Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Explained: Symptoms, Causes, and the Path to Recovery
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), is a chronic multisystem illness mainly characterized by debilitating fatigue that is triggered by mental or physical activity and does not improve with rest. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can significantly impair a person’s day-to-day functioning and negatively impact their work, school, or social life. According to the CDC, 1.3% of US adults have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it proportionally affects women more than men (1.7% of women in comparison to 0.9% of men).
Causes and Risk Factors
The exact causes of CFS are unknown. However, studies have suggested CFS is often triggered by a viral infection, such as infectious mononucleosis or SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. There may also be a genetic link, as CFS patients tend to have family members that have or develop the condition. CFS may also have autoimmune causes, as many CFS patients also tend to have allergies or other immune system disorders.
CFS is more commonly diagnosed in women compared to men, and in white people compared to other race demographics. However, this may be due to a disparity in healthcare access and a lack of awareness about the condition.
Common signs and symptoms
Symptoms of CFS may include:
- Extreme fatigue or tiredness even with sufficient sleep
- Post-exertional malaise, or PEM: fatigue that occurs after mental or physical activities previously tolerated, usually 12-48 hours post-exertion and lingering for days or weeks afterward
- Orthostatic intolerance: drop in blood pressure when standing, especially for long periods of time
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Headaches
- Mental impairment (“brain fog”)
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Muscle aches and tightness
- Joint pain without joint swelling
- Heat intolerance
- Palpitations or fast heart rate
- Fainting
- Sore throat or tender neck lymph nodes
Patients with CFS may often become bed-bound and unable to go about their daily activities. Symptoms may flare-up in response to triggers and may not remain consistent day-to-day.
How is CFS diagnosed?
CFS is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that the doctor will diagnose CFS after conducting a thorough medical examination and ordering the appropriate tests to rule out other potential diagnoses. There is no one test to diagnose CFS. CFS is usually diagnosed when a patient has been experiencing symptoms for at least 6 months or longer.
Treatment and Prognosis
There is no known cure for CFS, but the condition can be managed with a combination of lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication to manage individual symptoms, including:
- Medication, to help manage physical symptoms such as headaches, pain, cognitive impairment, poor sleep, fast heart rate, and low blood pressure.
- Physical therapy, to help relieve muscle/joint pain and muscle tightness, especially in the limbs and back. Low-intensity aerobic exercise in lieu of more intense workouts is optimal to prevent fatigue.
- Occupational therapy, to help patients learn activity management to readjust to daily life without overexerting themselves and exacerbating their fatigue.
- Psychotherapy or counseling to support patient’s emotional and mental health and help them cope with chronic illness, especially if they develop depression or anxiety with the knowledge of their diagnosis.
Sources
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) | Johns Hopkins Medicine
New CDC Report Reveals Higher Than Expected Chronic Fatigue Cases | Psychiatrist.com
