What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating and complex condition that involves multiple body systems. Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and may be made worse by physical or mental activity. People with chronic fatigue syndrome usually function at substantially lower levels of activity. Having chronic fatigue syndrome means more than just getting tired; the fatigue with chronic fatigue syndrome is extreme and overwhelming.
Other Names for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
When referring to chronic fatigue syndrome, patients and patient advocates often prefer to call the condition chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) to convey the complexity of the illness and its profound impact on people's lives. A 2003 study group addressed the name -- chronic fatigue syndrome -- which they believed might trivialize the illness. The report stated that they did not want to change the name without adequate scientific justification because that would lead to confusion and would undermine the progress that had been made on this condition.
A great deal of debate has surrounded the issue of how best to define
chronic fatigue syndrome. In order to receive a CFS diagnosis, a person must satisfy two criteria: He or she must have severe chronic fatigue of six months or longer that is not caused by another medical condition and must have four or more of the following symptoms:
- Substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration
- Sore throat
- Tender lymph nodes
- Muscle pain
- Multi-joint pain without swelling or redness
- Headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity
- Unrefreshing sleep (insomnia)
- Post-exercise fatigue lasting more than 24 hours.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is diagnosed only when other possible causes are ruled out and only if fatigue has lasted for more than six months.
Who Gets Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
It is estimated that as many as half a million Americans have chronic fatigue syndrome. In the early 1980s, chronic fatigue syndrome was first called the "yuppie flu" because mostly well-educated women with high incomes in their 30s and 40s sought help for chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. However, it is now known that chronic fatigue syndrome affects people of all ages, races, ethnic backgrounds, and economic situations. Chronic fatigue syndrome is not just an American illness -- people all over the world are affected by CFS.
Although more women than men are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, it is not known for sure that CFS affects more women than men. Researchers believe that women may be more likely than men to talk to their doctors about symptoms like exhaustion and pain.
The cause of
chronic fatigue syndrome remains unknown. However, some scientists do believe that there are several possible causes of chronic fatigue syndrome. Possible CFS causes include:
- Infection
- Impaired immune system
- Impaired nervous system
- Nutritional deficiency.
Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Experts have debated how to define chronic fatigue syndrome because the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not known and there are no standard symptoms of CFS.
In order to make a CFS diagnosis, your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam, order any needed tests, and rule out the presence of any other diseases or problems that may have similar symptoms.
To be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, patients must have severe chronic fatigue for six months or longer and four or more CFS symptoms.
Current Treatment Options
Currently, there is no treatment that works to cure chronic fatigue syndrome. However, there are things patients can do to feel better, increase the level at which they can function, and improve their quality of life.
Patients should begin by talking with their healthcare provider about CFS treatments for their symptoms and ways to manage their fatigue. By building a good relationship with their healthcare provider, patients will be able to talk more freely about their symptoms, which can improve the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.
If patients feel that their healthcare provider does not know a lot about chronic fatigue syndrome or has doubts about whether it is a real illness, they should see another healthcare provider for a second opinion. Patients can go to a local university medical school or research center for help with finding providers with expertise in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Currently, most healthcare providers with experience in
treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome will use a combination of therapies to treat CFS. Treatment options for chronic fatigue syndrome include:
Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
When you have
chronic fatigue syndrome, learning how to pace yourself and manage or avoid physical and emotional stress is important. Patients who are living with chronic fatigue syndrome should learn more about:
Doctors and scientists all over the country are conducting chronic fatigue syndrome research. CFS research studies are designed to answer important questions and to find out whether new approaches are safe and effective. Chronic fatigue syndrome research has already led to many advances, and researchers are continuing to search for more effective methods for dealing with CFS.
Similar Medical Conditions
Several illnesses appear to have similar CFS symptoms. Examples of these illnesses include:
Although these illnesses have a primary symptom other than fatigue, chronic fatigue is commonly associated with all of them.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Versus Chronic Fatigue
While chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition, chronic fatigue is a symptom. Many conditions can result in chronic fatigue and a diagnosis of any of these conditions would exclude patients from a chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis, unless the condition has been treated sufficiently and no longer explains their fatigue and other symptoms.
Conditions associated with chronic fatigue (as a symptom) include:
