Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an overwhelming sense of exhaustion that seems to have no underlying cause. Exactly what causes chronic fatigue syndrome is one of the great medical mysteries of our time.

Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome

In majority of the cases, it sometimes starts with an ordinary bout of flu. Instead of going away after a few weeks, the symptoms - which can include fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, sore muscles and diarrhea - linger. Other symptoms can develop too: headaches, difficulty sleeping, difficulty in concentrating, forgetfulness. True to its name, though, the overriding symptom of CFS is a bone-crushing fatigue.You can hardly get out of bed when it hits you. It never goes away; it waxes and wanes.

Taming Chronic Fatigue

Because the symptoms of CFS are similar to some of the early symptoms of so many other conditions - everything from kidney disease and anemia to AIDS and leukemia - the first step for anyone who thinks he may have it is to rule out the other possiblities. That means getting an evaluation by a doctor who is familiar with the CFS guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And if you are diagnosed with CFS, then here are some steps you can take to make your battle with it as short and easy as possible.

Slow Down : Stress is one of the common denominators for guys with chronic fatigue syndrome. Thus the universally recommended treatment for CFS is simple: Get plenty of rest, eat a balanced diet and exercise moderately. Take a good look at your lifesytyle, rearrange your priorities, cut down on the pressure. You have to start drawing a line somewhere .

Stay Active : Becoming sedentary or being goggy from too much sleep are both common side effects of CFS. With CFS, you won't feel like working out, and vigorous exercise only makes the fatigue worse. Nevertheless, do try to get aerobic exercise, even if that means no more than getting up and walking around the house - even minor activity will be better for your body in the long run. If you don't have muscle fatigue already, you are going to get it by spending three months in bed.

Don't label yourself : Doctors urge that you keep yourself open to admitting that you may have something besides CFS. Research has shown that, many patients who thought they had CFS have recovered after being treated for everything from sleep disorders and sinus problems to hyperventillation. Depression is often mistaken for chronic fatigue syndrome, too. A high percentage of CFS patients respond favorably to antidepressants.

Stay away from quacks : Any disease, especially one as mysterious as CFS, is bound to bring out the hustlers. There's a long list of megavitamins, minerals and natural supplements that are rumoured to relieve the symptoms of CFS. None of these have been proven to be of any value. The same goes for any number of specialized diets. The study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health analysed the diets that five self-help books claimed would cure CFS, including several that eliminated yeast, sugar and carbohydrates. They didn't find any proof that any of these diets are effective. Worse, such diets may do more harm than good because they are nutritionally unbalanced.

Adopt a diet : Studies aside, many CFS patients have found special diets or vitamin regimens that seems to work for them. Doctors say that diets that eliminate sugars and caffeine are especially popular because people with fatigue have a tendency to overindulge in those substances, only to come crashing down again when the rush wears off. There is no scientific evidence that these things work; but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence. If there is nothing harmful in the diet, then there is no harm in following it. The patients need to feel they have some sense of control, that there is some thing they can do.