Tag: Unexplained Fatigue

Fighting Chronic Fatigue Syndrome With Nutrition

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating condition where the patient suffers from extreme exhaustion that lasts for a prolonged period of time usually more than 6 months and comes with several other symptoms. Aside from suffering from unexplained fatigue even with minimal physical activity, chronic fatigue syndrome patient also exhibits the following symptoms: muscle pains, tenderness and swelling in the joints, recurring sore throat, impaired concentration and short term memory, severe headaches and un-refreshing sleep.

The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS is yet to be discovered. 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 also classic symptoms of many viral infections, doctors and specialists recommend treatments that strengthen the immune system. Receiving proper nutrition is an excellent way to boost the immune system, improve the body’s functions and increase the patient’s energy levels to overcome the malaise 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.

Other Minerals There are several minerals that are beneficial for people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Chromium 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.

Do You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Taking care of one’s health is the best thing that one can do to avoid all the physical illnesses. It may be painful to some to do it but it is in fact the simplest way if you don’t want to be affected with health disturbances. One of the most common illnesses that people complain about is the CFS, or chronic fatigue syndrome.

It is sometimes called post-viral fatigue, Epstein-Barr or myalgic encephalomyelitis disease. At other times, this is referred to as the chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome, or simply CFIDS. This CFS illness is often considered yuppie flu, or hypochondriacal behavior. Recently, health experts agreed that the illness is distinct and has physical symptoms.

The most common symptom is an unexplained fatigue feeling, in which it can not be easily relieved by some rest. Other physical symptoms are:

Muscle or joint pains or weakness
Unexplained headaches
Bowel problems
Poor concentration
Confusion
Forgetfulness
Difficulty in sleeping
Poor temperature control
Arthritis
Fibromyalgia

Some Causes

It was never understood what causes chronic fatigue syndrome. However, there are conditions which believed to trigger chronic fatigue syndrome such as toxins and virus infection. In some studies, the disease can be related to physical inactivity, immune system problems, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, overwork, stress, hormonal imbalance, brucellosis, and colitis. Regardless, chronic fatigue syndrome is not a simple health case that can be ignored as it can provide major disturbance on the patient’s quality of life.

Not Easy to Diagnose

It is often hard to detect if one is suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome. In many cases, it would go for years before a patient is found to have the illness. The reason is there are not any laboratory tests that can confirm or diagnose such illness. The diagnosis can only be made if the patient exhibits no other causes, including drugs’ side effects.

If the patient suffers four from the eight symptoms stated below, they can be diagnosed with chronic fatigue illness.

Short-term memory impairment or difficulty in concentration
Tender lymph node
Sore throat
Multi-joint pains
Muscle pains
Headaches
Un-refreshing sleep; and
Fatigue that lasts more than a day.

If four, or more, of the above symptoms are suffered by the patient for six consecutive months, they will be officially and medically diagnosed with the syndrome. Otherwise, the condition will be most diagnosed as another illness, the idiopathic chronic fatigue. Chronic fatigue syndrome may not sound serious to others, but this can be frustrating illness to others as the effects can be so much troublesome to most especially it entails daily life style. What is worse about is it can affect people of all walks of life, whether children or adult.

The problem with diagnosis is also the reason why there is no known exact number of people suffering from the syndrome. Only an estimation of half million Americans were suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Women are found to suffer more than men, though the statistic is not clear whether the illness affects more women due to a different condition and lifestyle or if only that women report their condition more than men do.

Regardless of which, it is always advised that proper health care is practiced all the time as it is one way to avoid CFS, or any illness, for that matter.