Extreme and persistent fatigue usually lasts at least 6 months and may not disappear with complete rest. Medication, along with diet and lifestyle changes, can help manage symptoms. Let’s see how we can combat chronic fatigue, a disorder characterized by extreme exhaustion or exhaustion that does not disappear with rest and cannot be explained by an underlying medical condition.
What is chronic fatigue:
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complicated disorder, which causes extreme fatigue that lasts at least 6 months. Symptoms worsen with physical or mental activity and do not improve with inactivity.
The cause of chronic fatigue is unknown, although many theories exist. Experts believe it could be triggered by a combination of factors.
There is no single test to confirm the diagnosis. A series of medical tests may be needed to rule out other health problems that have similar symptoms. Treatment for the condition however focuses on alleviating the warning signs.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of chronic fatigue can vary from person to person, and their severity can vary from day to day. In addition to tiredness, symptoms may include:
- extreme fatigue after physical exercise or mental exertion;
- problems with memory or thinking skills;
- dizziness that worsens when moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing position;
- muscle or joint pain;
- non-restorative sleep.
Some people with this condition suffer from headaches, sore throats, and tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpits. People with this syndrome may also become particularly sensitive to light, sound, smells, food and some medicines.
Causes:
Because the cause of chronic fatigue is unknown, many potential reasons are being studied. These include infections, how the body uses energy, how people respond to infections, inflammation, toxins or injuries, and genetics.
Infections:
People with chronic fatigue often begin to experience flu-like symptoms. This made researchers suspect that an infection could trigger the syndrome.
About 1 in 10 people who become infected with the Epstein-Barr virus, Ross River virus, or Coxiella burnetii later develop a disease such as chronic fatigue. This is especially true if they already had severe symptoms of these infections.
Immune system changes:
It’s possible that chronic fatigue is caused by changes in a person’s immune system or how it responds to infections or stress. The condition can sometimes share some characteristics of autoimmune diseases. In these types of diseases, the immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissues. Examples of autoimmune diseases are rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Both chronic fatigue and autoimmune diseases are more common in women, and both are characterized by increased inflammation.
Stress:
People with chronic fatigue commonly report infections or physical or emotional stress before becoming ill. Some have lower levels of the hormone cortisol than healthy people.
Cortisol, also called the “stress hormone,” helps calm the immune system. Low cortisol levels can lead to increased inflammation and chronic activation of the immune system.
Cortisol levels in people with chronic fatigue are low, but still within the normal range, therefore, they cannot be used to diagnose or treat the disease.
Low Tsh:
In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck, is unable to produce enough thyroid hormones, which help in the regulation of many metabolic functions of the body. When not enough hormones are released, the body becomes slower and is unable to function at its usual pace.
In such circumstances, to try to increase the activity of the thyroid gland, the pituitary gland – which sits at the base of the brain – releases higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Chronic fatigue could occur as a result of a Low TSHregardless of thyroid disease.
Possible genetic link:
Sometimes, members of the same family suffer from chronic fatigue. Studies in twins and families suggest that genes and the environment may both play a role in this condition.
Therapies:
While there is currently no specific cure for chronic fatigue, there are some tips that can help manage the condition and relieve symptoms.
These include:
- energy management: making the best use of the energy charge that has been stored without worsening the symptoms;
- cognitive behavioral therapy;
- medicines to control symptoms such as pain and sleep problems.
People with chronic fatigue should adapt their daily routine and long-term activity pattern. There may be periods in which the symptoms improve or worsen, the advice is to keep a diary of the symptoms also based on seasonality and to contact a specialist if they persist in the long term.
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