Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Fatigue is experienced all without exceptions. For some, this feeling is manifested in the form of easy fatigue, and for someone - in the form of a real decline in strength. Under certain conditions, a person develops chronic fatigue.

From a medical perspective, fatigue is seen as a special condition preceded by a period of intense physical or intellectual activity. Distinctive features of this state are a decrease in working capacity, drowsiness, increased irritability, apathy.

If we talk about fatigue as a physical decline of strength, this term conveys the inability of the body to fully utilize the strength of the muscles of the body because of their weakness.

Mental fatigue can be described as depletion of abilities to think constructively, make adequate decisions, remember information.

It often happens that both of these states manifest themselves in a person immediately. This makes it impossible to carry out productive activities.

A separate problem is a prolonged state of fatigue, which does not go away even after a long rest. A similar phenomenon was called "chronic fatigue syndrome"( CFS).

The essence of SSA

The constant feeling of tiredness and fatigue, which is not able to overcome even a long rest, is called chronic fatigue syndrome. According to the ICD-10 classification, CFS is a disease of the nervous system.

In different countries of the world this disease occurs under such names:

• encephalomyelitis;
• post-insulin asthenia syndrome;
• chronic fatigue syndrome;
• syndrome of chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction.

SCS is considered a common problem associated with the characteristics of the life system. Due to excessive emotional and mental stress, the physical and mental activity of a person is reduced.

In the presence of such a disorder, the patient often feels drowsy. With CSA, often these or other sleep disorders develop.

The patient can not concentrate on doing any work, concentrate attention. He becomes irritable, the emotional state is unstable.

Constant chronic fatigue can provoke the appearance of various kinds of phobias.

How does chronic fatigue differ from usual fatigue?

The main difference between CFS and the usual fatigue inherent in each person is that the decline of strength does not go away even with prolonged rest and a full sleep mode.

Ordinary fatigue is also not accompanied by deep moral oppression, which is characteristic of chronic.

In addition, symptoms of CFS include muscle pain, causeless weight loss, decreased libido, fever.

SHU: true facts and common misconceptions

Below are the real facts about CFS:

• this disorder affects people of working age( 20-45 years), and women, being more emotional by nature, suffer from it twice as often as men;
• since 1988, CFS is considered an independent disease;
• , the World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, chronic fatigue syndrome and depression will rank second in terms of their occurrence, second only to cardiovascular disease;
• , liquidators of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster who received a dose of ionizing radiation, observed typical signs of chronic fatigue 6-12 months after returning from the accident zone.

There are also quite common misconceptions about this deviation:

1. Fatigue syndrome only cause the mental and physical stress of the .In fact, this state can arise from completely opposite reasons - lack of purpose and motivation, useless pastime.
2. SCU - is a self-hypnosis, not a real disease .In fact, the syndrome of chronic fatigue is quite deservedly referred to the category of diseases of the nervous system. Experts have shown that pathology inhibits all processes occurring in the body.

Factors provoking the development of the

syndrome The diagnosis of "chronic fatigue syndrome" appeared relatively recently: in the 1980s there was nothing known about this pathology.

But further, with the growth of the industrial sector, the deterioration of the ecological situation throughout the world and social development, factors have appeared that exert significant pressure on the human nervous system.

To date, experts identify the main reasons why CFS can get a boost for development, and in a person's life there are only drowsiness, fatigue, weakness and apathy:

1. Stress factor .Depression, emotional and mental overstrain provoke structural changes that occur in the nervous system.
2. Immune factor .Pathology can arise from the defeat of the immune system.
3. Genetic factor .The presence of deviations in individual genes is also a provocateur of CFS.
4. Viral factor .Herpes virus, cytomegalovirus, enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus create a high risk of this pathology.

In the special risk group are people who:

• have recently suffered severe illnesses, injuries, radiation or chemotherapy;
• suffer from allergic, infectious, endocrine diseases, which are of chronic progressive nature;
• occupy positions of responsibility;
• live in a terrain characterized by an unfavorable ecological situation;
• malnutrition, little sleep and rest;
• lead a sedentary lifestyle;
• drink alcohol and smoke.

Clinical picture and symptoms

The syndrome of chronic fatigue is determined by a number of specific symptoms.

The first sign of CFS is fast fatigue, which appears even after minor loads. The feeling of weakness and fatigue accompanying CSU does not disappear during the day and even after sufficient sleep.

In addition to the above-mentioned chronic fatigue syndrome, the following symptoms:

• emotional instability;
• sleep disorder;
• apathy;
• total decrease in physical activity;
• sensation of aches in limbs and body;
• causeless and sudden increase in temperature;
• muscle pain;
• speech disorders;
• lymph node enlargement, sore throat, light cough( with Epstein-Barr virus infection);
• development of skin diseases in the background of a nervous breakdown;
• inflammatory processes;
• anemia;
• constipation or diarrhea.

