Does your day just pass by feeling sluggish and exhausted? Don’t worry, you are not alone in this case. The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant negative impact on all of our energies since it entered our lives. It disrupted the harmony between work and life and stressed most of us. But if you feel tired for an extended period of time for no apparent reason, it’s a sign that something is wrong with you. It might be time for you to learn more about chronic fatigue syndrome and its signs.
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), is a complex disease. The extreme fatigue caused by this condition can last a very long time. Research from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) indicates that between 836,000 and 2.5 million Americans have ME/CFS. Most of them, however, have yet to be diagnosed.
HealthShots reached out to Dr. Jyoti Kapoor, Manasthali Wellness, Gurugram, Haryana, to understand the symptoms and causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Here are the common signs of chronic fatigue syndrome
Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome worsen with physical or mental exertion that cannot be improved with rest. More importantly, symptoms can differ from person to person and can change from day to day.
In addition to fatigue, symptoms may include:
- extreme exhaustion
- Low or high body temperature
- Problems with memory or thinking ability
- feeling uncomfortable at night
- Dizziness
- Muscle or joint pain
- Lack of quality sleep
- Muscle pain
- frequent headaches
- Flu-like symptoms
Know the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome:
Dr. Kapoor says the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is still unknown. However, a combination of factors may involve:
1. Genetics: Chronic fatigue syndrome seems to run in some families. Therefore, some people may be born with a higher likelihood of having the disorder in their lifetime if a family member has it or has a history of it.
2. Infections: Some people develop symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome after recovering from a viral or bacterial infection. This happens because these infections drastically reduce your energy levels and wreak havoc on your immunity. This can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome.
3. Physical or emotional trauma: Some people report having had an injury or surgery shortly before their chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms began. Apart from physical trauma, emotional stress is also one of the main causes.
4. Power Consumption Issues: Some people who suffer from weakness and fatigue find it difficult to convert the body’s fuel, mainly sugars and fats, into energy. Over time, this can increase the possibility of CFS.
5. Hormonal Abnormalities: The main cause of exhaustion can potentially be a change in hormone levels. Your poor diet, stress, heart problems, unexplained weight gain or loss, and digestive issues are to blame for hormonal imbalance.
You should see your doctor if you have one or a few symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome for an extended period of time.
How is chronic fatigue syndrome treated?
Your doctor can decide how to treat chronic fatigue syndrome based on your symptoms. However, the typical course of action might involve:
- Medication
- Food supplements
- Low intensity exercise
- Stress management techniques
