Several other symptoms are also apparent, such as flu-like symptoms, muscle and joint pains, headache, sore throat and others. After all these years, the exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is still unknown. It may be years before the individual can recover from this terrible ailment.

Sometimes, the CFS victims suffer recurring bouts with CFS through their lifetime. Because the exact cause of CFS is yet to be determined, there is no known cure for this illness yet.  Non-drug treatments and medications are primarily to relieve the many symptoms of CFS.

Exercise is one of the non-drug therapies presented by doctors, as a treatment for CFS. However. medical opinion is still divided on whether exercise can actually help improve or worsen the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Some doctors believe that mild exercise can be helpful in overcoming CFS. Others warn against any form of aerobic activity that can aggravate CFS.

Exercise can be a problem for patients of CFS because strenuous physical activity can worsen the symptoms. You could develop worse muscle pain, fatigue and tenderness of the joints. While exercise is important in maintaining health and wellness, it can become dangerous for people with chronic fatigue.

But a recent study released through the British Medical Journal has revealed that proper patient education on chronic fatigue syndrome combined with a supervised exercise program can help improve the symptoms of CFS.

Still, people with CFS typically find it difficult to perform basic activities such as walking let alone rigorous physical activities such as aerobic exercise. During an onset of chronic fatigue, the patient may be bedridden. They usually feel better after some time and may attempt to do regular exercise. That’s a mistake, and the patient may relapse because of this.

Muscular activity causes lactic acid to be produced in the muscles. This chemical by-product leads to fatigue. Research says that exercise can worsen the effects of chronic fatigue syndrome because it sets off production of excess lactic acid in the muscles. Recent studies reveal that people with CFS actually produce twice the amount of lactic acid than people without chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers believe that their findings suggest a link between chronic fatigue syndrome and an error in the body’s energy metabolism.

Researchers are also looking at a link between chronic fatigue and low levels of potassium electrolytes. A deficiency in potassium supply usually causes chronic fatigue. The bulk of the body’s potassium supply is in the muscle tissue as well as the brain, blood and internal organs. Studies have revealed that people with chronic fatigue syndrome have actually less total body potassium compared to healthy people of the same weight and age.

On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle can also cause a whole range of health problems for people with CFS. These include loss of bone mass, muscle wastage or atrophy, and increased vulnerability to obesity and cardiovascular disease.  People with chronic fatigue syndrome should have a gentle approach to physical activity.

Be advised that there should only be minute increases in the frequency, intensity and duration of the exercise program, to prevent any detrimental effects to the health and well-being of the chronic fatigue syndrome patient.

Personally, I do not have CFS even though I am crippled with hip that needs replacing, along with both my knees. With all this, I sometimes feel some of the symptoms of CFS, such as depression. So I really do feel for you people that suffer from CFS.

I wish you total recovery, which may happen if you’re careful about your exercise regimen, along with other attempts you make to correct other symptoms. Good luck.

Fred Farah

Understanding Chronic Fatigue
http://www.understandingchronicfatigue.com/conquer-chronic-fatigue-syndrome

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Self-Care/Management Techniques
Some patients can facilitate self-care treatments. This can be done by monitoring the level and pacing of activities such that prolonged and extreme levels of exhaustion are prevented. This can also be done by preventing the urge to rest. Since CFS is not relieved through rest, regardless of the duration, health care professionals do not advise the patients to rest excessively.

Some form of physical activity must be maintained. This is oftentimes recommended by the physician. When trying to manage the symptoms of the disorder by yourself, it is best to keep the pacing and the level of the activities under control. Otherwise, symptoms may occur at a more debilitating rate.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a psychological therapy that delivers relief of symptoms but not necessarily cure. This helps the patients understand their conditions and can therefore better guide them in forming their beliefs, perception and attitudes towards the syndrome. It is believed that through a more accurate depiction of the condition, the patient can better respond to the symptoms and they can cause lesser inhibition of the recurrence of their symptoms.

Graded Exercise Therapy
This therapy involves the introduction of incremental changes in the patients’ levels of activity. While concrete evidence are yet to be established, many experts believe that integration of activities is very important in managing the disease.

Under this therapy then, the patient will have to monitor his own activities and exercises. As the therapy progresses, he moves to higher intensities until he gets back to the doing activities he normally participated in prior to the onset of the condition.