Symptoms of CFC are characterized by a progressive course. Apathy with such a disorder indicates emotional burnout.

Diagnosis of CFS as a disorder of the nervous system

The diagnosis is made based on an analysis of the patient's abnormalities. A certain number of criteria that the neurologist calculates, indicates a disorder or refutes it.

Since CFS can indicate the development of endocrine, oncological, somatic, infectious or psychiatric diseases, the patient is also examined by an infectious disease specialist, endocrinologist, therapist and rheumatologist.

In addition, blood tests are performed for infections, including HIV.

How to deal with constant fatigue yourself?

If a person suffers from CFS, then this condition can not be cured independently, since an integrated approach is required. But without actions that the patient is fully capable of doing himself, chronic fatigue is unlikely to recede.

Independently to get rid of chronic fatigue and drowsiness it is possible, if:

• to lower the level of mental load;
• to build and observe the correct regime of the day, alternating moderate work with a full rest;
• moderate physical activity;
• spend a lot of time in the fresh air;
• make long walks( some experts recommend extending them to five hours);
• to engage in swimming, gymnastics, breathing exercises( to determine the optimal level of exercise, it is necessary to consult with your doctor);
• deal with matters that bring positive emotions;
• to eat right, using foods rich in vitamins and microelements;
• refuse to consume sugar in large quantities;
• do not drink alcohol;
• to abandon the activity that provokes stressful conditions in the patient.

Professional therapy

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome is impossible without professional help, the need to consult a specialist is due to the fact that the reasons for CFS can have a different basis.

So, in the presence of mental deviations as a determining factor of CFS, they pay attention to auto-training and group therapy sessions.

In the presence of diseases of internal organs and body systems as a risk factor, an effective method of treatment is the conduct of physiotherapy procedures.

What to remove chronic fatigue is suitable for such techniques:

1. Magnetotherapy , which provides relaxing and analgesic effects. This procedure is prescribed for pathologies of the endocrine system that provoked CFS.
2. Hydrotherapy .The beneficial effects of water relieve tension in the muscles, relaxing effect on the nervous system, improves sleep. The procedure is effective in the presence of mental pathologies.
3. Massage , which is produced in a quiet rhythm. Manipulation relieves pain in muscles and general tension, stimulates blood circulation.
4. Laser Therapy .Affects all organs and systems, improving their work. Stimulates the work of the nervous system.
5. Therapeutic physical training .Simple physical exercises increase immunity, bring about a state of equilibrium in the psychoemotional state, relieve apathy.

The schedule of each procedure is assigned by the doctor, depending on the individual characteristics of the patient and his current condition.

Medications for the treatment of

Depending on the cause of the development of chronic fatigue syndrome and its dominant symptoms, the following types of drugs can be prescribed:

1. Immunomodulators .Drugs of this type are often taken with frequent viral and infectious diseases, provoking a disorder of the nervous system. In addition, they strengthen the immune system and support an exhausted body.
2. Antidepressants .They are mandatory for prolonged and progressive depression, phobias, constant anxiety.
3. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .In CFS, they are prescribed only in the case of manifestations of muscle pain.
4. Sedative preparations of of vegetable origin.
5. Drugs for the suppression of increased irritability .

Vitaminotherapy is of great importance in the treatment of this pathology. The action of vitamins, of course, is not aimed at suppressing stress, but these useful elements will help support the immune system.

Drugs containing selenium, zinc, iron and magnesium should be taken. From chronic fatigue and weakness you need to take vitamins A, B, E.

Dangers - hidden and obvious

As a rule, the prognosis for fatigue syndrome is favorable, the disease gives in to treatment - of course, if it is adequate and timely. But, if for a long time not to attach importance to such a state and not to fight it, then it is fraught with the development of secondary diseases afterwards. These are:

• diseases of an infectious and viral nature;
• pathology of the male and female reproductive system;
• Parkinson's disease in old age;
• schizophrenia and epilepsy( especially for children).

Preventive measures

To prevent the development of CFS - it is quite realistic. To this end, it is necessary: ​​

• to try to lead an active, healthy lifestyle;
• spend more time in the open air, if most of the time you have to spend in the room, you need at least often to ventilate it and maintain the optimum level of humidity;
• to avoid stress situations whenever possible;
• from time to time to change the situation to get new sensations;
• to abandon bad habits;
• learn how to correctly plan the mode of work and rest and follow it.

SCU is not deadly. But, since pathology affects the nervous system, it must be fought without delaying it, otherwise later one can face even more serious consequences.