | | blood sugar, Lyme disease, allergies, fybromyalgia, |
| Abnormal lethargy after exercise | | | | yeast infections etc.Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
| Poor concentration | | | | TreatmentThese vary from antidepressants, |
| Depression | | | | steroids, immune system medications and |
| Poor quality sleepAlthough not everyone who | | | | anti-histamines to the more holistic treatments like |
| suffers with CFS will display all of the above, two | | | | evening primrose oil, diet therapy, cognitive |
| or more of these symptoms would definitely bear | | | | behavioural therapy, removal of dental fillings |
| further investigation. By contrast, sleep deprived | | | | (mercury poisoning) and gentle exercise |
| people would not usually experience swollen lymph | | | | programs.Although lack of a definite treatment |
| nodes, joint pain, feverishness or sore throat.CFS | | | | for CFS leaves a lot to be desired, the above |
| often follows a bout of flu or other respiratory | | | | treatments, whether all or a combination, can |
| disease. It's onset can be quite sudden following | | | | prove fairly effective. The broad answer seems |
| recovery of the initial disease. It occurs more | | | | to be to treat the symptoms as they occur and |
| frequently in middle age and elderly people, and | | | | make the effort to improve quality of sleep.The |
| twice as often in women as men. Sleep | | | | quality of sleep of patients must have a direct |
| deprivation is not so choosey! It can affect male, | | | | effect on the severity of the disease. If |
| female and all ages alike.CFS is a debilitating illness | | | | depression is the main problem, treatment of that |
| which is hard to diagnose due to the symptoms | | | | can significantly improve the quality of sleep, thus |
| being non specific. Also the symptoms described | | | | relieving somewhat the persistent fatigue.In |
| by the sufferers often cannot be verified. For | | | | conclusion. a combination of better quality sleep |
| instance, patients often describe feeling feverish | | | | with gentle exercise, optimal diet and cognitive |
| although their temperature is normal.Recent | | | | behavioural therapy would go a long way to |
| studies indicate CFS may in fact be an immune | | | | improving the lives of patients with CFS. |
| disorder due to inflammation of the immune | | | | This article is for informational purposes only and |
| system, but there are medical practitioners who | | | | should not be taken as medical advice. Please see |
| still believe it to be a disease of "malingerers". In | | | | your health care provider.Copyright 2005 Wendy |
| fact some of those suffering with CFS often | | | | OwenWant to know how to have better sleep? |
| wonder sometimes if they are imagining their | | | | Find out how! |