| Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS for short) is an | | | | confirm a diagnosis of chronic fatigue |
| illness characterised by persistent medically | | | | syndrome.The diagnosis of CFS is made only if no |
| unexplained fatigue.CFS may also be called myalgic | | | | other cause,including side effects of drugs,is found |
| encephalomyelitis (ME),Epstein-Barr | | | | to explain the fatigue.Unexplained chronic fatigue |
| disease,post-viral fatigue syndrome,or chronic | | | | cases can be classified as CFS if the patient has a |
| fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome | | | | minimum of four of the following eight |
| (CFIDS).Chronic fatigue syndrome has frequently | | | | symptoms:impairment of short-term memory and |
| been viewed as hypochondriacal behavior or | | | | concentration,sore throat,tender lymph |
| "yuppie flu".But most experts now agree that | | | | nodes,muscle pain,multi-joint pain,headaches of a |
| chronic fatigue syndrome is a distinct disease with | | | | new type or pattern or severity,unrefreshing |
| physical symptoms.The most prominent symptom | | | | sleep,and fatigue lasting more than 24 hours after |
| of CFS is an unexplained feeling of fatigue,which is | | | | physical exertion.For a patient to be officially |
| not relieved by rest. Symptoms of chronic fatigue | | | | diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, the |
| also include muscle and joint pain, muscle | | | | symptoms must have persisted for at least six |
| weakness, bowel problems,unexplained headaches, | | | | months.If the patient's symptoms do not meet |
| forgetfulness,poor concentration,confusion,poor | | | | the criteria for CFS, then the condition is referred |
| temperature control and difficulty | | | | to as idiopathic chronic fatigue.Chronic fatigue |
| sleeping.Fibromyalgia and arthritis are frequent | | | | syndrome is a frustrating illness that affects |
| accompaniments to patients with chronic fatigue | | | | people of all ages. Because there is no specific |
| syndrome.The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome | | | | diagnostic test for chronic fatigue syndrome,no |
| is not well understood.Conditions that have been | | | | one knows how many people suffer from this |
| proposed to trigger the development of chronic | | | | illness.It is estimated that half a million Americans |
| fatigue include virus infection and toxins. Some | | | | suffer from CFS. Women are diagnosed with |
| theories suggests that chronic fatigue is related to | | | | chronic fatigue syndrome two to four times as |
| stress,overwork,physical inactivity,problems with | | | | often as men are.It's not clear,however,whether |
| the immune system,low blood pressure,or | | | | CFS affects women more frequently - or if |
| hormonal imbalance.Colitis,hypoglycemia and | | | | women report it to their doctors more often than |
| brucellosis can also cause chronic fatigue | | | | men do.Treating CFS presents a significant |
| syndrome.Regardless of the cause, chronic fatigue | | | | challenge to people with chronic fatigue and their |
| has a major impact on the quality of life.Chronic | | | | healthcare practitioners.Viktor Radcliff is the |
| fatigue syndrome is very hard to diagnose, and | | | | owner of Find framed posters,art photos and |
| many people go for years without knowing that | | | | maps on his site. |
| they have it. No laboratory tests are available to | | | | |