Pharmacological Treatments
Managements of the conditions through pharmacological treatments can involve the following medications:

Antidepressants are primarily used to manage mood swings and secondary depression. Low dosage antidepressants, on the other hand, are helpful in managing sleep disturbance and pain.

Autonomic nervous system stimulants are used to help improve concentration and short-term memory which are greatly affected by the disorder.

NSAIDs or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are prescribed to CFS patients to relieve them from muscle and joint pains.

Anxiolyticagents are used to target symptoms of anxiety.

CAM or Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The use of dietary supplements in managing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is central in alleviating the symptoms of CFS. According to some pilot studies, supplements of Carnitine, essential fatty acids, Magnesium and polynutrient supplements have shown strong indications of symptom reduction among patients.

Because the origins of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are not yet fully understood, treatment options are more directed to managing the symptoms and not really in curing the disorder. The main objective in producing relief from symptoms is to reinstate the conditions of the person as well as his well-being prior to the onset of the disorder.

As a result, majority of sufferers do not fully recover and even if they do, they recover gradually. For people who expect better and faster recovery, frustrations often ensue which for most of the cases, worsen the condition.  It is therefore recommended to undergo a treatment at a very slow but well-managed pace.

Understanding Chronic Fatigue
http://www.understandingchronicfatigue.com

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While it seems pretty straightforward, there is actually so much more to this disorder (or disorders) than what its name suggests. It could mean anywhere from persistent headaches, flu-like symptoms or fatigue that goes on for weeks and months. Some even have to suffer for over a few years. Some never really fully recovered.

Patients normally have to suffer from flu-like sickness that does not subside from medications or rest. Also, there is some degree of debilitating exhaustion that limits one from functioning well. Many patients describe this exhaustion as being worn out even before getting up in the morning. In fact, chronic fatigue is not resolved simply by taking a nap or a longer sleep.

The reverse is often true- the lesser activities a patient performs, the higher are the chances that the illness will get worse. With chronic fatigue, a person is also constantly plagued with foggy thoughts and unstable concentration. As if to make it much worse, the person also simultaneously feels joint and muscle pains, disturbed sleep, sore throat, and general sense of absurd health.

But that is not the end of it. For some, these symptoms develop psychological stress that in turn develops anxiety, depression and irritability. These conditions pose great risks of becoming full-blown disorders if appropriate interventions are not administered.

The sad fact is, people who are affected with chronic fatigue syndrome used to be very healthy, very active individuals. They used to lead very normal lives that were free from any of the aforementioned symptoms. This makes one wonder how a perfectly healthy person – in fact one who probably had led a very active, if not exceptionally energetic life – turn into someone who is perpetually sick? Good question, but one that is difficult to answer.

There are actually no clear answers as to why chronic fatigue syndrome develops in one person and not to another. Current studies and clinical evidence however suggests that chronic fatigue syndrome can develop after contracting a serious infection or after experiencing extreme levels of stress. Having said that, there are numerous medical cases that purport to these theories, so to speak.

There are, for example, valid estimates where 96% of people who develop chronic fatigue used to actively exercise prior to the onset of the disease. Majority of the patients were also at the prime of their lives when they developed the disease. It is not surprising therefore that this disorder is coined as the “yuppie disease”, because it occurs at the time when a person is supposedly healthy and full of life.

After the onset of the disease, the lives of these people are changed drastically. They get stuck in their beds and quit their jobs because it is very taxing to get up. They had to abandon their roles and obligations because they do not have even enough energy to take care of themselves. In fact, they had to live a very sedentary and weak life because they are exhausted all the time.

Indeed, life for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers is very difficult to deal with. In my case, at my age I often get a few days extreme fatigue. Sometimes I develop that “I don’t cafe” feeling.

But I am one of the lucky ones, as my hi spirits always comes back. Thank God for that.

Understanding Chronic Fatigue

http://www.understandingchronicfatigue.com

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Along with these symptoms comes the resulting feelings of anger, anxiety, and unresolved emotions from having the illness to begin with.

Often, symptoms include sleep problems, muscle pain, joint pain, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, headaches and sore throat. Many patients also list gastrointestinal complaints, depression, and allergies as symptoms.

As there is no known cure at this time, it is essential to develop coping strategies for the various elements it presents to those who suffer from it. Although CFS may have profound impact on patients lives, it is important to find ways to adapt elements of this condition to your lifestyle so as to manage it to the fullest extent possible.

