Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
The definition of chronic fatigue syndrome is fuzzy, at best. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), chronic fatigue is a distinct disorder with its own set of symptoms and physical signs, although there are no specific tests to diagnose the chronic fatigue virus. The only way to tell if someone has this condition is by ruling out all the other possibilities. As a result, the CDC cannot give us an accurate portrait of how many people may be suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.
The most common of the CFS symptoms is naturally fatigue itself. Sure, everyone feels tired from working too much or from physically exerting themselves, so what makes chronic fatigue different from normal wear and tear? Sufferers of this tiredness syndrome say that they have a hard time participating in activities at home, work or school. After sleeping eight to ten hours, the patient feels like sleeping another eight hours to feel refreshed. No matter how much sleep or rest is taken, there is always that "run-down" feeling similar to how one feels when overcoming an illness. This constant feeling of exhaustion persists for at least six months.
Another one of the common chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms is cognitive impairment. No matter how much sleep a person gets, he or she always feels "mentally foggy." Patients report difficulty with their short-term memories (but not their long term memories) and report difficulty concentrating. Often individuals have difficulty finding or saying a particular word during normal speech (dysnomia/verbal dyslexia). They may feel constantly confused and irritated. Headaches plague sufferers of this tiredness syndrome, but they differ in their pattern and severity than past headaches. Many people with CFS feel depressed due to their inability to perform at work or at home.
Diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms involves ruling out all other diseases and conditions that cause fatigue, such as a stressful lifestyle, cancer, adrenal disorder, thyroid disorders, HIV, AIDS, drug dependence, immune disorders, infections, muscle/nerve disorders (multiple sclerosis), endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism), disease of the heart/kidney/liver, psychiatric illness, depression and tumors. The diagnosis is primarily based upon symptoms, but the doctor may also conduct a brain MRI and blood tests to check white blood cell count or type.
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Latest Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
CDC research also points to trouble in the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis in the brain as one of the potential causes of chronic fatigue syndrome. Physical or emotional stress activates the HPA axis that increases the release of the stress hormone cortisol, dopamine and seratonin, which has a host of effects on the immune system. Doctors who treat patients for fibromyalgia say the same sort of hormonal abnormalities play a part in the mysterious condition they treat too.
Chronic Fatigue And Fibromyalgia
Severe fibromyalgia and CF sufferers say that fatigue is the most debilitating part of their condition because they feel hyper-sensitive to pain and never fully alert, which can affect all of their day-to-day activities. Therefore, CF and fibromyalgia treatments usually begin with sleep management, says Mary Rose, a clinical psychologist and behavioral sleep specialist at Houston's Baylor College of Medicine. "We know from research that sleep improves mood, pain, and in general how people feel during the day," she explains.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Causes
What are the root chronic fatigue syndrome causes? For years, researchers struggled to find any sort of rhyme or reason behind this mysterious condition. Their patients were sleeping full eight hour nights, but still woke up feeling foggy and confused. They struggled to make new short-term memories and find the right words when speaking.