9 Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
March 4, 2013According to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, over one million people in the US suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Worldwide, the disease affects over 17 million individuals. It is not known for sure what brings on the debilitating and challenging disorder but the theories range from viral infections, neurological illness, stress, nutritional deficiency, and even over-training in sport activities.
What is CFS?
CFS is a condition in which an individual suffers from long-term chronic fatigue that cannot be explained by any other accompanying medical conditions. Often times, the fatigue is so severe that it affects the social and work life of those afflicted with the disease. The symptoms are known to worsen with increased physical and mental activity and no amount of sleep provides relief.
9 Symptoms of CFS
Symptoms of CFS include:
1. A sore throat
2. Headaches that are unique from headaches experienced previously
3. Difficulty in concentrating, memory loss, forgetfulness
4. Muscle pain
5. Fever, sweats, and chills
6. Long-term chronic fatigue
7. Swollen and tender lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
8. Pain in the joints without redness or swelling
9. Severe exhaustion after physical and mental activities
Diagnosis of CFS
CFS is not easily diagnosed because the symptoms mirror those of other diseases. Health care professionals use two criteria for diagnosing the disease:
1. An individual suffers from chronic, prolonged fatigue for six months or more.
2. An individual suffers from at least four additional symptoms associated with CFS.
Individuals with CFS are often bedridden for weeks and months at a time. For many people who have CFS, the symptoms are most severe in the beginning followed by periods of remission and less severe relapses. There is no proven cure for CFS. Doctors try to assist in managing the disease by treating individual symptoms. Some people do recover completely from CFS, but health care professionals are not sure why.
Research and clinical trials continue in hopes of finding a cure.
*Coming soon: How Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Affects Lives