To better understand the disease, it is helpful to participate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is a form of psychological therapy that brings about relief from symptoms by establishing a positive outlook regarding the condition.  This may sound unbelievable, but CBT has been used for patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

CBT can be prescribed as part of therapeutic process to help patients learn to manage activity levels, stress, and symptoms, and can help them better adapt to the impact of CFS and improve the quality of life by elevating functional levels.

Alternative therapies such as deep breathing and muscle relaxation techniques, massage and healing touch, and movement therapies like stretching, yoga, and tai chi have also been found helpful for some CFS patients in reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of well-being.

As we all should, most patients with CFS need to exercise; however, vigorous aerobic exercise is not recommended.  Many with this condition are affected by “post-exertional malaise,” which means that their normal symptoms usually worsen 12-24 hours after strenuous activity that can last for days or even weeks.

Having said that, avoiding activity leads to serious de-conditioning and may worsen other symptoms. Therefore, CFS patients must learn the most effective way to pace activities and focus on interval activities or graded exercises, and start an exercise activity plan slowly and increase its pace gradually. 

In summary, CFS is a condition that, with time, support, and patience, can be managed to effectively achieve relief from symptoms with a plan of balancing daily expectations with gentle exercise.  Without giving up, those with CFS must manage their expectations of success to beat the condition, and should not expect to go too far too fast to “get back to normal.”

Fred Farah

Diet for Weight Loss Blog
http://www/dietforweightlossblog.com

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It’s hard to imagine being unable to go from your bed to the kitchen or the bathroom because you’re exhausted all the time. Just picture yourself stuck in your house, and you can’t even go to work to earn a living. Well that, my friends, is the sum of your life with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) a disorder of the mind or the body? Actually, it is both. It’s hard to believe just how much the mind is affected. This also means that there could be help with the mind, that would flow to the physical healing as well.

And even worse still, CFS also afflicts the immune system so you can just picture your life if your own immune system is not there fighting on your behalf.

It even lowers one’s threshold to physical activities, thus making you feel worn out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are limited to very minimal activities, it simply means you just can’t hold a job.

With all this, it’s hard to imagine living a normal, healthy life while suffering from chronic fatigue. You ultimately give up hope, and give up trying to find solutions or treatments.

Is there a way for an almost normal life to develop, in spite of being hounded by the CFS symptoms. I believe it to be definitly possible. So here are some things you can try that may limit the negative effects of the disease on yourself and on your life.

One of the most important things you should do is remove the diets that harm your body. It’s so easy to sabotage your health these days by just following the average American’s fast food craze, and by devouring too much processed foods and by eating too many flour- and sugar-based foods. Sugar is the big killer as well as flour, transfat, processed foods, etc. These types of foods account for numerous symptoms of poor health, and even damage your immune system.

Since these foods take up so much space in your stomach, no room is left for foods with high nutrition and being valuable protein. For people suffering from CFS, it is crucial to maintain a certain level of nutrition in the body. So always try to eat healthy foods, as this would lessen some of the biggest problems concerning your condition such as infection and weakened immune system.

Conquer Chronic Fatigue – If you are a sufferer of CFS, you no doubt feel that it’s easier to stay in bed and just not move. Working around the house when you are seriously exhausted is still a must. It is a serious part of your treatments.

Don’t give in to exhaustion and just force yourself to do some activity every day. In time, you will find it easier to exercise and feel less worn out.

Don’t underestimate the power of positive thinking to defeat the illness mentality. I realize it is a lot more convenient to let negative thoughts defeat you, especially when you are told there is no known cure for Chronic Fatigue.

But do try to picture a life free from chronic fatigue and try to keep that image in your mind. Convince yourself that your dilemma is just a state of mind. Amazingly your positive thinking could liberate you from the troubles of your disease, starting with a reduced intensity of your chronic fatigue syndrome.

This technique, which I call positive thinking, is actually a sound psychotherapeutic technique called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It has proven itself many times over, so here is a serious treatment to work on.

Force yourself to look for techniques that can treat your condition. Even the person living with you can also help you with this, and they could be your most helpful aid to you developing a positive approach that will get results.

There are actually treatment techniques that you can formulate for yourself, but it’s much better to do it with help, including your helper, but most especially with the specialist your should be working with.

