Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
{A Hidden Epidemic}
... it's affecting more and more people.
Many are not able to work because of it, and many are housebound. It devastates lives and costs governments billions of pounds and dollars each year.
It's a hidden epidemic...
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) - an illness with many debilitating symptoms (both physical & mental) and no universal cure. The point of this group is to help increase awareness & understanding of this condition, as there is a serious lack of both in this country!
ME/CFS is a very serious illness that has a vast array of symptoms.
The term 'ME/CFS' has become known as the 'umbrella term' to describe what is now believed to be sub-groups of illnesses. These include:
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.)
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS)
All of these fall under the label 'ME/CFS'.
In fact, there are plenty more names and descriptions, that have been created over the years - all trying to pinpoint what this illness (or rather, what this group of illnesses), actually is. People are still disagreeing even now. Other names include:
- Myalgic Encephalopathy (M.E.) and
- Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS).
It affects 243,000 people in the United Kingdom, with plenty more undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. The CDC estimated that it affected 800,000 adults in the United States in 1999. That's twice the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis.
Even more sufferers are believed to be misdiagnosed by doctors who mistakenly put it down to 'depression' or 'stress'. Further sufferers are believed to never have been diagnosed.
Causes/Triggers of CFS
Of all chronic illnesses, chronic fatigue syndrome is one of the most mysterious. Unlike definite infections, it has no clear cause. Several possible causes have been proposed, including:
Depression
Iron deficiency anemia
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
History of allergies
Virus infection, such as Epstein-Barr virus or human herpesvirus 6
Dysfunction in the immune system
Changes in the levels of hormones produced in the hypothalamus, pituitary glands or adrenal glands
Mild, chronic low blood pressure (hypotension)
The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome may be an inflammation of the pathways of the nervous system as a response to an autoimmune process, but with nothing measurable in the blood as in other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Chronic fatigue syndrome may also occur when a viral illness is complicated by a dysfunctional immune system. Some people with CFS may have a low blood pressure disorder that triggers the fainting reflex.
In many cases, however, no serious underlying infection or disease is proved to specifically cause chronic fatigue syndrome. Lack of medical knowledge and understanding of CFS has made determining and describing the characteristics of the condition difficult.
Risk factors
Women are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome two to four times as often as men, but sex isn't a proven risk factor for this condition. It may be that women are simply more likely than men are to report their symptoms to their doctor.
The condition is most common in people in their 40s and 50s, but it can affect people of all ages.
Because the cause of the condition is unknown, doctors have yet to determine and confirm definite risk factors for the disease.
When to seek medical advice
Fatigue can be a symptom of many illnesses, such as infections or psychological disorders. In general, see your doctor if you have persistent or excessive fatigue. Severe fatigue that prevents you from fully participating in activities at home, work or school may be a symptom of an underlying medical problem.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Videos
This video is from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
Have A look into the life of CFS's sufferer's lives