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. 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.

One of the first signs of CFS is that you are consistently feeling fatigued for no reason that you can specifically point to. Your regular activity levels would be decreased by this fatigue if you have CFS. If this is the case for you, it is probably time for you to start looking for the additional signs of CFS.

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 you find that a combination of these symptoms is persisting for around six months or longer, you should plan to 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. Two things that come into play here are the instigating factors and the severity of the CFS. For instance, antidepressants can help to solve CFS for those who are suffering due to depression. 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.