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Chronic Fatigue
Contributor: Anika
Take the time to learn about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue and What it Could Mean For Your Well-Being
By Anika Logan
If constant exhaustion has struck and it has become an uphill battle to function on a day-to-day basis then chronic fatigue might have become a syndrome that you can no longer fight by yourself. Read on for some important information about chronic fatigue syndrome and then go see your doctor right away for a proper diagnosis.
The Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
When chronic fatigue strikes a person it is called chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS characterizes a group of symptoms that have no known cause. The symptoms of CFS include fatigue with no obvious explanation, pain in the muscles, weakness, problems thinking and concentrating, a general feeling of malaise, Sleep disturbances, depression, Fever and swelling of lymph nodes. Chronic fatigue syndrome has been closely linked to other disorders such as Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Chronic fatigue often starts as the aftermath of another health condition such as a viral infection, or a physical or psychosocial injury or some form of stressor. Chronic fatigue syndrome is sometimes referred to by the names post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).
Chronic fatigue syndrome has been classified according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a disease that affects the nervous system because of the fact that it brings with it excessive exhaustion, Muscle weakness and pain, a variety of cognitive impairments such as problems with thinking, focusing and concentrating and a variety of debilitating problems. For some individuals the level of fatigue reaches a point where it greatly affects their day to day routine and it interferes with the performing of ordinary tasks. Due to its unknown etiology (or cause) chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) can last anywhere from a few months to many years and it can bring with it severe disability. Many people reach a point where they are no longer able to work.
Once touted as the "yuppie disease" it took many years for doctors to acknowledge CFS as a true disease. Even today there is a great deal of heated debate concerning CFS. Many doctors are still not willing to give CFS much time or credence. In fact many doctors liken CFS to a form of clinical depression.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is not a disease that will simply go away if a person gets plenty of rest. It is much more complex in nature than that. It is estimated that approximately 800,000 people suffer from CFS but only 10 percent are aware that they suffer from it and even those 10 percent are not receiving the care they require. For reasons unknown, chronic fatigue syndrome strikes females three times more than males.
Causes of Chronic Fatigue
Some healthcare practitioners believe that CFS is connected to Viral Infections such as the Herpes virus, the stelth virus, the retroviruses, the Coxsackie virus, etc. Bacterial Infections are also believed to be connected to CFS. These Bacterial Infections include tick-borne bacterial diseases such as Q Fever, Lyme disease, and Rickettsia. Other bacterial diseases that have been linked to CFS include brucella, mycoplasma and the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia. Food-borne Bacterial Infections such as salmonella, shigella, cholera, E. coli, clostridium botulism and ciguatera, etc. are theorized to be linked to chronic fatigue although this has never been proven conclusively.
Other theories put forth relating to chronic fatigue are parasitic infections, Fungal Infections, allergies, autoimmune disease and problems related to the thyroid and the pituitary gland. Neurochemical imbalances such as blocked GABA, blocked or low serotonin and endorphin levels are believed to connect to CFS, as are autonomic nervous system dysfunctions.
Herbal Remedies for CFS
There are a variety of herbal remedies that can be useful in the treatment of chronic fatigue. Be aware before you start taking an herbal remedy that you should let your doctor know that you plan to do so. Some herbal remedies take longer to take effect in the body than other herbal remedies do. For example some take four to eight weeks to work while others might need to be taken for a period of 12 to 18 months to work properly.
Herbs that are beneficial in jump-starting the work of the immune system include echinacea, Goldenseal and licorice. Astragalus also works wonders on the immune system and it supports the development of white blood cells, which fight the symptoms of Colds and the Flu. Ginseng, and in particular, Korean or Chinese ginseng encourages energy in the body and helps to fight stress as it also works to support the immune system and fights a great deal of Viral Infections. Siberian Ginseng is also another from of ginseng that works well at combating diseases, fatigue and stress.
Ginkgo biloba and milk thistle are both good for CFS sufferers. The former helps to improve Circulation and is good for the brain while the latter is beneficial for the liver. If capsules or tablets are not your thing then try a Tea consisting of red clover, dandelion and Burdock root. These three herbal ingredients encourage healing in the body and also help to clean out the bloodstream while supporting the immune system at the same time.
To learn more about chronic fatigue syndrome visit-
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chronicfatiguesyndrome.html
