Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or you can say CFS, is a complex and debilitating disorder that is characterized by intense fatigue which is not improved by rest and may be got worse by any physical or mental activities. Symptoms affect various body parts and may involve muscle pain, weakness, insomnia and mental concentration/impaired memory which can result in decreased participation in regular activities.

CFS is also called ME that stand for myalgic encephalomyelitis.

The cause of CFS is unknown, although there are multiple theories – varies from viral infection to psychological tension. Some specialists believe chronic fatigue syndrome may be prompted by a combination of factors.

It is a serious condition which can cause long-term sickness and disability, but various people especially kids and young people – improve over time.

There is no only test to verify a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. You may require a variety of medical tests to rule out other health issues that have related symptoms. Treatment for CFS targets on symptom relief.

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

CFS can be unnoticed or misdiagnosed because its symptoms are related to many other illnesses.

Primary Symptoms

As the name chronic fatigue syndrome recommends, fatigue is one part of this sickness. With CFS, yet the fatigue is accompanied by other symptoms. Additionally, the fatigue is not the type you may feel after a particularly hectic day or week, after a single stressful event or after a sleepless night. It is a severe debilitating fatigue which is not get better by rest. It is an all-surrounding fatigue which can dramatically decrease a person’s stamina and activity level.

The fatigue in CFS is accompanied via characteristic sickness symptoms lasting at least 6 months. These symptoms involve:

  • Problems with sleep
  • Increased malaise (severe exhaustion and illness) following mental exertion or physical activities
  • Persistent muscle pain
  • Problems with concentration and memory
  • Sore Throat
  • Headache of a new type, severity and pattern
  • Joint pain (without swelling or redness)
  • Tender lymph nodes in the armpit or neck
Other Symptoms

The symptoms that are listed above are the symptoms used to diagnose CFS. Though many CFS patients may experience other symptoms, consisting:

  • Irritable bowel
  • Allergies or sensitivities to odors, foods, medications, noise or chemicals
  • Brain fog (feeling like you are in mental fog)
  • Chills and night sweats
  • Trouble maintaining an upright position, balance problems, dizziness or fainting
  • Depression or mood problems (anxiety, mood swings, panic attacks, irritability)
  • Visual disturbances (eye pain, blurring, sensitivity to light)
It is vital to tell your health care specialist if you are feeling any of these symptoms. You may have CFS or another treatable disorder. Only a health care expert can diagnose CFS.

Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

  • Nutritional Deficiency
  • Infection
  • Abnormally Low Blood Pressure and Lightheadedness
  • Immune system and allergies
  • Hypothalamic-Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis
Despite a dynamic search, scientists have not yet recognized what causes CFS. While an only cause for CFS may yet be recognized, another possibility is that CFS has many causes. Situations that have been studied to establish if they trigger or cause the growth of CFS involve immune disorder, infections, trauma, stress and toxins.

Nutritional Deficiency

There is no scientific evidence available that CFS is caused by a nutritional deficiency. While evidence is presently lacking for nutritional deficiencies in CFS patients, it must also be inserted as a balanced diet can be favorable to better health in general and would be estimated to benefit a person with any chronic illness.

Infection

Multiple types of infections have been deliberated to determine if they may cause or trigger CFS:
  • Candida albicans, a fungus which leads yeast infections
  • Epstein-Barr virus infection, also called as mononucleosis
  • Enterovirus infection, a kind of virus which enters by the gastrointestinal track and can have no signs, mild flu-like signs, or seldom severe and even fatal symptoms
  • Human herpesvirus 6 infection, an illness that can cause problems for the person with impaired immune systems, like AIDS patients or organ transplant receivers taking immune-suppressant drugs
  • Coxiella burnetti, the virus that leads Q fever
  • Rubella, a viral infection also called as German measles
  • Mycoplasma, a root of atypical pneumonia
  • Bornaviruses, that cause borna sickness, n contagious neurological syndrome
  • Ross River virus that leads Ross River Fever, a mosquito-borne tropical syndrome
  • Human retrovirus infection like HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, or xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV), a gammaretrovirus

Abnormally Low Blood Pressure and Lightheadedness

Disturbances in the autonomic circulation of blood pressure and regulation of pulse have been found in CFS patients. This difficulty with maintaining blood pressure can be diagnosed by utilizing tilt table testing that includes laying the patient straight on a table and then tilting the table vertical to 70 degrees for 45 minutes when monitor heart rate and blood pressure.

People who suffer postural orthostatic tachycardia (POTS) or neaurally mediated hypotension (NMH) will grow lower blood pressure under these situations, as well as other distinctive symptoms like visual dimming, lightheadedness or slow reaction to verbal stimuli. Others may grow an unusually fast heart rate also linked with the symptoms of the syndrome. Several CFS patients feel worsened fatigue or lightheadedness when they stand for extended periods or when in tepid areas like as in a hot shower – all conditions that are known to lead NMH or POTS.

Immune System and Allergies

Studies have shown if changes in a person’s immune system may lead to CFS. The results have been mixed up. Similarities in symptoms from immune reactions to infection and CFS cause to hypotheses that might be lead by viral infection or stress, which may cause chronic production of cytokines and then to CFS.

Antibodies adjacent to normal parts of the body (auto-antibodies) and immune compounds have been appeared in some CFS patients. However, no connected tissue harm typical of autoimmune disorder has been illustrated in CFS patients. The opportunistic infections or enhanced risk for cancer noticed in persons with immunodeficiency disorders or in immune-suppressed individuals is also not noticed in CFS.

T-cell foundation markers have been reported to be diverse between groups of CFS patients and healthy people, but not all researchers have constantly noticed these differences.

Allergic disorders and secondary sickness like sinusitis could be one prompted issue for CFS, but not every CFS patient has allergies. Multiple patients do, though, report intolerances for some substances which may be found in meals or over-the-counter medications like alcohol.

Hypothalamic - Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis

The central nervous system plays a vital role in CFS. Physical or emotional stress that is generally reported as a pre-onset condition in CFS patients, changes the activity of the HPA axis or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, causing altered liberation of cortisol, CRH or corticotrophin-releasing hormone and other hormones. These hormones may affect the immune system and many body parts.

Risk Factors

Factors may raise your risk of chronic fatigue syndrome that includes:

Age: Chronic fatigue syndrome may happen at any age, but it most generally affects people in their age of 40’s and 50’s.

Sex: Women are diagnosed with CFS much more often than men, but it might be that women are only more probable to report their symptoms to a doctor.

Stress: complexity managing stress might contribute to the growth of CFS.

Complications in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Possible complications of CFS include:
  • Social isolation
  • Depression
  • Increased work absences
  • Lifestyle restrictions