| Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated | | | | women more frequently or if women report it to |
| disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that | | | | their doctors more often than men do. It also |
| does not improve with bed rest and may worsen | | | | affects adults more often than children, |
| with physical or mental activity. Of all chronic | | | | particularly adults in the 40 and 50 age groups. |
| illnesses, CFS is one of the most mysterious. The | | | | No one knows for sure what causes CFS. It may |
| symptoms of it include the following and at least | | | | occur after an infection such as a cold or viral |
| four of the following are present for six months: | | | | syndrome. It can happen over time or come on |
| 1. Forgetting things or having a hard time focusing | | | | suddenly. People who get CFS over time get |
| 2. Feeling tired even after sleeping | | | | more and more tired over weeks or months. |
| 3. Muscle pain or aches | | | | While people who get it suddenly feel fine one day |
| 4. Pain or aches in joints without swelling or | | | | and then feel extremely tired the next. It is a |
| redness | | | | difficult and unpredictable condition to have. CFS |
| 5. Feeling discomfort or "out-of sorts" for more | | | | effects everyone in a different way leaving some |
| than 24 hours after being active | | | | able to function and others completely |
| 6. Headaches of a new type, pattern or strength | | | | housebound. |
| 7. Tender lymph nodes in the neck or under the | | | | Right now there is no cure for CFS. Many of the |
| arm | | | | treatments in place work to alleviate symptoms |
| 8. Sore throat | | | | rather than cure the condition. Treatments also |
| Anyone at any age can have CFS. Women are | | | | vary from person to person. Discuss with your |
| diagnosed with it two to four times as often as | | | | doctor ways to ease your symptoms and deal |
| men. However, it's unclear whether CFS affects | | | | with your tiredness. |