Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) is much more than just being tired a lot. People with ME/CFS are so run down that it interferes with their lives and can make it hard to function at all. The severity varies, but typically people with ME/CFS say they have trouble staying on top of their responsibilities at home and on the job. Others are severely disabled and even bedridden. Furthermore, they're not just dealing with extreme fatigue but with a wide range of other symptoms, including flu-like symptoms and chronic pain.
After years of research, experts now suspect that something called central sensitization is at least partially to blame for chronic fatigue syndrome. They also believe that's what makes it so similar to fibromyalgia, which shares many of the same features.
The CDC says the first credible evidence of a biological basis for ME/CFS came in 2006, when twenty researchers from different specialties each linked the illness with genes involved in the sympathetic nervous system and what's called the HPA axis. These genes control how your body responds to things like injuries and stress.
Literature on ME/CFS (by different names) dates back to the 1700s. Through the centuries, it's been falsely attributed to various causes and is only now beginning to be better understood by medical sceience. ME/CFS still goes by many names, including "chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome" (CFIDS), and "myalgic encephalopathy" or "myalgic encephalomyelitis" (ME). Currently, a name change advisory board is working to have the condition officially known as ME/CFS. The call for a name change is rooted in the belief held by some patients and medical workers that the name chronic fatigue syndrome itself trivializes the condition and contributes to continued misunderstanding of it. (ME/CFS is sometimes called "Yuppie Flu," a term that seems to support the argument that the illness is not taken seriously.)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
Symptoms of ME/CFS and their intensity vary from person to person.
Common symptoms include:
- Sudden severe fatigue, especially following the flu
- Sleep that isn't refreshing
- Muscle and joint aches without swelling
- Intense or changing patterns of headaches
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph glands in the neck or armpits
- Memory problems/inability to concentrate
- Symptoms have a distict onset
Other symptoms can include:
- Intolerance to alcohol
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Dry eyes and mouth
- Impaired circulation in the hands and feet
- Visual disturbances
- Painful menstrual periods
For fatigue to be considered severe, it must meet the four following criteria:
- It's not relieved by sleep or rest
- It's not the result of strenuous physical labor
- It significantly lowers your ability to function normally in most situations
- It gets a lot worse after mental or physical exertion, or after you've been sick
Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
After your doctor has eliminated the possiblity that your fatigue and pain are caused by another ailment, it's time to see whether your symptoms fit the criteria for ME/CFS.
According to the most recent guidelines set by the CDC, for a diagnosis of ME/CFS, the patient must have had fatigue for more than six months that impairs normal activities and cannot be attributed to any identifiable medical or psychological problems.
Researchers haven't yet discovered the underlying cause of ME/CFS, and so far the condition is incurable. Only a small percentage of the people who see a doctor for fatigue can be diagnosed with ME/CFS. When a doctor can't find a cause for fatigue but the patient's symptoms don't meet the criteria for ME/CFS, a likely diagnosis is idiopathic (of unknown cause) chronic fatigue.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatments
ME/CFS impacts more than a million people in the U.S. Treatment can include prescription or over-the-counter medications to help with specific symptoms, complementary or alternative therapies and emotional support.
Common drug types are antidepressants; antivirals; allergy medications (antihistamines); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve); and immune-system boosters. Early clinical trials suggest that the antiviral drug Ampligen improves how the bodies of ME/CFS patients use oxygen, thereby making it easier for them to exercise. The company that makes is seeking FDA approval.
Also being researched are psychostimulants (including Dexamphetamine, Adderal, Ritalin and Concerta, which may help with memory and concentration problems; D-ribose, which improves cellular function and may help with energy sleep, mental clarity and pain reduction; and antibiotics, which can help level out the immune system.
Some medical practitioners recommend dietary changes, herbal or nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, [link url=/od/exercisenutrition/a/yogaFMS_MECFS.htm]yoga and acupuncture. Because ME/CFS can be an extremely stressful condition, and could be made worse by stress, some sufferers benefit from counseling, support groups and stress-reduction techniques.
Common Terms
- HPA Axis: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is a complex set of interactions between the hypothalamus (a part of the brain), the pituitary gland (also part of the brain) and the adrenal or suprarenal glands (at the top of each kidney.) The HPA axis helps regulate things such as your temperature, digestion, immune system, mood, sexuality and energy usage. It's also a major part of the system that controls your reaction to stress, trauma and injury.
- Central Sensitization: A state in which the central nervous system magnifies the body's pain signals, turning ordinary sensations into severe pain.
For more terms associated with ME/CFS, see the glossary.
Sources:
Aug. 22, 2006 A.D.A.M., Inc. All rights reserved. "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" and "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" (In-Depth Reports)
2007 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved. "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"
Oct. 30, 2007, ProHealth, Inc. All rights reserved. Written by Rich Carson, ImmuneSupport.com Name Change News - And Plans for the Road Ahead
