Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Comprehensive Overview
June 24th, 2009Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a disease in which the patient experiences extreme fatigue and exhaustion but is unable to improve their conditions with proper rest. Sometimes the fatigue worsens with physical and mental exertion, but not in all cases. There are many theories with regard to the cause of CFS - from psychological stress to viral infections - but the actual cause is still unknown.
Because chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms are difficult to quantify and can also be related to a number of other health issues, CFS was not accepted as a medical condition for many years.
While the exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is still unknown, there are now a number of treatment options that can help patients suffering from CFS and fibromyalgia to recover over time.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
While most of the symptoms that characterize CFS are also commonplace in other health conditions and illnesses, there are typically 8 recognized signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome:
- Pain in Joints - typically the pain is not just in one joint but moves throughout various joints in the body without pain or swelling
- Unsatisfying Sleep - the patient is capable of sleep but does not feel the energy and vitality that typically accompanies a good night’s sleep
- Extreme Exhaustion - after physical or mental exertion CFS patients can experience extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours
- Headaches - the physical effects of CFS headaches usually feel different than the types of headaches the patient may have experienced before CFS
- Sore Throat
- Fatigue
- Loss of Concentration and Memory
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatments
While there is not one specific treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, doctors have been successful at improving patients’ conditions with a variety of different treatment options. These are:
- Treatment of Depression: Many people suffering from CFS are also depressesd, which is why it is important to address depression as a part of any chronic fatigue syndrome treatment. Popular prescription medications for depression include Prozac, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, and Zoloft to name a few. There are also natural antidepressants like SociaTropin, Seradyn, and Clarocet that can be used in conjunction with prescription medications or as a stand-alone treatment. As always, talk to your qualified health care representative before beginning any new medication or treatment option.
- Frequent Exercise: Daily exercise has been shown to improve the symptoms of CFS. It is important, however, to start graudually and eventually progress to more strenuous intensities and durations to prevent overexertion.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Working with a mental health professional and expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be an excellent way to identify negative thought patterns that could be getting in the way of a full recovery and replacing them with more positive thoughts. People often underestimate the powerful impact self-talk, positive and negative, can have on our physical and psychological outlook. Start by becoming aware of all the thoughts that pass through your conscious mind and identify which are productive and which are unproductive. Cultivate the productive, positive thoughts and work to increase their frequency while also making an effort to eliminate the negative, unproductive thought patterns.
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