Natural Health Alternatives Blog

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)?

Chronic fatigue is a disorder which is characterised by extreme tiredness or fatigue that doesn’t go away. Doctors are unable to understand the causes behind this condition and may attribute it to a variety of factors which may include viral infections, psychological stress or other physiological conditions. However, many diseases are characterised by similar symptoms of tiredness and fatigue, which make chronic fatigue quite difficult to diagnose. CFS or chronic fatigue is also referred to as a systematic exertion intolerance disease or myalgic encephalomyelitis. A few years ago, chronic fatigue wasn’t considered a medical condition on its own but merely a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Nowadays, it is widely accepted as a serious medical condition and is most common in women in their 40’s and older. There are no tests to confirm the diagnosis of chronic fatigue. In fact, a variety of tests are conducted to rule out other diseases.

What are its Causes?

Individuals, who are effected by chronic fatigue, are hypersensitive to normal daily activities, which include some mental or physical exertion. However, medical professionals are still unable to ascertain why this occurs in some individuals and not others. It can be genetic and some people may be born with the predisposition of the condition, which is triggered later in life a combination of factors such as:

1.    Issues Triggered By Viral Infection – Some people develop the disposition for chronic fatigue syndrome after encountering a viral infection, which has led scientists to believe that a virus may be responsible for the condition. Most of the suspicion for chronic fatigue is attributed to viruses such as human herpes 6, mouse leukemia, Ross-River virus, Rubella and Epstein-Barr virus. However, there is an absence of any conclusive evidence for a direct link between these viruses and chronic fatigue.

2.    Immune System Issues – People who suffer from chronic fatigue often have impaired or weak immune system. According to the scientists, even a slight impairment of immune system can cause extreme tiredness and fatigue in individuals.

3.    Hormonal Imbalance – Having abnormal hypothalamus hormonal production or abnormal blood levels caused by hormones in adrenal glands and pituitary glands are attributed to chronic fatigue.

What Are its Symptoms?

Identifying signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue earlier can help you overcome and control this disease, which includes:

•    Loss of concentration and memory

•    Fatigue

•    Headaches

•    Improper sleep

•    Unexplained joint pain

•    Chronic insomnia

•    Orthostatic intolerance

•    Muscle pain

•    Sore throat

•    Enlarged lymph nodes in armpits or neck

•    Extreme tiredness which lasts for more than 24 hours after any mental or physical activity

What are its Risk factors, Diagnosis and Treatments?

Chronic fatigue syndrome can cause severe complications such as absence from work or school, depression, lifestyle restrictions and social isolation. Women who are in their 40’s and 50’s are much more likely to suffer from this condition. Unmanaged stress, allergies, environmental factors and genetic predisposition are also huge risk factors for this condition. So how can it be diagnosed? It is quite challenging to diagnose it as there are no specific medical tests for it and people with CFS don’t generally look sick. Your doctor may rule out every other disease which has the symptom of fatigue and then diagnose you with chronic fatigue syndrome. Currently, there is no cure or treatment specifically for chronic fatigue. Your health care professional however will try different treatments and drugs depending on your symptoms to manage this condition. These may include a low dose of antidepressant therapy, a sleeping aid or pain reducing medicine to deal with your joint and muscle pain. Each treatment has to be tailored made for each individual as there is no universal medicine. Work closely with your doctor to find a treatment that works best for you.