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Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome
The distinguishing feature of ME/CFS is a type of exhaustion known as post-exertional malaise, ‘crash’ or ‘payback’.

Research has confirmed that people with ME/CFS have a different physiological response to activity or exercise than those who are healthy. This includes abnormal exhaustion after any form of exertion and a worsening of other symptoms. The response may be delayed, perhaps after 24 hours. Depending on the amount and type of exertion, it may result in post-exertional malaise for a few days, or serious relapses lasting weeks, months or even years.

Recovery from this type of exhaustion can take a day, weeks, months or years. Having ME/CFS means activities that were once taken for granted now take an enormous toll on a person’s health. For example, your normal walk, coffee with a friend, getting your child ready for school or catching the train to work, which caused no fatigue before, is followed by unusual tiredness that takes longer than usual to go away.

Because ME/CFS is a very complex, multi-system chronic illness, many other symptoms will occur and must be present for diagnosis. These include:
Neuro-cognitive (new difficulties in thinking, concentrating, memory loss, vision, clumsiness, muscle twitching or tingling)
Disrupted sleep
Pain or aches in the muscles, joints or head
A drop in blood pressure, feeling dizzy or pale
Palpitations, increased heart rate or shortness of breath with exertion or on standing
Allergies or sensitivities to light, odours, touch, sound, foods, chemicals and medications
Gastrointestinal changes such as nausea, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea
Urinary problems
Sore throat, tender lymph nodes and a flu-like feeling
Marked weight change – extreme loss or gain
Inability to cope with temperature changes.
Symptoms will fluctuate over short periods of time, even from hour to hour.

Cause of chronic fatigue syndrome
The biological cause is becoming better understood. Genetics appears to be a factor in many cases. Over 4,000 research articles have found that ME/CFS is associated with problems involving:
The body’s ability to produce and transport energy
The immune, neurological and hormonal systems
Viral or other infections
Blood pressure, the circulatory and cardiac systems
Digestion
Biochemical abnormalities.
Without a known cause or cure, prevention is impossible.

I would suggest going to bed early tuning off your phone computer and anything else that can interrupt your sleep ...

11 years ago. Rating: 3
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