Are you feeling extremely tired all the time? Dealing with excessive fatigue and lacking strength in the muscles and joints, as in fibromyalgia, is one of the first symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS.
Fibromyalgia affects around 5.8 million Americans every year. Most of these could be indicators of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition in which you may be experiencing extreme tiredness, pain in the joints, and lack of energy and strength to carry out even regular day-to-day activities. These symptoms of CFS require treatments.
Causes and Symptoms of CFS
The actual cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is still unknown. However, research claims that the Epstein-Barr virus could be one of the causative agents for CFS. The Epstein-Barr virus of the human herpes virus seems to affect the muscles and joints affecting overall strength and stamina.
However, apart from the Epstein-Barr virus, other causative factors for chronic fatigue syndrome include age, genetic factors, stress, environmental factors, and presence of other diseases such as fibromyalgia, which increase the chances of muscle wastage.
Common symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome that are addressed through treatments include sleeplessness, confusion, lack of concentration, extreme lack to energy, inability to carry out routine tasks, forgetfulness, feeling tired even after a long sleep, muscle weakness and pain, sore throat, and sore lymph nodes in the throat and under arms.
Treatments for CFS
There are many treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome aimed at relieving the major symptoms, including fibromyalgia, and also addressing depression and other psychological disorders that usually occur in people with CFS. Treatments for CFS include a combination of techniques, medications, relaxation, and sleep-inducing treatments.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other graded exercise treatments
- Antidepressant drug treatments
- Anti-anxiety drug treatments
- Pain, fever, discomfort alleviating drug treatments
- Massage therapy
- Biofeedback treatments
- Muscle relaxation techniques
- Meditation
- Deep breathing exercises
- Hypnosis
- Yoga
These are all popular treatments advocated for treating chronic fatigue syndrome.
Further to these treatments, people with CFS are advised to do the following:
- Regularize their diet pattern
- Balance daily, weekly, and monthly activities and reduce stress levels
- Avoid taking a nap during day
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, tobacco
- Prevent exposure to excessive light, noise, and temperature variations
- Follow regular sleeping and waking times
Developing these habits will aid in the treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, making it more successful in bringing about the desired results.
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