Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition which creates a constant exhaustion and tiredness that effects the patientís lifestyle. The effects of CFS cannot be reduced by resting or sleep.
Chronic fatigue syndrome mainly effects adults between 20 to mid-40s but is known to develop in children between 13 and 15.
The condition within children and young adults can improve over time. However, in many patients CFS can become a long term illness and disability.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Other terms associated with the condition include Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS) and Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS).
Symptoms of Chronic fatigue syndrome
There is a range in scale of the types of CFS that effect people. Most patients experience a mild to moderate form of the illness. For one in four people with CFS, they will suffer from severe symptoms.
Mild cases of CFS will require days off work to rest but you will be able to continue to carry out normal activities and care for yourself.
Moderate CFS produces a variety of symptoms. You will usually require an afternoon sleep and experience a reduction in mobility.
Severe symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome can significantly effect your quality of life. Patients experience a reduction in mobility and will find small daily tasks difficult.
For more details about how CFS can effect your life, please follow this link.
Do you have chronic fatigue syndrome?
It is currently estimated that 250,000 people in Britain are effected by chronic fatigue syndrome.
The causes of CFS are not currently understood. It is thought that the condition is prone effect some people through their inherited genes. Other causes are thought to be:
- Stress, trauma and other psychological problems
- Hormone imbalance
- Immune system problems
- Bacterial or viral infections
When you consult your GP, they may diagnose that you have CFS if your symptoms meet a particular criteria. The symptoms should not be explained by other conditions and will have continued for over several months.
Read more about the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Treating chronic fatigue syndrome
The treatment that will be prescribed to the patient will vary depending on the symptoms. Generally, there are four groups of people who encounter CFS.
- A small percentage of people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome will be able to return to a normal healthy life. This may take a long period of time and describes only a small percentage of those diagnosed with CFS.
- The majority of CFS patients will continue to experience the illness in fluctuating patterns. Times of relapse are usually a result of stressful events, operations, infections or extreme temperatures.
- A minority of people with CFS will remain severely affected throughout their life. They will require continued support for their everyday activities and for social well being.
- There is a very rare number of diagnosis where the illness will continue to deteriorate. Further medical testing is required to ensure that there is not another cause of the deterioration.
There is currently no universally accepted cure for CFS. Treatments which can alleviate particular symptoms often are ineffective to prevent others.
The most efficient improvements include a diagnosis in the early stages and sufficient rest during acute periods.
Nutritionist Advice: How to improve your diet if you have CFS
Chronic fatigue syndrome is not directly caused by diet or nutrition. But ensuring that you have a healthy diet helps to minimise the effects of the symptoms.
Some people believe that there is a connection between food intolerance and CFS. There is no scientific proof currently to confirm this, but some patients have noticed a link between particular foods and an increase in symptoms.
This has led some experts to conclude that chronic fatigue syndrome may be linked to the immune system. To discover if you are intolerant to a particular food, you will need to undertake an exclusion diet or food elimination programme.
Food elimination involves the removal of particular suspected foods from your diet and monitoring the results.
An exclusion diet reduces your food intake to basic foods and slowly introduce other food types to check if they produce symptoms.
Both exclusion and elimination diets should be carefully managed. A nutritionist should help you monitor your progress as you may be reducing the intake of essential nutrients.
Tips for eating Healthily
Buy tinned food and long life foods. There may be times when it becomes difficult to travel to the shops for fresh fruit or vegetables. Keep your cupboards stocked with tinned vegetables, fish and pulses. Also have available convenience packets such as oatcakes, rice, pasta, packet sauces and cereals.
Freeze large meals into portions. It can become difficult to cook every day when you suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. It is therefore a good idea to cook a large meal once and divide it into portions for freezing. Ensure that you take rests between food preparation activities.
Keep up your nutrition intake. You may begin to feel that cooking or preparing food is too exhausting a task or that you have lost your appetite. It is still important to ensure that you include all of the body’s required nutrients in a day. You may find it easier to eat smaller meals with more frequent snacks.
Include exercise in your routine. People with CFS often become less physically active but retain the same appetite for food. This can result in weight gain over long periods. Ensure that you include exercise throughout the day. It is important to remain cautious not to over exert yourself as you may experience exhaustion.
Further reading
Read more about chronic fatigue syndrome.
Visit the ME Association website.