Is Chronic Fatigue Just In Your Head?
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A client wrote to me describing her ordeal with chronic fatigue syndrome or at least her belief that she had it. I say "belief" as she had gone through years of different diagnosises, medications and had even been referred to a phychiatrist more than once.
After quite some time, she located a physician she found confidence in. He listened to her symptoms and reviewed her history in detail but was again prescribed medicine. She wrote to me as she had already attempted the medicinal route for CFS to no avail.
CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is a very complex problem generally described as fatigue which lasts more than 24 hours. It does not improve with bed rest and can become intensified by activities requiring physical or mental exertion.
CFS was accepted as a legitimate disease in 1988. Even today though, medical professionals are not prone to provide CFS as a diagnosis as: 1. Since there is no known cause, treatment options are limited. 2. Symptoms of CFS can mimic many other conditions. 3. The medical community is not in agreement as a whole as to whether it is physiological or psychological.
In examining CFS as a physiological issue, two criteria are needed: 1. Presence of chronic fatigue for six consecutive months (and not related other ailments) 2. Four additional symptoms (headaches, joint pain not accompanied with redness or swelling, muscle pain, unrefreshed sleep, loss of short-term memory, lack of concentration, tender lymph nodes.)
Other symptoms that may also be present are chills, chronic cough, heart palpatations, night sweats, dizziness, visual disturbances or food allergies or sensitivities.
Physiological conditions that can have the same or very similar symptoms are: fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic mononucleosis, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, cancer, obesity, Lyme disease or an adverse drug reactions.
Although there is no known cause, some theories are that CFS could stem from inflamed pathways of the nervous system - but with nothing measureable in the blood like with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Unknown viral illnesses and high or low blood pressure are although thought to be potential causes.
Treatments for CFS as a physiological disease may include: moderate activity (not overexertion) or blood pressure medications. These medications have substantial side effects and should be carefully monitored.
Although medications have benefited some, most people do not find the relief as outweighing the side effects. Alternative therapies that have been found helpful are deep breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, massage and yoga.
I recommend my all natural High Blood Pressure Program if you believe either high or low blood pressure may be part of the CFS problem. It is also great for stress relief even if blood pressure is not elevated or too low.
I also strongly recommend my Fibromyalgia program if your symptoms appear to mimic this condition even if diagnosed as CFS.
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Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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