Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome affects roughly one million US adults, and it can be very disruptive to one's life. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (commonly known as CFS) is largely described by its name, but it takes a bit more than this to diagnose CFS. You can use this handy guide to tell whether you might be suffereing from CFS if you have been unusually tired for reasons not related to lack of sleep or over-exertion.

If you are consistently feeling tired or fatigued for no specific reason, this is one of the first signs of CFS. 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.

Among these signs are the following: memory or concentration that is not what it used to be; sleep that does little to refresh you; muscle pain; new headaches, or headaches that are stronger than what you used to experience; recurring soar throat; pain in your joints. 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. Because CFS is defined and diagnosed in a number of different ways, this diagnosis from a doctor will come by process of elimination. If you visit a physician and they are unable to find any other causes for your symptoms, you just might be classified as having CFS.

While CFS has a number of "cures," none of them have been proven to work across the board. The instigating factors of the CFS and the severity of the CFS both come into consideration here. For instance, if you are deemed to be experiencing CFS as a result of depression, this might be solved by taking antidepressants. Furthermore, such simple adjustments as dietary adjustments and regular exercise can help to combat CFS. If you find that you have CFS, search for a doctor who has dealt with CFS patients before. Such a doctor will be better-equipped to help you with the nuances of this terrible affliction.

If you find that you have been excessively tired lately for no explainable reason, your best bet is to cross your fingers and hope it goes away. If this does not work, you may have CFS, and you will want to get to work fighting it right away.