Testing different proceedures to weed out the most beneficial ones for you, is a must. I also recommend the following guide that will shorten the search for you. Go read this product review at my blog
http://understandingchronicfatigue.com/overcoming-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-2

Believe me, the cost is insignificant, especially considering the valuable advice you will derive there.

Good luck to you.

Fred Farah

More information about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at Understanding Chronic Fatigue Blog http://www.understandingchronicfatigue.com

Overcome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Successfully Using Natural Medicine at  http://fredfarah.com/pro/chronicfatigue.htm

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It’s quite different however, for people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Extreme fatigue for them means feeling exhausted day and night and for many weeks and even months. They don’t officially get classified as having chronic fatigue until they have these symptoms for a long period of time, usually over six months and more.

Although the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS is difficult to know, it is believed to be related to viral infections. People suffering from CFS frequently exhibit symptoms such as flu, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint aches, etc.

Viruses appear to be incurable, and even drugs such as antibiotics can’t cure them. Consequently, no one has yet discovered a cure for chronic fatigue syndrome.

For those suffering from viral infections, they can combat these viruses by boosting their immune system. Because chronic fatigue syndrome relates greatly to viral infection, boosting the immune system using natural remedies is an important treatment. It has been shown to relieve some of the symptoms, if not all of them.

These natural remedies are highly recommended to patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome:

1.) Exercise regularly – Adding exercises and other physical activities into your daily routine can do wonders for you. Having CFS doesn’t mean all you need to do is rest all day. People with CFS are usually lethargic and easily tired. To fight the lethargy, keeping the body active is important. Doing 15-30 minutes of mild exercise and another 30 minutes of vigorous physical activities such as aerobics, tennis, swimming and brisk walking can help your body function better and your heart healthier and stronger.

Stretching and other relaxation exercises can also help you manage stress, which intensifies chronic fatigue. However, before you start any exercise routine, consult your doctor and ask for his advice.

2.) Eat more high-quality protein foods, such as fish and soy products. Nuts and chicken are good sources of quality protein that are low in saturated fat. Chicken and fish are also good sources of omega 3, 6 and 9. All
these help maintain a good healthy body, and without any special effort.

3.) Your diet should consist of more vegetables and fruits. A nutritious and balanced diet is an excellent way to maintain health and combat illnesses. By eating more green leafy vegetables, whole grains and fruits, your body is nourished with vitamins and minerals that strengthen the immune system.

4.) Drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day helps flush out your inner system, and drinking 8-10 glasses of water helps cleanse the body and keep it hydrated.
Our body is 70% water so make sure to keep it cleansed.

5.) Do you like eating garlic and onions? I don’t like either one, especially raw onions. Yet I am in the minority, as most people love them both. Which is good, because onions and garlic are known for their virus-inhibiting abilities. They can be taken either raw or cooked.

Supplements that contain garlic and onion can also be taken as an alternative if you don’t like the taste of these two healthful bulbs. I have had the garlic pills and there is no taste to them at all.

6.) Herbal supplements are great in fighting CFS.
There are several herbal medicines you can take to help you manage chronic fatigue syndrome. Echinacea root is known as an immune system booster. It is available in available in several formats, even as tea.

Ginseng root is believed to restore vitality and increase energy. In Asian countries, it is even known as an aphrodisiac. I would believe the first part, but an “aphrodisiac”… I don’t know.

Licorice, pokeroot and golden seal are also helpful in combating chronic fatigue syndrome.

These supplements are covered more fully in another blog post “Herbal Remedies for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. You can find it at http://understandingchronicfatigue.com/herbal-remedies-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome

Work with your doctor and specialist to evaluate which
of these herbs could work for you. You have nothing to lose except excessive fatigue.

Fred Farah

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Other symptoms include muscle pains, tenderness and swelling in the joints, recurring sore throat, impaired concentration and short term memory, severe headaches and un-refreshing sleep. Wow, that’s a mouthful… Just trying to make the point that it’s not only suffering from unexplained fatigue even with minimal physical activity.

It’s sad to say it, but the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS is not yet known. This makes CFS very difficult to manage, as there are no known cures for it yet.

Some patients are able to relieve the symptoms of CFS by using prescription drugs as well as some over the counter medications. However, these medications have varying degrees of success. Sometimes, they have little positive effect at all. Still, there are several holistic and alternative treatments that provide CFS patients with options to combat this debilitating disorder.

