Learn More About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Do you often feel tired even though you have slept or rested enough throughout the day? If so, it could be a sign of a condition called chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition characterized by fatigue all the time. This certainly will reduce the quality of life of sufferers, because the complaints of fatigue that constantly will make CFS sufferers feel powerless to work or do other activities. In contrast to fatigue due to heavy physical activity or being not fit, chronic fatigue syndrome can even cause fatigue that is heavy enough to make sufferers difficult to get out of bed. Not only in adults, this condition can also occur in children.

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome can cause symptoms that vary, depending on the severity of the condition experienced by each patient. A person is said to have chronic fatigue syndrome if he feels tired or constantly for more than 6 months with no apparent cause. In addition to fatigue, symptoms that can occur due to health problems are:

• Muscle and joint pain.
• Headache.
• Difficult to concentrate.
• Sleep disorders, for example, become difficult to sleep, sleep more often, or often wake up during sleep.
• Dizziness when sitting or standing due to decreased blood pressure.
• Psychological problems, such as uncontrolled emotions, often panic, and anxiety.
• Swollen lymph nodes.
• Sore throat.

In addition to some of the symptoms above, sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome can also feel other symptoms, such as chills and night sweats, indigestion, palpitations, and numbness or tingling in certain parts of the body.

Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Until now, the exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is still unknown. However, the following factors are thought to increase a person's risk of developing this syndrome:

• Weakness in the immune system.
• Autoimmune disease.
• Hormone disorders, for example due to thyroid disease.
• Excessive stress.
• Psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders.
• Cancer.
• Viral and bacterial infections.

To determine whether someone is suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor. In determining the diagnosis, the doctor will conduct a physical examination and trace the history of complaints felt by the patient. The doctor will also conduct a series of examinations to detect whether there are several risk factors above. After confirming the diagnosis and risk factors, the doctor will provide appropriate treatment.

Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

So far, there is no completely effective treatment method to cure chronic fatigue syndrome. However, some treatment steps can be strived to relieve the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and help sufferers get back to work and move smoothly. After knowing what risk factors can trigger the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome in patients, the doctor will handle these risk factors. The following are forms of treatment that can be done to overcome chronic fatigue syndrome:

Giving medicine

The doctor will give medicines to overcome the disorder that is suspected to be a trigger of chronic fatigue syndrome. For example, if symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome arise due to depression, then the doctor will give antidepressant medication to overcome the depression. This medicine can also be used to help patients sleep more comfortably. In addition, doctors can also prescribe pain relievers or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin, to treat pain complaints felt by the patient.

Psychotherapy

In addition to taking medication, your doctor will also recommend psychotherapy to help calm the mind of people with chronic fatigue syndrome. In addition, this method can also be used to further explore the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome, if this condition is suspected to arise due to psychological problems. One form of psychotherapy that is often used to help sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome is cognitive behavioral therapy.

Physical therapy

Although feeling tired, CFS sufferers still need to exercise regularly. This is because doing moderate exercise has proven effective for relieving symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. To increase the stamina of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, doctors can recommend physical therapy in the form of graded exercise, which is physical exercise that begins with low intensity, then gradually increased according to the patient's ability. In addition to medical treatment, sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome are also advised to improve their lifestyle to be healthier. Some changes that can be made are:

• Limit your intake of caffeinated and alcoholic drinks.
• Quit smoking.
• Reducing stress by doing relaxation.
• Get enough rest. Try to sleep 7-8 hours every night.
• Eating a balanced nutritious food.
• Exercise regularly according to doctor's recommendations.

If you are constantly feeling tired or not energetic, to make you often not come to work or unable to do daily activities, then you should immediately consult a doctor. This is important to know if you have chronic fatigue syndrome and find out what causes it.