Have you been feeling tired lately? Is sleep running on your mind all the time? Are you snoozing the alarm and going back to a very deep sleep within seconds? If the answer to these questions is yes, then something is not right.
You might just feel lazy and on the outside, you might look just about fine, but what about the yawns at every 10-minute interval? Don’t ignore the signs of fatigue. For all you may know, you might be suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.
Yes, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an enervating disorder characterized by extreme fatigue or tiredness that simply doesn’t want to go away with rest. It can’t be explained by an underlying medical condition. It can also be known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).
Though it is more common in women who might develop it between their mid-20s and mid-40s, even children can tend to develop it.
The causes of chronic fatigue syndrome
It is difficult to decipher the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome. While some state viral infection or a stressful life or a combination of both can be at the root of it, no cause can be singled out. The similarity of symptoms with other illnesses makes it increasingly difficult to diagnose singularly.
The triggering factor for chronic fatigue syndrome can be many though. As stated above, viral infections such as glandular fever or bacterial infections like pneumonia can be the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome. Other triggers for chronic fatigue syndrome include hormonal imbalance, a weak immune system, low blood pressure, and mental problems like inability to cope with stress and depression.
Though virulent infection can count as one of the causing factors of chronic fatigue syndrome, however, no single type of infection has been held guilty of causing it. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpes virus 6, Ross River virus (RRV), rubella, Coxiellaburnetti, and mycoplasma have all been under the lens in relation to being the causative factor for chronic fatigue syndrome. However, researchers have stumbled upon the fact that in a person’s lifetime, if he/she has been infected with at least three of the above-mentioned pathogens, there are high chances of them developing the disease.
Though a weak immune system can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome, doctors are still unsure about designating it the single-most cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. It is unclear though, that a weak immune system is enough to cause the disease. Even extreme hormonal imbalances such as abnormal blood levels of hormones produced in the hypothalamus, pituitary glands or adrenal glands, is related to chronic fatigue syndrome, but medical fraternity is yet to conclude its significance in causing chronic fatigue syndrome.
The ratio of chronic fatigue syndrome occurring to women compared to men is 2:1. Other factors like environmental conditions, genetic predisposition, reaction to allergies and stress can aggravate the risk of chronic fatigue syndrome.
The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome
Though the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome vary from one to individual to another, the one most common symptom is fatigue, feeling extremely tired and a general sense of being unwell almost all the time. For chronic fatigue syndrome to be diagnosed, fatigue must last for 6-8 months for an individual that is incurable with bed rest. But there are other signs as well that can notify the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome. They are:
- Loss of memory or concentration or problem in thinking
- Feeling unrefreshed after a night’s sleep
- Chronic insomnia (and other sleep disorders)
- Unexplained muscle pain
- Pain that moves from one joint to another without swelling or redness
- Frequent headaches with dizziness or a sick feeling
- Flu-like symptoms
- Irregular fast heartbeats
- Multijoint pain without redness or swelling
- A frequent sore throat
- Tender and enlarged lymph nodes in your neck and armpits
- Any physical or mental exercise can lead to extreme exhaustion lasting up to a day or more.
If any of these symptoms persist, along with excessive tiredness, for more than 6 months, see a doctor. Also in such times, try not to push yourself by over exercising. One day you might feel a little better than most days. Don’t take that day as a “feel-good-do-exercise” day. You might end up feeling more exhausted than you already were. In a single day, the extent of your symptoms can vary from low to high or vice versa.
Apart from stress, some other psychological reasons that may aggravate chronic fatigue syndrome are depression, lifestyle habits, social seclusion, long leave of absence from work, etc. All these can complicate an already existing chronic fatigue syndrome.
There are neither specific causes of chronic fatigue syndrome nor a test to detect it. Many times, it will shadow many other disorders such as multiple sclerosis, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, lupus or mononucleosis.
There is no specific treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome and everyone might have different symptoms, therefore the line of treatment would vary from person to person. However, making some lifestyle changes like reducing caffeine intake or cutting down on smoking and alcohol intake can help to curb the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome.
