Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Sleep and resting disorders are not just trivial problems we encounter when we are stressed or worried about something. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a severe condition that may become very uncomfortable for the ones affected. However, high rates of this very uncomfortable syndrome have been registered recently, as we live in a maximum speed century in which appropriately resting and sleeping are the last things we think and worry about. Instead, we prefer living on supplements that promise to instantly boost our memory and concentration.

Medical studies were carried out on CFS that searched to establish the causes that lead to such chronic sleep disorders. They showed that the actual cause of CFS remains unknown. Nevertheless, disorders in the immune, endocrine and nervous systems and genetic and environmental factors are considered to be the possible causes that lead to chronic fatigue. The interactions among all these factors are being under trial in scientific researches all over the world.

Most of the times, chronic fatigue occurs in a subject following a cold, influenza or viral infection.

Even if the syndrome is usually connected with stress, depression or other emotional disorders, experts state that depression and related illnesses do not lead to CFS. But they admit that most of the times, depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome coexist in an individual and they also share some of the symptoms.

Patients with CFS are characterized by deep and prolonged exhaustion and no ability of getting appropriate rest and sleep. A person is diagnosed with this syndrome if during a period of 6 months or more he/she encounters severe and continual fatigue problems.

Usually the symptoms of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are interconnected with other conditions or symptoms such as: short term loss of memory, problems with concentration, pains in the muscles and joints, sore throat, headaches, troubles in sleeping and resting etc. Besides these symptoms, some of the people that are later diagnosed with CFS also manifest abdominal, jaw or chest pain, earaches, nausea and dizziness, irregular heartbeat, mild respiratory problems.

Even if doctors say that the syndrome can affect anyone irrespective of age, gender or socioeconomic environment, studies showed that CFS is more common in women than in men, affecting four times more females than males. Also, it is less common in children than in adults and investigations proved that most people that suffer from chronic fatigue are in their 40's or 50's.

There is no acknowledged cure for the syndrome as there is no actual cause tracked down. This makes it even harder for people ill with chronic fatigue to improve their health as they do not know exactly what to do and which part of their body should receive treatment. Usually, doctors recommend to patients to try treating every symptom of the condition and go through a combination of therapies that should lead to the amelioration of all the intermingling symptoms.

Nevertheless, patients are mostly advised to appeal to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that will help them learn how to manage activity levels, stress and symptoms. Alternative therapies are also very beneficial because they will induce positive and optimist feelings to the ill individuals and will promote a sense of well-being in the often desperate patients.