Do I Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Mind is All

Roughly one million adults in America are adversely affected by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. While Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - commonly referred to as CFS - is largely described by its name, a diagnosis of CFS takes a bit more. If you have found that you are unusually tired for reasons not related to exertion or lack of sleep, use this handy guide to discern whether you might be suffering from CFS.

One of the first signs of CFS is that you might be feeling tired all the time, or fatigued all the time, with no reason that you can think of. If you have CFS, this fatigue would be so extreme that it is reducing your activity levels. You should begin to look for additional signs of CFS if this is the case.

The following are among the additional signs of CFS: decreased levels of memory or concentration; muscle pain for no discernable reason; headaches that have increased in regularity or severity from what you are used to; a persistent and recurring soar throat; joint pain; and sleep that hardly refreshes you at all. If a combination of these symptoms persist for an extended amount of time - around six months or longer - you should see a physician so they can test you for CFS. CFS is defined and diagnosed in a variety of ways, and so, this diagnosis from a doctor is likely to come from process of elimination. They are mostly likely to decide that you have CFS if they are unable to establish any other cause for your symptoms.

There are a lot of "cures" for CFS, but there is no cure that has worked consistently for all those afflicted by CFS. The instigating factors of the CFS and the severity of the CFS both come into consideration here. For instance, depression can be one of the causes of CFS, and this can be solved by taking antidepressants. Furthermore, dietary adjustments and regular exercise can help some people combat their bouts with CFS. Search for a doctor who has dealt with CFS before if you find that you have it yourself. Such a doctor will be better-equipped to help you with the nuances of this terrible affliction.

Hopefully, if you find yourself feeling tired all the time for no reason that you can put your finger on, you can wait it out and it will go away. If, however, it does not simply go away, you might have CFS, and you will certainly want to begin fighting it as quickly as you can.