Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

It is, therefore, different from the fatigue that we can suffer at times as a result of a rhythm of life increasingly loaded with activities (work, family, social ...). Those who suffer from CFS live with a disorder of unknown origin, which makes it incapable of even performing simple tasks and which has become a challenge for doctors and researchers.

Continuous and extreme tiredness

CFS is a benign disease that produces in those who suffer it a feeling of extreme fatigue (similar to a viral syndrome such as, but longer lasting). In addition, it does not disappear when resting nor does it begin because of physical exercise or intense intellectual activity, although they are activities that increase the feeling of fatigue. On the other hand, it is much more intense than that which can be produced by performing daily tasks and lasts over time, even preventing the most common ones from being carried out, be they work, domestic or social.

Unknown cause

The cause of chronic fatigue is unknown. Some theories have tried to implicate some viruses or alterations in the immune system, but there is insufficient evidence to support either of these theories. Some factors such as age, previous illnesses, stress, genetic factors or environmental factors could also be related.

The diagnosis

The main criterion that allows diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is the appearance of extreme fatigue for a period greater than six months, which is not relieved by bed rest and which prevents participation in normal tasks (work, domestic, social).

Other symptoms that may appear and support the diagnosis if they occur in a number greater than four may be:

• Tiredness for more than 24 hours after mild exercise
• Tiredness after having slept long enough
• Feeling of forgetfulness and concentration
• Confusion
• Joint pain without inflammatory signs
• Irritability
• Fever
• muscle pains
• Generalized muscle weakness
• A sore throat or tenderness in the lymph nodes in the neck.

The diagnosis is made based on the clinic and by ruling out other possible causes, such as drug dependence, immunity disorders or autoimmune diseases, infections, neuromuscular or endocrinological diseases, heart, kidney or liver diseases, tumors or. There are no known laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis, but in some cases nonspecific alterations may appear in the blood test or in the Brain Magnetic Resonance.

Different from fibromyalgia

Many diseases can produce similar symptoms, so it can sometimes be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. One of the diseases with which Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can most commonly be confused is fibromyalgia, but one of the most important differences is that in the latter, symptoms of muscle pain tend to predominate over fatigue. In fact, it is a rheumatic, chronic, disabling disease that often overlaps with chronic fatigue. They are two diseases that can occur separately and that can end up converging or have similar symptoms.

Prognosis and complications

In the long term it is difficult to make a prognosis of the evolution of the disease, but some patients recover completely between six months and one year after the onset of symptoms. In other cases, despite the improvement in symptoms, patients report a residual feeling of fatigue for years.

On the other hand, as it is a prolonged disease, many patients develop symptoms of and isolation. In cases of intense pharmacological treatment, side effects of medications taken for long periods of time may appear.

Do you have treatment?

So far there is no specific treatment and treatment goals with the control of physical and psychological symptoms. However, we have some treatments that can help and the most common is to use a combination of:

• Drugs to reduce pain, discomfort, and fever
• Anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs
• Physical exercise and rehabilitation
• Techniques for improving sleep quality,
• Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy

Tips to cope better

Commonly recommended behaviors for chronic fatigue sufferers include:

• Maintain an active social life
• Avoid strenuous activities on days when you are most tired
• Balance the hours of rest-sleep and activity well
• Try to divide tasks into smaller portions
• Distribute tasks throughout the days in a balanced way
• Practice relaxation and stress reduction techniques (muscle relaxation, massage, yoga, meditation, etc.).

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• It affects: mainly women between the ages of 30 and 50.
• Symptoms: extreme tiredness for a period of more than six months.
• Consequences: as it is a long-term illness, many patients develop symptoms of depression and isolation.