Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Primary signs and symptoms

Chronic fatigue syndrome has eight official symptoms, plus the central symptom that gives the condition its name:

• Fatigue
• Loss of memory or concentration
• Sore throat
• Painful and mildly enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
• Unexplained muscle pain
• Pain that moves from one joint to another without swelling or redness
• Headache of a new type, pattern or severity
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise

Additional signs and symptoms

In addition, people with chronic fatigue syndrome have reported other various signs and symptoms that aren't part of the official definition. These include:

• Abdominal pain
• Allergies or sensitivities to foods, alcohol, odors, chemicals, medications or noise
• Bloating
• Chest pain
• Chronic cough
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness, balance problems or fainting
• Dry mouth
• Earache
• Irregular heartbeat
• Jaw pain
• Morning stiffness
• Nausea
• Chills and night sweats
• Psychological problems, such as depression, irritability, anxiety disorders and panic attacks
• Shortness of breath
• Tingling sensations
• Visual disturbances, such as blurring, sensitivity to light, eye pain and dry eyes
• Weight loss or gain

If you have chronic fatigue syndrome, your symptoms may peak and become stable early on, and then come and go over time. Some people go on to recover completely, while others grow progressively worse.

Causes

Of all chronic illnesses, chronic fatigue syndrome is one of the most mysterious. Several possible causes have been proposed, including:

• Depression
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• History of allergies
• Virus infection, such as Epstein-Barr virus or human herpesvirus 6
• Dysfunction in the immune system
• Changes in the levels of hormones produced in the hypothalamus, pituitary glands or adrenal glands
• Mild, chronic low blood pressure (hypotension)
• An autoimmune process causing inflammation of certain nervous-system pathways
• A viral infection complicated by a dysfunctional immune response
• A low blood pressure disorder that triggers the fainting reflex

Symptoms similar to those of chronic fatigue syndrome sometimes have straightforward, correctable causes, such as:

• An active, identifiable medical condition that often results in fatigue
• Medication side-effects

Risk factors

Women are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome at least four times as often, but sex isn't a proven risk factor for this condition. It may be that women are simply more likely to report their symptoms to a doctor.

The condition is most common in people in their 40s and 50s, but it can affect people of all ages.

Because the cause of the condition is unknown, doctors have yet to determine and confirm definite risk factors for the disease.

Complications

Possible complications of chronic fatigue syndrome include:

• Depression, related both to symptoms and lack of diagnosis
• Side effects and adverse reactions related to medication treatments
• Side effects and adverse reactions associated with lack of activity (deconditioning)Social isolation caused by fatigue
• Lifestyle restrictions
• Missing work

Diagnosis

To meet the diagnostic criteria of chronic fatigue syndrome, you must have unexplained, persistent fatigue for six months or more, along with at least four of the eight primary signs and symptoms.

Primary signs and symptoms of CFS include:

• Loss of memory or concentration
• Sore throat
• Painful and mildly enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
• Unexplained muscle pain
• Pain that moves from one joint to another without swelling or redness
• Headache of a new type, pattern or severity
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise

There's no diagnostic or laboratory procedure to confirm the presence of chronic fatigue syndrome. The diagnosis is based on exclusion. This means that before arriving at the diagnosis, your doctor has ruled out other well-defined diseases or conditions that may be causing your fatigue and related symptoms. Conditions your doctor may rule out or identify as contributing factors early on include:

• Low levels of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism)
• Sleep apnea
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Substance abuse
• A relapse of a previously treated illness, such as cancer
• Severe obesity, defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater 

Treatments and drugs

There's no specific chronic fatigue syndrome treatment. In general, doctors aim to relieve signs and symptoms by using a combination of treatments, which may include:

• Moderating daily activity. Your doctor may encourage you to slow down and to avoid excessive physical and psychological stress. However, too much rest can make you weaker, worsening your long-term symptoms. Your goal should be to maintain a moderate level of daily activity and gently increase your stamina over time.
• Gradual but steady exercise. With the help of a physical therapist, you may be advised to begin an exercise program that slowly becomes more challenging. Research has proved that gradually increasing exercise can improve the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Cognitive behavior therapy. This treatment, often used in combination with graduated exercise, also has been found to improve the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. In cognitive behavior therapy, you work with a mental health provider to identify negative beliefs and behaviors that might be delaying your recovery and replace them with healthy, positive ones.
• Treatment of depression. If you're depressed, medications such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may help. Antidepressants may also help improve sleep and relieve pain. Commonly prescribed antidepressants include amitriptyline. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Seroxat) and sertraline (Lustral).
• Treatment of existing pain. Paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen may be helpful to reduce pain and fever.
• Treatment of sleep problems. Changing your sleep habits may be enough to help you start getting restorative nighttime sleep. But if techniques such as sticking with a regular bedtime, skipping daytime naps, and avoiding substances such as caffeine and alcohol don't help, your doctor may prescribe a short course of sleep medication.
• Treatment of allergy-like symptoms. Antihistamines such as Clarityn and Zirtek, and decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) may relieve allergy-like symptoms such as runny nose.
• Treatment of low blood pressure (hypotension). The drugs fludrocortisone (Florinef) and atenolol (Tenormin) may be useful for certain people with chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Treatment for problems of the nervous system. Symptoms such as dizziness and extreme skin tenderness can sometimes be relieved by clonazepam (Rivotril)). Your doctor may prescribe medications such as lorazepam (Ativan) and alprazolam (Xanax) to relieve symptoms of anxiety.

