Chronic fatigue syndrome can not be diagnosed in 84% of cases. Until recently, he was not considered a disease at all.

We collected the classic symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). If you feel that something is happening to you, check out our guide to this disease.

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?.

As you might have guessed by the name, this disease is characterized by a constant sense of fatigue, from which neither prolonged sleep nor bed rest. In this state, a person can stay months and even years.

The ability of a person to perform a functional activity, or simply daily activities, undergoes major changes, - says Dr. Betsy Keller Ph.D..

Only in recent years, doctors have begun to take seriously the chronic fatigue syndrome. For the first time officially data on CFS appeared in 1934, and its name was given to the disease in 1984 thanks to Dr. Paul Cheney. Today in America alone there are 2.5 million people, for whom constant fatigue has become a way of life.

While there is no specific treatment plan, but you can ease the course of the disease. For example, with the help of sleeping pills, painkillers, psychotherapy and special physical exercises. The best thing you can do for yourself is to identify the problem in time and, without delay, seek medical help.

What provokes the appearance of chronic fatigue syndrome?.

As the scientist exploring the syndrome, Chris Snell, "genetic predisposition is a certain trigger". For other reasons that may cause the development of a DCS include:.

Epstein-Barr virus hormonal imbalance poor environmental conditions emotional and intellectual burden chronic diseases weakened immune system But neither scientists nor doctors can give an unambiguous answer that is specifically responsible for chronic depression, apathy, inexplicable fatigue.

Who is at risk?.

Victims of the syndrome of chronic fatigue can be any person, regardless of gender, nationality and level of well-being. However, studies show that women are four times more vulnerable to the disease than men. CFS can appear even in children, but under its "sight", still, older people - from 40 to 50 years. It is interesting that more people suffer from this less studied disease than from multiple sclerosis and some cancers.

How to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome?.

There are no special laboratory tests or biomarkers that will help a specialist to establish that before them a person suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Symptoms of the disease are similar to those of other diseases, so it will not be easy to assess the real state of things. CSU has a lot of "red flags", which can argue among themselves: on the one hand, a person overcomes fatigue, and on the other - he does not control outbursts of anger.

If doctors can not identify the problem and hang a label on it - it turns into a big problem, "Keller says..

To diagnose the disease, the physician must exclude other disorders associated with fatigue and determine the control signs of chronic fatigue, which we describe below.

The main symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are:.

You are experiencing exhausting fatigue. We are not talking about the fatigue that every person faces - after a hard day at work, physical activity, quarrels. Feeling that you are squeezed like a lemon, although only got out of bed after a full sleep that accompanies you for a long time - we about it. It is difficult for you to perform the most basic things that are usually given without much effort. For example, it's even hard for you to sit.

You feel aggravated when you are trying. Perhaps, you feel the fear of not being able to perform banal actions and doing all the will to correct the situation. But this can further complicate the course of the disease. The more physical, mental or emotional stress, the greater the likelihood that the symptoms will manifest themselves even more and find a physical outlet, for example, through lymph node inflammation or joint pain.

A patient suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, described his condition:.

When I do anything that goes beyond what I can do, I literally begin to collapse - every cell of my body is in pain. It hurts me to lie in bed, it hurts me to think, I can not speak - I just will not find the words. I feel that my insides are at war.

You are constantly waking up tired People with CFS can sleep 12 hours a day, but wake up with the feeling that they have not closed eyes. And this is not the same thing as insomnia or frequent awakenings. This condition has a name - non-restoring sleep. Because of the constant lack of sleep for people with chronic fatigue syndrome, you need to take care of your energy very carefully and use it carefully.

Your head is working slowly. Patients are more likely to experience cognitive impairment.

This is characterized by problems with processing information. A person can process information, but he does it very slowly, "explains Betsy Keller.

People suffering from CFS may also have problems with short-term memory, the ability to focus on something, solving problems and planning. All this leads to the fact that patients can not fully work and be in some social situations.

You feel dizzy ... even standing. You can just take a shower, when you suddenly feel a strong giddiness and a pre-stupor condition. In this case it is better to lie down. Dizziness is associated with the effect of chronic fatigue on the autonomic nervous system, which is part of the nervous system. It controls all actions that occur on the machine, including blood circulation. Chronic fatigue causes problems with blood pressure and blood flow.

You suffer from pain. With the syndrome of chronic fatigue, you can be overcome by various types of pain, ranging from the head and ending with the muscle. Their manifestations are often individual.

I can describe it as if you are suffering from a cold, hangover, dzhetgala, and you are also being electrocuted, "one patient said..

An interesting fact: in 1992, the famous pop singer Cher was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.

The disease was so complicated and unpredictable that the singer had to give up performances for three years.

From my experience I can safely say that this was not a psychological but a physical disease that provokes depression. I can say that it was destructive for me, - Cher described her feelings in this way.

Do not wait for your life to turn into an endless nightmare, in which for every movement and even thought you need to exert titanic efforts - contact a doctor!.

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