The 8 Signs of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome remains a poorly understood condition, leading to 84% of affected individuals going undiagnosed. This lack of awareness has perpetuated misconceptions about the disorder. However, a 2015 report validated the existence of CFS and its real symptoms. In this article, we will delve into the signs of CFS to help you identify them.
Lack of Energy
Living with CFS goes beyond feeling tired; it entails a profound lack of energy that makes even simple tasks a challenge. This fatigue can persist for six months or longer, leaving individuals bed-bound and unable to find relief even through sleep.
A Feeling of Apathy
Constant exhaustion can dampen your motivation and interest in activities you once enjoyed. With CFS, this fatigue can lead to detachment and dampen the joy you once found in hobbies and relationships.
Difficulty Thinking
Cognitive challenges are common in CFS, manifesting as difficulty processing information, retaining short-term memory, and concentrating. These cognitive issues can impact work, relationships, and daily tasks, exacerbating feelings of isolation and emotional strain.
Drowsiness
Individuals with CFS often experience unrefreshing sleep, leading to drowsiness throughout the day. New sleep problems like insomnia may arise, contributing to morning fatigue. Managing energy levels becomes vital in coping with CFS symptoms and maintaining a manageable lifestyle.
Dizziness
Orthostatic intolerance can cause dizziness or faintness in people with CFS when they stand up. This condition is linked to how CFS affects the autonomic nervous system, impacting blood pressure and blood flow regulation.
Post-Exertional Malaise
Symptoms worsening after minimal physical or mental effort, known as post-exertional malaise, can lead to extreme exhaustion and decreased functioning. Managing this crash requires careful pacing to avoid overexertion and activities that were previously manageable becoming overwhelming.
Impaired Connection Between Brain and Muscles
Brain activity in CFS patients indicates normal grip strength but difficulty maintaining it, suggesting brain control issues rather than weak muscles. This altered brain activity makes physical tasks harder to sustain for individuals with CFS.
Reduction in Cardiopulmonary Performance
In exercise tests, CFS patients demonstrate lower physical output, reduced oxygen uptake, and earlier anaerobic thresholds than healthy individuals. This compromised cardiopulmonary fitness makes moderate physical activities more exhausting for individuals with CFS.
Sources
- “Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).” Better Health
- “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): An Overview.” NCBI
- “A unifying theory for cognitive abnormalities in functional neurological disorders, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: systematic review.” JNNP
- “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Sleep.” Big Health
- “Symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.” CDC
