| Associated Conditions: MAIN MENU | |
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) |
| This page was written by Shelley Ensz and has not yet been medically edited. These illnesses affect everyone differently. Just because something is listed here does not mean an individual patient will ever experience it. See Disclaimer. |
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| What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)? |
| What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and that may be worsened by physical or mental activity. Persons with CFS most often function at a substantially lower level of activity than they were capable of before the onset of illness. HealingWell.com |
| Exploratory Analysis of the Relationships between Aerobic Capacity and Self-Reported Fatigue in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Polymyositis (PM), and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This study confirms that patients with chronic, but stable RA, PM, or CFS are fatigued and have significantly decreased aerobic capacity. A. Weinstein. PM &R. July 2009. (Also see: RA and PM) |
| The lifestyle of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and the effect on fatigue and functional impairments. No relationship was found between lifestyle factors and fatigue severity and functional impairments in CFS. (IngentaConnect) M.M. Goedendorp. Journal of Human Nutritition & Dietetics. Vol 22, No 3, June 2009 , pp. 226-231(6). |
| Causes of CFS |
| Adolescent Offspring of Mothers With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The higher prevalence of fatiguing states in offspring of CFS mothers, despite the lack of statistical significance, suggests that familial factors may potentially play a role in developing chronically fatiguing states. M. Smith, MD. Journal of Adolescent Health. October 13 2009. |
| Study isolates virus in chronic fatigue sufferers. A virus linked to prostate cancer also appears to play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome, according to research that could lead to the first drug treatments for a mysterious disorder that affects 17 million people worldwide. David Morgan. Reuters. 10/08/09. |
| Immunological aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The pathophysiological mechanism of CFS is unclear. The main hypotheses include altered central nervous system functioning resulting from an abnormal immune response against a common antigen; a neuroendocrine disturbance; cognitive impairment caused by response to infection or other stimuli in sentient people. (PubMed) Lorusso L. Autoimmun Rev. September 15 2008. |
| Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with chronic enterovirus infection of the stomach. Enterovirus VP1, RNA and non-cytopathic viruses were detected in the stomach biopsies of CFS patients with chronic abdominal complaints. A significant subset of CFS patients may have chronic, disseminated, non-cytolytic form of enteroviral infection, which could be diagnosed by stomach biopsies. J Clin Pathol. Published Online First: 13 September 2007. |
| Diagnosis of CFS |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In general, in order to receive a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, a patient must satisfy two criteria: (1) Have severe chronic fatigue of six months or longer duration with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis, and (2) Concurrently have four or more of the following symptoms: substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle pain, multi-joint pain without swelling or redness, headaches of a new type, pattern or severity, unrefreshing sleep, and post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours. National Center for Infectious Diseases CDC. |
| Treatments of CFS |
| Possible Detrimental Effects of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). CBT is not only a helpful, but also a safe treatment for CFS. (Karger) M.J. Heins. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Vol. 79, No. 4, 2010. |
| Moderate Exercise Increases Expression for Sensory, Adrenergic, and Immune Genes in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Patients But Not in Normal Subjects. Muscle fatigue and pain are major symptoms of CFS. After moderate exercise, CFS and CFS-FMS (Fibromyalgia) patients show enhanced gene expression for receptors detecting muscle metabolites and for sympathetic nervous system, and immune system, which correlate with these symptoms. Alan R. Light. The Journal of Pain. 03 August 2009. (Also see: FMS) |
| Chocolate may be Beneficial for Chronic Fatigue (CFS). Regularly consuming chocolate could be beneficial to those with chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a small study at Hull York Medical School. NaturalNews.com. 01/28/09. |
| Effect of supplement with lactic-acid producing bacteria on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. The findings in this study that improvement of health is possible to achieve should encourage further studies with interventions with probiotics in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The findings suggest that improvement of health is possible to achieve with interventions with probiotics in patients with CFS. A. Sullivan. Nutrition Journal. January 26, 2009. (Also see: Probiotics) |
| Can exercise limits prevent post-exertional malaise in chronic fatigue syndrome? An uncontrolled clinical trial. The use of exercise limits (limiting both the intensity and duration of exercise) prevents important health status changes following a walking exercise in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, but was unable to prevent short-term symptom increases. Clinical Rehabilitation, May 2008, 22(5), pp 426-435. |
| Related Symptoms or Disorders |
| Relationship Between (CFS) and Fibromyalgia (FMS) |
| Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Information on the relationships between the rheumatological condition known as fibromyalgia, fibrositis, or FMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, CFS, myalgic encephalitis, ME, hypometabolism and thyroid disease, including hypothyroidism. About.com. |
| Sleep structure and sleepiness in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) with or without co-existing fibromyalgia. CFS patients had significant differences in polysomnograpic findings from healthy controls and felt sleepier and more fatigued than controls after a night's sleep. This difference was due to a decrease in the length of periods of uninterrupted sleep in the patients with more sleepiness in the morning than on the night before. Arthritis Research & Therapy May 12 2008, 10:R56. |
| Neurological Disorders |
| Neuropsychological Performance in Persons With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(CFS): Results From a Population-Based Study. Results confirm and quantify alterations in motor speed and working memory in CFS subjects independent of comorbid psychiatric disease and medication usage. Matthias Majer. Psychosomatic Medicine. July 7, 2008. |
| Pain |
| Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is an under-recognized condition in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). POTS is a frequent finding in patients with CFS/ myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) . We suggest that clinical evaluation of patients with CFS/ME should include response to standing. (PubMed) Hoad A. QJM. September 19 2008. |
| Diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC) is delayed in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): An experimental study. Deficient endogenous pain inhibition, e.g. DNIC, or hormonal abnormalities like hypocortisolism, could be responsible for chronic widespread pain in CFS. (PubMed) Meeus M. Pain. 2008 Jul 8. |
| Disability Information for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
| CFS/FMS Objective Medical Evidence Requirements for Disability Adjudication Regarding Social Security Disability in the U.S. Susan M. Daniels, Ph. D. |
| Support for CFS |
| Arthritis Foundation. Support groups and information on arthritis illnesses. |
| CFS Stories |
| Do you have CFS? Submit your story to help raise awareness and share support with others. |
| Beverly: CREST Scleroderma I was overtired and needed naps in the afternoon, pain was slowly getting the better of me and I finally went to the doctor... |
| Krisha S: Multiple Autoimmune Condition I have multiple sclerosis (MS), fibromyalgia, and Stiff Person Syndrome... |
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