Since symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are so similar to flu like infections, doctors and specialists recommend treatments that strengthen the immune system. Receiving proper nutrition is well recognized as an excellent way to boost the immune system, improve the body’s functions and increase the patient’s energy levels. It has been shown to be quite effective in overcoming the “I don’t care any more” feelings that comes with a CFS attack.

Here are the vitamins and minerals that help boost the immune system:

• B Vitamins – Vitamin B-12 is one of the most important vitamins. It helps in the production of red blood cells as well as DNA and the myelin sheath that surround nerve cells. Receiving the proper amounts of Vitamin B-12 helps in maintaining the body’s energy level as well as keeping the central nervous, gastrointestinal, immune and cardiovascular systems healthy.

People with vitamin B-12 deficiency suffer from reduced energy levels, impaired memory and concentration, as well as several gastrointestinal problems. These are also symptoms that appear during an attack of chronic fatigue syndrome.  The B Vitamins folic acid and pantothenic acid are known to help treat fatigue. Increasing the intake of these vitamins can have beneficial effects for chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids – These fatty acids are very essential to health. Unfortunately, the human body does not produce it naturally. Taking Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help reduce blood pressure, decrease triglyceride levels, reduce the occurrence of arrhythmias, and stem the growth of plaque in the walls of the arteries. Again, the symptoms of Omega-3 deficiency are closely related to symptoms of CFS: fatigue, poor memory, depression, heart problems and poor circulation.

• Sodium – This mineral is necessary to keep the body’s fluid balances. People suffering from CFS may actually have very low levels of sodium in their bodies. Having the right amount of sodium can have beneficial effects for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. However, patients must consult their doctors first to have their sodium levels tested, as there are some situations where sodium levels are intentionally reduced. 

• Other Minerals – There are several minerals that are beneficial as well, such as Chromium which helps patients manage their blood sugar. Magnesium and potassium aspartates are known to help decrease fatigue in various clinical studies.

Magnesium deficiency interferes with the Krebs cycle, which is responsible for transforming nutrients to energy.  So ensuring the proper supply of magnesium in the body is a good way to combat the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Magnesium is also prescribed by doctors to patients taking a lot of calcium to prevent or stabilize osteoporosis.

So there you have it. Speak to your doctor, or specialist that is following your treatment attempts and decide which are suitable for you to take.

Fred Farah

More information about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at Understanding Chronic Fatigue Blog  http://www.understandingchronicfatigue.com

Overcome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Successfully Using Natural Medicine at  http://fredfarah.com/pro/chronicfatigue.htm

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– What’s the real difference between normal fatigue and Chronic Fatigue?

There is nothing much for the first few days. Normal fatigue is the feeling of exhaustion which is usually caused by physical exertion, mental stress and sickness.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is represented on the other hand, by a group of conditions that may lead to various other symptoms such as decreased mental acuity. Flu-like symptoms and excessive fatigue are also traditional.

CFS is a type that will not afford its sufferers with enough energy to move freely. The difference between the two is demonstrated once full-blown symptoms occur and when they last for a very long time, typically at least 6 months. It takes that long to be classified as chronic faigue.

– What are the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

There are various symptoms of CFS and in order to determine the presence of this condition, a patient must possess at least four of the following: post-exertional malaise which persists for more than 24 hours, muscle pains, joint pain, sleep difficulties or sleep that does not lend energy to the individual, frequent severe headaches, sore throat that is persistent and recurring, decreased mental clarity, poor memory and impaired concentration, and tenderness of the lymph nodes that are located in the neck and armpit.

– What are the causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

While the exact causes of CFS are not yet identified, there are strong indications that cause can be divided into three types:

1- immune system-related,

2- viral and non-viral pathogens and

3- stress-related

Then too are also indications that CFS is triggered by the combination of these causes. For some people, the major beginning of the condition is after contracting an infection. And for others, CFS begins after an extensive period of stress.

Some patients have had their immune system damaged (weakened) which made it easier for the symptoms to develop and worsen. Current studies are trying to determine if genetics, emotional distress and immunological conditions are fully related with the disorder.

– Is there a cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Not yet, but cures for CFS are still being wored on. So for now, treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome is concentrating on alleviating the symptoms.

– What are the treatment options?

There are a few types of treatment options available for patients of CFS. They are roughly divided into four categories: medical treatments, alternative treatments, supportive treatments and lifestyle alterations.

