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Fatigue can be caused by a variety of illnesses and life stresses, but when that fatigue lasts for months – usually following an infection – it may indicate a condition called chronic fatigue syndrome.
About 3.3 million people in the United States currently have the disease, with nearly one in four people confined to bed during the illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Despite its prevalence, experts say it is a poorly understood condition that is often missed by doctors, with previous research showing that about 15% of those affected are not properly diagnosed.
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What is chronic fatigue syndrome?
Formerly known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a chronic illness that causes severe fatigue that impairs the ability to perform daily activities.
About 3.3 million people in the United States currently have chronic fatigue syndrome, and nearly one in four people are confined to bed at some point during the illness. (Stock)
The National Academy of Medicine defines the disease as having the following three symptoms that last for at least six months.
- Extreme fatigue that is 1) new and 2) reduces the ability to do activities you used to do before the illness.
- “malaise” that worsens after previously well-tolerated physical or mental exertion
- Restless sleep
People may also have problems with thinking and memory (often called “brain fog”) or light-headedness when they stand up.
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There are no tests to confirm chronic fatigue, so doctors diagnose it by talking to their patients, examining themselves and excluding other diseases, such as hypothyroidism and depression, which often share similar symptoms.
Chronic fatigue is often missed by doctors, with previous research showing that only about 15 percent of those affected are properly diagnosed. (Stock)
“CFS, fibromyalgia and Long COVID all related conditions with different names,” Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, author of “From Fatigued to Fantastic”.“- his research focuses on chronic fatigue syndrome – he told Fox News Digital. “What these diseases have in common is that they are disorders of the immune system, and diseases that affect the immune system affect women more.”
Many genes associated with immune system disorders exist X chromosomeholding up the gene, the doctor added.
Causes of chronic fatigue
Chronic fatigue syndrome can be caused by infection or other physiologic stresses, but its causes and symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, according to Dr. Julia Oh, professor of dermatology, molecular genetics and microbiology, and integrated immunobiology at Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina.
Teitelbaum compared this situation to a “massive energy crisis” in the body. When the energy drops enough, the “control center” in the brain – i the hypothalamuswhich regulates sleep, hormones, blood pressure and heart rate – may not work either.
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Although hypothalamic dysfunction may cause a number of other symptoms, the most notable symptoms are insomnia (despite fatigue), brain fog and widespread pain, said the doctor.
Anything that causes a severe breakdown of energy can cause the syndrome, including chronic lifestyle stress, poor nutrition, thyroid and stress hormone imbalances, and sleep problems.
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These causes are often associated with the gradual onset of CFS, but sudden onset can be caused by certain diseases, the two classics being COVID and mononucleosis, previous research has shown.
Head and neck trauma and sudden hormonal changes after pregnancy can also cause chronic fatigue, warns Teitelbaum.
Anything that causes a severe breakdown of energy can cause the syndrome, including chronic lifestyle stress, poor nutrition, thyroid hormone imbalances and stress, and sleep problems, according to one doctor. (Stock)
Currently there are no blood tests to diagnose the disease in the same way, but Dr. Oh said he hopes that will change in the future.
His research team has developed an artificial intelligence-based screening tool, BioMapAI, that has been shown to diagnose the condition with high accuracy by analyzing stool, blood and other routine lab tests, according to preliminary research published in July in the journal Nature Medicine.
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“Instead of finding a single smoking gun for the disease, our AI model revealed different biological fingerprints that were out of control in patients, which included changes in gut bacteria, dysfunctional immune cells and metabolic disorders,” Oh told Fox News Digital.
Treatment and treatment
Given how chronic fatigue syndrome can affect people differently, there is no universally effective treatment, according to Oh.
The CDC recommends that patients with CFS work with their doctors to develop a management plan based on the qualities that most affect quality of life.
There are no tests to confirm chronic fatigue, so doctors diagnose it by evaluating symptoms and ruling out other diseases.
Treatment usually includes a combination of lifestyle changes, therapies and medications. Patients and their doctors must weigh the potential benefits and risks of any approach.
There are other treatments that have been shown to work for some. Teitelbaum developed a protocol called SHINE, which focuses on sleep, hormones and hypotension, disease, nutrition and exercise. Some studies have shown that this method can help improve the quality of life of people with CFS and fibromyalgia.
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Others may find other treatments, such as physiotherapy, helpful.
Those who experience persistent fatigue that interferes with their ability to participate in normal activities or affects their quality of life should talk to a doctor.
