Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Causes of chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) received much press and media attention when it was first discovered in the 1980s, but not much is heard about it these days. However, the lack of attention is not because this syndrome has disappeared. Several people each year are diagnosed with CFS, and several more have the syndrome and go undiagnosed. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates 1 in 4 million Americans have this syndrome.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a very complex disorder. It is characterized by a profound fatigue that lasts six months or longer. A profound fatigue does not get better with bed rest and can actually get worse with physical or even mental exertion.

People who have this syndrome function at a substantially lower level than they did before the syndrome developed. Some people with the syndrome will experience headaches, weakness, muscle pain and joint pain in addition to the extreme fatigue. Other symptoms can include memory impairment, non-refreshing sleep, tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes and a sore throat. Some people have even been known to have symptoms such as irritable bowels, night sweats, chest pain, shortness of breath, chronic cough, visual disturbances, allergies, jaw pain, weight loss or weight gain and psychological problems, including depression.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatments

There is no one specific chronic fatigue syndrome cure. Most doctors will aim to relieve the signs and symptoms using a combination of treatments. Some of the treatments doctors use include having the patient slow their activity level and avoid situations that may cause psychological stress. This treatment is carefully monitored, however, because too much rest can make a patient too weak. The goal is to slow down activity and then slowly increase it over time so that the patient gains more stamina.

Recent studies have shown a link between vitamin D and chronic fatigue syndrome, so some doctors will have patients take a vitamin D supplement or get more sunlight on a daily basis. When people with CFS take in more vitamin D, they may reduce their symptoms and increase their stamina.