As many as 180,000 Australians suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is a condition that impacts every day of their lives – debilitating, tiring, and often painful. And yet, many of us don’t have a comprehensive grasp on what this illness actually is. Continue reading as we make a complicated, difficult health condition easier to understand, outlining everything you need to know about CFS and its effects.
This blog details all the key information surrounding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – the symptoms, causes, and possible treatments. For personalised health advice, contact our team at Vital Health and Natural Medicine today.
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, known commonly as CFS or Myalgic encephalomyelitis, is a tricky condition to understand. Diagnosing and treating CFS is extremely difficult, as there is no singular cause for someone developing Chronic Fatigue. There is no one disease or disorder that leads to CFS, and it instead seems to be brought on by a combination of different factors and circumstances.
Simply put, this syndrome is about far more than just experiencing fatigue. To be diagnosed with CFS, there are certain boxes you need to be able to tick. Your fatigue needs to have been persisting for at least 6 months consecutively and must have a severe impact on your daily living. Doctors will need to see how several symptoms of CFS are consistently affecting you, and that day-to-day life is significantly more difficult as a result.
What further complicates Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that symptoms overlap with various other conditions, diseases, and disorders. Nothing about CFS is straightforward.
The Signs and Symptoms
Fatigue is greatly different from feeling ‘tired’. People experiencing extreme fatigue will feel significantly less able to do activities that used to be a part of regular life before falling ill. Their exhaustion won’t be relieved by sleep or rest, and their symptoms won’t just directly follow especially difficult activities. No matter what they’ve done or how much they’ve slept, they may be experiencing fatigue.
There can be good days and bad days. Sometimes, people with CFS will ‘crash’, feeling their symptoms worsen after doing something exerting. Attending a big event could leave someone bedridden for a couple of days after. Sleep can also be affected – not just in the sense that getting a full night’s rest might not provide energy, but also in that falling asleep and staying asleep can be extremely difficult.
Other common symptoms of CFS include:
- Difficulty thinking and concentrating
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Sore throats
- Memory problems
- Worsened symptoms when sitting or standing upright
- Weakness or faintness
- Muscle pain
- Fever
- Tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpits
Common Causes of Chronic Fatigue
In spite of all the research being invested into Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, there is still no direct cause identified. Potentially, there are a variety of causes, and experiencing two or more of the following factors may lead to developing CFS. Here are some of the different causes that may be connected to CFS:
- Infection
- Physical or emotional stress increase
- Immune system changes
- Difference in energy production from cells
- Genetic predisposition
Treatment Options for CF
Experiencing fatigue can be a sign of a variety of other illnesses. It can be a symptom of different diseases, infections, and even psychological conditions. Leaving fatigue untreated can cause ongoing complications in your life – including needing to restrict your daily activities, having to socially isolate yourself, frequently missing work or school, and even facing mental health issues such as depression. If you feel as though you’re experiencing fatigue, it’s vital to seek help as quickly as possible.
There are different treatments you may be recommended to ease your CFS symptoms depending on your situation. Medications may be prescribed to address specific pain or physical challenges, but there are also natural treatments and changes you can use to better your condition. Should you choose to combat CFS with the help of natural therapies, here are some of the recommendations a melbourne naturopath might recommend:
- Specific dietary restrictions
- Nutritional supplements
- Stress reduction strategies
- Physical therapies
- Prevention of overexertion
Book Now for Melbourne-Based Chronic Fatigue Treatment
Suffering from CFS is a painful, life-altering situation to find yourself in. The lack of definitive research makes the management of this condition extremely difficult. If you’re experiencing CFS, however, you deserve all the support possible to ease the symptoms associated. At Vital Health and Natural Medicine, we offer natural therapies, supplements, and health advice that may have a positive impact on your health. Reach out today to sit down with an experienced naturopath for a tailored treatment plan.