Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disabling condition know for extreme exhaustion not relieved by any amount of sleep or rest. It cannot be contributed to any other underlying medical condition. Sometimes chronic fatigue is called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID). For the purpose of this article, we are just going to call it chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS.
Chronic fatigue syndrome has been previously doubted to be a real condition. However, the controversy surrounding it is dying down, and it is now recognized as an actual condition. CFS can affect anyone at any age. But it is most often seen in women in the age range of 40 to 50. Care for chronic fatigue has to do with managing individual symptoms. There are no tests to confirm or deny you have CFS. Other diseases with similar symptoms have to be ruled out.
What Brings About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
No one is one hundred percent sure what causes chronic fatigue to ensue. There are quite a few theories:
Stress
Hormonal imbalances
A weakened immune system
Viruses:
Epstein-Barr virus
Human herpesvirus 6
Ross River virus
Rubella
Infections due to bacteria:
Coxiella burnetii
Mycoplasma
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests chronic fatigue syndrome may be the end stage of a variety of different conditions. This seems logical in some cases as ten percent of those with Epstein-Barr virus, Ross River virus, and Coxiella burnetii seem to develop a condition meeting the symptoms required for a diagnosis of CFS. The CDC goes on to explain that those with severe symptoms from these infections are more prone to getting CFS later in life.
A weakened immune system is another factor that may be to blame as most with chronic fatigue have it. But it is unclear, as of yet, whether a weak immune system is enough to cause the disease. Hormone levels have also been seen to be abnormal in those with chronic fatigue. But again, it is unknown if it is significant enough to cause the disease.
Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue
The symptoms accompanying chronic fatigue syndrome vary depending on the person and how severe it is affecting them. As the name indicates, the most prominent symptoms are extreme fatigue or exhaustion bad enough to keep you from being able to perform your daily routine. You must have this type of tiredness lasting for at least 6 months in order to be diagnosed with CFS. This fatigue is not relieved by bed rest. In addition, you must experience at least four of the following symptoms:
A recurring and frequent sore throat
Feeling unrefreshed after a good night’s sleep
Chronic headaches
Multi-jointed pain without redness or swelling
Tender and swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits
Problems with memory and concentration
Muscle pain
Chronic insomnia and other sleep problems
You also may feel exhausted for 24 hours after physical or mental activities.
Chronic fatigue usually occurs in cycles, with sufferers sometimes feeling bad and sometimes feeling better. Symptoms may go into remission for some time as well. But you may have a relapse, and symptoms will return. This makes chronic fatigue really hard to manage because you can never count on when it will be bad and when it will be good. It leads to much frustration for both patients and the doctors caring for it.
In order to diagnose chronic fatigue, other similar symptoms must be ruled out. The diseases that resemble CFS are:
Major depressive disorder
Lyme disease
Mononucleosis
Lupus
Hypothyroidism
Fibromyalgia
Multiple sclerosis
If you are overweight, have depression issues, or sleep problems, you are likely to get chronic fatigue symptoms. Side effects of some drugs, antihistamines, and alcohol can also appear like CFS. This makes it important to not self-diagnose but rather see a professional who is familiar with chronic fatigue.
Finding Relief from Chronic Fatigue
One thing that is vital for you if you are suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome is to make sure that your nervous system is functioning at its optimum. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is responsible for controlling most bodily functions: awareness, sensations, movements, speech, and memory. The spinal cord and the brainstem work in conjunction to carry signals between the brain and the body. The C1 and C2 vertebrae are designed to be a protection for the brainstem. These bones are very flexible as they allow the head to move in many different directions. This is a good thing when you want to turn your head, but it puts these bones at a higher risk for misaligning. Any mild blow to the head can cause them to move out of their proper place. Because they are in such close proximity to the brainstem, when they misalign, the brainstem is put under pressure. This causes it to send improper signals to the brain and can be the very reason for chronic fatigue syndrome.
Here at N8 Upper Cervical in Metro Manila, we thoroughly examine our patients’ necks for tiny misalignments that can wreak havoc on the body. We then use a method that is gently applied to the problem area. This encourages the bones to move into place more naturally than cracking the neck or using force, leading to a longer-lasting adjustment. This also allows the body to heal from the damage done by the misalignment. Many patients report seeing an improvement in their chronic fatigue symptoms in just a few visits.
To schedule a consultation with N8 Upper Cervical Chiropractic clinic, call (02) 8553-6218 or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.