About one million Americans suffer under the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Women in the age of 20 to 50 years are more frequently concerned than men. The actual number of people suffering under CFS can only be estimated since the diagnosis criteria vary. But, also the term “chronic fatigue syndrome” is not uniform.
Some scientists call it “benign myalgic enzephalomyelitis (ME)”, some talk about neurasthenia (weak nerves) or about CFS. Although there is a great similarity between CFS and neurasthenia, some experts consider these to be two different diseases. The fatigue is often occurring when suffering under cancer or other serious chronic diseases and may not be mistaken with CFS. It has similar symptoms like CFS but is based on different causes. Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disease and has some symptoms that can be compared with CFS.
Symptoms of CFS
CFS is expressed through a strong, inexplicable, long lasting and recurring physical and mental exhaustion.
The exhaustion
- lasts at least for six months
- starts all of a sudden and the starting point can be defined
- is not cause of the current load
- is not improving when relaxing
- leads to a major decline of all activities of everyday life.
Furthermore, at least four of the following symptoms occur for at least six months:
- difficulties to concentrate
- memory problems
- head ache
- sleep disturbances
- muscular pains
- joint pains
- long lasting exhaustion after strenuous activity (exhaustion lasts longer than 24 hours)
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