HealthyCanada.com

Overview

Chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and that may be worsened by physical or mental activity. CFS was once called "yuppie flu" because those who sought help for and caused scientific interest in CFS in the early 1980s were mainly well-educated well-off women in their 30s and 40s. CFS is still diagnosed two to four times more often in women than in men. An estimated 150-thousand Canadians are coping with chronic fatigue and its disabling side effects.

The early sign of this illness is a strong and noticeable fatigue that comes on suddenly and often comes and goes or never stops. You sometimes feel too tired to do normal activities or are easily exhausted with no apparent reason. Unlike the mind fog of a serious hangover to which researchers have compared CFS the profound weakness of CFS does not go away with a few good nights of sleep. Instead it steals your energy over months and sometimes years. Symptoms can include

• Headache
• Tender lymph nodes
• Fatigue and weakness
• Muscle and joint aches
• Inability to concentrate

Causes

While no one knows what causes CFS for more than a century doctors have reported seeing similar illnesses.

For many people CFS can begin after a bout with a minor illness such as a cold or an intestinal bug. Often people say that their illnesses started during a period of high stress. In others CFS develops more gradually with no clear illness or other event starting it.

There is no proven effective treatment for people with CFS. Scientists are currently conducting studies to evaluate such treatments as cognitive-behavioral therapy (a psychological therapy) and graduated exercise therapy. While early results look promising these therapies do not work for everyone.

Antidepressants sometimes help to improve sleep and relieve mild general pain in people with CFS. Because adequate doses of an antidepressant often increase fatigue your doctor may have to start with a low dose and increase it very slowly or prescribe another type of antidepressant. Some people with CFS benefit from medicines used to treat acute anxiety as well as other nervous system problems such as dizziness and extreme tenderness in the skin. Experts also recommend that you try your best to maintain good health by:

• Eating a balanced diet and getting adequate rest
• Exercising regularly but without causing more fatigue
• Pacing yourself--physically emotionally and intellectually--because too much stress can aggravate your symptoms

The course of CFS varies from person to person. For most people CFS symptoms reach a certain level and become stable early in the course of illness and thereafter come and go. Some people get better completely but it is not clear how frequently this happens. Emotional support and counseling can help you and your loved ones cope with the uncertain outlook and the ups and downs of this illness.

Additional resources:

FM - CFS Canada

Chronic Pain Association of Canada

Ontario Fibromyalgia Association

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention