Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is one of those diseases that goes undiagnosed for many years. You might be thinking that this ailment is not very regular, and only rare cases are detected every year, but that’s not true. According to the report published by the Institute of Medical Science, from 836,000 to 2.5 million people suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Many organizations are putting the effort in increasing awareness about the symptoms of this ailment so that it can be detected before spiraling out of control.
In this blog post, we will go through the symptoms, causes, and treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) so that you can understand it in a more detailed way.
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
CFS is a very complicated ailment which is mostly characterized by extreme fatigue that can’t be explained based on the current medical condition of the person. It is a long term illness that affects various parts of the body.
With the advancement of time and no treatment, the fatigue hampers both the physical and mental ability of the person, and it never improves. Some people know CFS as Myalgic encephalomyelitis as well. There have been many situations when CFS has confined people to bed. In most of the cases, the condition worsens when people try to do as much as they want to do.
Currently Center of Disease Control and Prevention is launching various activities for increasing recognition of CFS in early-stage and before it starts affecting different parts of the body. One of the main reasons why CFS worsens is that most of the people are not aware of the symptoms of this ailment, and it keeps on growing in the body undetected.
What are some of the most common symptoms of CFS?
The symptoms of CFS varies from person to person and also depends on the severity of the ailment. But one of the most common symptoms is fatigue. Most of the people suffering from CFS are not able to do their regular activities. They suffer from exhaustion and are not able to continue their day to day activities properly. In such a situation, it is recommended to visit the doctor immediately and get yourself checked for CFS. You should know that you can’t cure CFS just by confining yourself to bed.
You may also suffer from prolonged fatigue post any physical or mental exercise, and this is known as post-exertional malaise (PEM).
Along with fatigue, a person suffering from CFS may notice these symptoms as well:-
- Sore throat for more than a month
- Muscle pain
- Noxious sleep
- Headaches
- Lack of concentration
- Memory loss
- Extreme fatigue that lasts for 24 hours after any physical or mental exercise
Causes of CFS
The main reason behind CFS is still unknown. But according to speculations, researches have come up with the following possible purposes:-
- Weak immune system
- Extreme stress
- Hormonal imbalance, and
- Viruses
There have been many cases associated with CFS such as viral infection, but still, researchers have not been able to find out which type of virus causes CFS. Herpesvirus 6, rubella, and other different types of viral infections have been researched to find the relation between CFS and illnesses.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CFS may be the terminal stage of different types of conditions, and in many cases, the cause is very relevant. But still, there is no conclusive evidence to prove that any of the factors mentioned above causes CFS.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment
If you are thinking that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treatment includes just eating a couple of medicines, then you are entirely wrong. Till date, there is no specific Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treatment. Since the symptoms vary based on the condition of people, different people require a different type of treatments.
One of the best ways to treat CFS is to make changes in your lifestyle, and this is what most of the doctors will recommend you. Reducing your caffeine intake, and staying away from alcohol and nicotine may help you in having a blissful sleep. You should also try to stay away from taking a nap in the evening or afternoon, primarily if it is affecting your sleep. Stick to your routine and make a habit of going to bed and waking up at the same time regularly.
There is no medication for treating CFS, but you may need to take certain medicines for getting rid of the signs and symptoms of CFS. Many people suffering from CFS go through depression and in such cases, the doctor may recommend a mild dosage of antidepressant therapy.
