Posted January 7, 2011 - 4:36pm by Tracy
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a hot debate in health care
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a hot debate in health care
Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome a real illness caused by a virus? Or just a name for a host of stress-related conditions? Or perhaps just a figment of our imaginations?
Although the condition (known as CFS) was first identified and named in the 1980s, researchers and physicians are still debating over the answers to these questions. The controversy has flared recently thanks to several conflicting developments and studies published in December which considered if CFS is viral condition that is contagious.
The New York Times reported on these studies revolving around the condition, which is thought to cause severe exhaustion, sleeplessness and body pain, among other issues.
Regardless if it springs from a virus or is just the culmination of various stress-related conditions, CFS is a health concern on the minds of many women. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention CFS most often affects females in their 40s and 50s.
It’s cause is currently unknown, it shares symptoms with many other conditions and there is no diagnostic laboratory test that can easily identify it — which may be why so much debate surrounds it.
The one point most physicians and researchers can likely agree on is that understanding the difference between “fatigue,” “chronic fatigue" and "chronic fatigue syndrome" — terms often thought to be interchangeable — is an important step in finding effective treatments for each. So here is the breakdown:
Fatigue is brought on by stress, lack of sleep and minor illness, and can typically be relieved with some good rest.
Chronic fatigue is similar but lingers, is not related to physical exertion , not easily relieved and is often accompanied by infections, immune system disorders and high stress levels.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome involves extreme chronic fatigue symptoms that last for six months or longer, and followed by any combination of additional symptoms including impaired memory, muscle pain, headaches, dizziness, allergies, anxiety, stiffness, numbness and irregular heart beat.
Although it is typically diagnosed through process of elimination and there is no cure for CFS, a combination of strict sleep patterns, cognitive and physical therapies, changes in diet, medications and a strong support system can help alleviate the symptoms.
Have you experienced persistent, painful fatigue?
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