Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Symptoms & Treatment
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a common condition that affects between 1 and 4 million Americans and is characterized by extreme fatigue that does not improve with traditional remedies. This condition often occurs after an infection such as a cold or other viral illness. Although symptoms are common, many people do not seek treatment for this condition and blame its symptoms on other factors.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is characterized by extreme tiredness that does not go away, even with lots of rest. If you suffer from CFS, you are not alone. CFS affects almost 4 million people in the United States. CFS typically affects people over 40 and also more commonly affect women rather than men.
Common CFS symptoms include:
- Persistent fatigue
- Loss of memory or concentration
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Muscle soreness
- Headache
- Trouble sleeping
People often ignore their symptoms or mistake them for something else. Many people do not identify their symptoms as a chronic condition.
However, if these symptoms persist for more than six months then CFS is a sure possibility. The symptoms may also worsen over time. CFS typically becomes a diagnosis after other conditions have been ruled out.
Like many chronic conditions, there is no known cause. However, there are a number of different factors are believed to contribute to the condition. Factors such as, depression, anemia, hypoglycemia, allergies, infection, or low blood pressure.
Your doctor will decide your diagnose starting with a comprehensive medical and mental health history. Keeping a diary that tracks your symptoms will help significantly with this process. A physical Examination and metabolic workup can also help with the specific cause of the treatment. If not, treatment can be approached from symptom control while specific etiology is being figured out in the future.
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend:
- Nutrients and supplements
- Avoiding stress
- Gradual exercise training
- Cognitive behavior therapy
- Depression treatment
- Pain treatment
- Allergy treatment
You can help prevent or reduce symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome by maintaining a healthy, stress-free life. Although this condition may not seem serious at first, it is important to seek treatment in order to avoid worsening your condition.