Experimental therapies

Research aimed at finding new treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome has included studies of the following medications:

• Methylphenidate (Ritalin). This psychostimulant appears to boost and balance levels of the brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. It's commonly used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). One study found that methylphenidate lessened fatigue and improved concentration in some people with chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Corticosteroids. Some studies have found that oral hydrocortisone may improve symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, while other studies have found no benefit.
• Immune globulins and interferons. These medications are used to boost your immune system's ability to fight infection. Studies have not found them to be consistently effective in treating chronic fatigue syndrome, and some participants have experienced severe side effects.
• Antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir. The possible connection between chronic fatigue syndrome and Epstein-Barr virus led researchers to test whether powerful antiviral medications could improve the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. This approach has not been found effective, and the connection between Epstein-Barr virus and chronic fatigue syndrome has since been disproved.
• Cholinesterase inhibitors, such as galantamine. These drugs improve the effectiveness of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that is believed to be important for memory, thought and judgment. Galantamine is used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, but it has not been found beneficial for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lifestyle remedies

Learning how to manage fatigue can help you improve your level of functioning and your quality of life despite your symptoms. You may work with a rehabilitation medicine specialist who can teach you how to plan activities to take advantage of times when you usually feel better.

These important self-care steps can help you to maintain good general health:

• Reduce stress. Develop a plan to avoid or limit overexertion and emotional stress. Allow yourself time each day to relax. That may mean learning how to say no without guilt.
• Get enough sleep. Getting sufficient sleep is essential. In addition to allotting enough time for sleep, practice good sleep habits, such as going to bed and getting up at the same time each day and limiting daytime napping.
• Exercise regularly. You may need to start slowly and build up gradually. But exercising regularly often improves symptoms. Many people find exercises such as walking, swimming, biking and water aerobics to be helpful. A physical therapist may help you develop a home-exercise program. Stretching, good posture and relaxation exercises also can be helpful.
• Pace yourself. Keep your activity on an even level. If you do too much on your good days, you may have more bad days.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Try to eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids, limit your caffeine intake, stop smoking, get adequate rest, and exercise regularly. Find a hobby or career that's enjoyable and fulfilling for you.

Alternative medicine

Many alternative therapies have been promoted for chronic fatigue syndrome, but few have been evaluated in clinical trials. Among those that have been studied, two that may offer benefit for CFS include.

• D-ribose. Also called ribose, this form of sugar is an essential energy source for your cells. Scientists believe that impaired cellular metabolism — some kind of disorder in the way your cells do their work — may play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome. Some research has found that natural D-ribose supplements may significantly improve energy and decrease pain associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Acupuncture. Acupuncture has been evaluated as a treatment for the symptoms of fibromyalgia, a disease that is considered similar to CFS and is also characterized by fatigue and muscle soreness. Studies suggest that acupuncture may decrease fatigue, pain, anxiety and other symptoms associated with CFS.

Other complementary therapies that may reduce anxiety and promote well-being in people with chronic fatigue syndrome include:

• Deep-breathing and muscle-relaxation techniques
• Meditation
• Massage and healing touch
• Movement therapies such as stretching, yoga and tai chi

Coping and support

The experience of chronic fatigue syndrome varies from person to person. For many people, however, the symptoms are more bothersome early in the course of the illness and then gradually decrease. Some people recover completely with time. Emotional support and counseling may help you and your loved ones deal with the uncertainties and restrictions of chronic fatigue syndrome.

You may find it therapeutic to join a support group and meet other people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Support groups aren't for everyone, and you may find that a support group adds to your stress rather than relieving it. Experiment and use your own judgment to determine what's best for you.

References:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Chronic-fatigue-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-fatigue-syndrome

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_fatigue_syndrome

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chronicfatiguesyndrome.html

http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/