Under medical treatments you’ll find medications and drugs that are prescribed to alleviate symptoms such as physical pain, headaches and psychological stress caused by CFS. These include pain relievers, NSAIDs or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Anxiolyticagents, Autonomic nervous system stimulants and antidepressants. That was a mouthful in itself, so no wonder we need a FAQ.

Natural, herbal and hormone supplements are commonly used under alternative medicine. Relaxation techniques and behavioral techniques are used in supportive treatments while lifestyle alterations basically help patients change some aspects of their lives to establish relief from debilitating symptoms.

– How is CFS diagnosed?

Since there are no lab tests, diagnostic and medical examinations that are used in the diagnosis of CFS, health care providers use the principle of exclusion in determining the presence of the condition. Through this method, all diseases, illnesses and conditions that are known to have symptoms similar TO CFS are ruled out. Diagnosis is only made once the symptoms of the patients match with the case definition.  

– Where can I get help?

Of course, your first action should be to see your doctor regularly. He should provide other specialists for you. Get help from health care providers who are knowledgeable in diagnosing and treating CFS such as herbalists, etc. Support groups for patients of CFS are also available.

There is also assistance from ebooks. This is the newest product and is becoming a best seller. The author says:

What Doctors Don’t Tell You Because They Don’t Know. In this Course you’re Provided With Hard Earned, Practical Knowledge For Successfully Overcoming Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Natural Medicine.
Fred Farah

To Successfully Overcome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Natural Medicine visit http://fredfarah.com/pro/chronicfatigue.htm

For even more helpful information on chronic fatigue,
visit the Understanding Chronic Fatigue blog at
http://www.understandingchronicfatigue.com

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Is there a cure for chronic fatigue syndrome?

Regretably NO, there is no cure.

So then, are there any treatments for chronic fatigue?

There is no specific treatment for chronic fatigue. However, the doctors are using a combination of treatments to alleviate the symptoms. Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, is characterized by neurological problems, having flu-like symptoms. Debilitating fatigue, often experienced as poor stamina and extreme exhaustion is a typical symptom.

There are also various core symptoms, such as general pain, mental fogginess, excessive fatigue and gastro-intestinal problems, headaches, sleep disorder, sore throat, and abnormal temperature. That’s quite a basketful, isn’t it.

Display of symptoms varies among the patients. The degree of their severity varies, which can be between getting easily fatigued after stressful activity, being completely bedridden, and totally disabled. Should the symptoms not be indicative of other serious health problems they should wane and disappear over time.

For some patients, the chronic fatigue illness starts suddenly with a flu that does not go away completely while for other patients it gradually appears over a period of time. For many patients, the illness is often triggered after involvement in a high stress circumstance.

The combination is taken from the following treatments:

• Cognitive behavior treatment. This is a therapy combined with the gradual exercise and wherein the patient is treated by dealing with their mental health. The aim is to classify behaviors and negative beliefs that cause delay of recovery and eventually replace with positive, healthy behaviors.

• Moderating daily activities. The patient is encouraged to avoid or reduce excessive psychological and physical stress; however, it is not encouraged to take too much rest. In this treatment, the objective is to gently enhance the stamina and maintain moderate activity level.

• Gradual/steady exercise. This is a kind of exercise program where the patient relies on the help of the physical therapist. It aims to increase gradually the level of exercise to improve chronic fatigue symptoms.

• Depression treatment. Depression is treated with serotonin re-uptake inhibitor and tricyclic anti-depressants. The anti-depressant does not only help treat depression but it can also relieve pain and improve sleep.

• Pain treatment. Like depression, pain is medically treated by administering non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, like ibuprofen or aspirin, or acetaminophen. These medicines can also aid in lowering the fever and pain.

• Allergy-like treatment. Medical treatment used is antihistamines, like cetirizine, decongestants, and fexofenadine. These drugs help relieve allergy symptoms like runny nose.

• Hypotension treatment. The low blood pressure is treated with drugs like atenolol, midodrine, and fludrocortisones. These are useful when people suffer from chronic fatigue.

• Poor nervous system treatment. Clonazepam is used to treat symptoms like skin tenderness and dizziness while anxiety is treated with alprazolam and lorazepam.

