What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A fairly new and woefully misunderstood condition, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also called chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), afflicts more than 800,000 Americans. Often minimized by those who do not understand it, and frequently misdiagnosed by doctors who are too quick to simply dismiss the symptoms as mere depression, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a debilitating disease that can have an adverse affect on your health, completely interrupt your lifestyle, and may even make it impossible for you to keep your job.

There is still a lot of debate among experts about what exactly Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is, what causes it, and thusly, what the most appropriate course of treatment would be for those suffering from this disease. In a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, experts highlighted the confusion associated the disease and the need for a clinical definition when they stated that “The complexities of the chronic fatigue syndrome and the methodologic problems associated with its study indicate the need for a comprehensive, systematic, and integrated approach to the evaluation, classification, and study of persons with this condition and other fatiguing illnesses.“

What is known about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that it seems to affect adults in their 40's and 50's more than any other age group. And it appears that women are more often the ones afflicted with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as opposed to men. Generally it is a disease that affects adults; however, there is some debate on whether or not Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been seen in adolescents or children as well.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is more than just mere fatigue, it is an overwhelming exhaustion that interferes with regular activity and does not improve with rest or sleep, and it is accompanied by a myriad of other symptoms including the aching muscles and joints that often referred to as flu like symptoms, lack of stamina, a noticeable problem with short term memory and other cognitive functions, and depression

Current treatment is aimed at helping sufferers to relieve their symptoms and include medications, relaxation therapy, herbal and alternative treatments, exercise and meditation programs such as Tai Chi, and changes in lifestyle to make Chronic Fatigue Syndrome more manageable. If you feel that you or a loved are suffering from any of these symptoms then speak with a health care professional right away to get a proper diagnosis.