There are experimental therapies that experts continue to research with the aim of finding treatments for the syndrome. These therapies include the following:

• Acupuncture
• Anti-viral drugs
• D-ribose
• Methylphenidate
• Immune globulins
• Cholinesterase inhibitors
• Corticosteroids

The Food Diet

In addition to the above mentioned treatments, health experts advise patients to be careful with their diet. They recommend avoiding diet rich in toxins or those unhealthy foods. Patients should be careful with foods containing carcinogens, aspartame, additives, mono sodium glutamate, amalgam, fluoride, and sugar, among others.

Unhealthy foods such as table or refined salt, margarine, hydrogenated fats, chlorinated water, refined oils, junk foods, fried and smoked foods, soft drinks, baking powder, and alcohol drinks can aggravate chronic fatigue symptoms so they need to be avoided to the greatest degree possible.

For successfully overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome using Natural Medicine, you should look into a product called “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. You can download it for a very small investment, and you may discover detailed guidelines, and more, on the known treatenmts.

Please, do yourself a favor, and go read about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at
http://fredfarah.com/pro/chronicfatigue.htm

Fred Farah

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Technorati Tags: CFS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, persistent fatigue, using Natural Medicine

That is the debilitating disorder that has conditions of extreme and lasting fatigue. People with the problem may get confused, as Chronic fatigue syndrome is also commonly referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis or M_E.

The name chronic fatigue can be a bit confusing since chronic or persistent fatigue is also a symptom of several conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Fatigue is the feeling of exhaustion that results from exertion, lack of sleep and illnesses. However, ordinary fatigue is not extreme or persistent, and the patient generally gets better after getting some rest.

What is Chronic Fatigue?

Chronic fatigue happens when this sensation of extreme exhaustion and lack of energy continue for more than six months. The exact cause of chronic fatigue is not known but it’s believed that several factors comprize part of the symptoms. They are stress, hormone levels and infection.

Lack of sleep, insomnia and other sleep disturbances can also contribute to chronic fatigue. Other factors contributing to the development of chronic fatigue may be poor diet, lack of exercise and certain medications.

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

This definition is according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (or NIAMS). For a patient to be diagnosed as suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, he must be having severe chronic fatigue for six months or longer. At the same time, the patient should also have four or more of the following symptoms:

Impaired short-term memory and/or lack of concentration

Prolonged general malaise after physical exertion of any kind

Muscle pain

Pain, swelling and redness in multiple joints

Severe headaches

Tender lymph nodes

Frequent sore throat

Sleep that doesn’t provide rest
Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue

It’s tricky business diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome, since there are no physical signs that identify it. There are also no diagnostic laboratory tests that confirm chronic fatigue syndrome.

A diagnosis of CFS is given if the symptoms recur for six consecutive months or more and there are no other explanations, such as disease, for the fatigue.  However, it should be noted that there are other conditions that overlap and sometimes coexist with CFS and have similar symptoms.

A study of patients suffering from CFS revealed that only 38% of the patients were diagnosed solely with the syndrome. The rest had a diagnosis of a number of diseases such as fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivity or both. Doctors are still unsure whether these conditions are direct causes or have common causes with CFS; or whether that have no relationship whatsoever with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Treatment and Medication

There is still no known cure for CFS so treatments are aimed at relieving the symptoms and improving the body’s functions. To achieve this, doctors usually recommend a combination of medications and non-drug therapies. Lifestyle changes, dietary restrictions, nutritional supplements are also recommended as an addition to drug therapy.

Patients who suffer from CFS are also urged to have regular exercise to help reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue. However, the doctor should carefully supervise physical activity as this can exacerbate the symptoms of chronic fatigue.

Patients must discuss their symptoms with their doctor. The doctors also need toknow what other medications the patient is taking, since some medications can exaggerate the symptoms of CFS.

Recovery rates from chronic fatigue syndrome are varied. In a 2005 review of published studies on CFS, it was revealed that improvement rates varied from 8% to 63% with 40% of the patients improving during follow-up.

For successfully overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome using Natural Medicine, you should look into a product called “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. You can download it for a very small investment, and you might surprise yourself, and actually begin the road to recovery.

Please, do yourself a favor, and go read about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at
http://fredfarah.com/pro/chronicfatigue.htm

Fred Farah

Fred Farah brings you business solutions Best Affiliate Products at http://www.bestaffiliateproducts.com
Join the Niche Market Strategies newsletter, and then come back to the Niche Market Strategies Blog at http://niche-market-strategies.com

Technorati Tags: CFS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, persistent fatigue, using Natural Medicine