What is chronic fatigue?
Chronic fatigue is a complex medical condition characterized by extreme and persistent tiredness, fatigue, or exhaustion that is not improved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions. Some key things to know about chronic fatigue:
- It is a debilitating disorder that significantly reduces one's activity level and ability to participate in daily activities for at least 6 months.
- The fatigue experienced is more severe and disabling than what healthy people experience during illness or after lack of sleep.
- The exact causes are unknown, but may involve immune system abnormalities, viral infections, stress, poor sleep, etc.
- There are two main types:
- Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) - more serious illness with specific diagnostic criteria.
- Idiopathic chronic fatigue - fatigue without a diagnosed cause.
- Symptoms include prolonged exhaustion after physical/mental activity, sore throat, headaches, muscle and joint pain, inability to concentrate, and more.
- It can only be diagnosed after ruling out other potential causes through medical history, physical exam, lab tests, and symptom questionnaires.
- There are no definitive medical tests or biomarkers to diagnose chronic fatigue.
- Management focuses on lifestyle changes, stress reduction, gentle exercise programs, counseling, etc. to improve daily functioning.
- Medications like antidepressants or sleep aids may help manage specific symptoms.
If you struggle with unrelenting exhaustion impacting your life, I recommend getting evaluated by a doctor to determine if you have chronic fatigue syndrome or related conditions. The specialists at HormoVital use advanced testing to get to the root causes of fatigue and create customized treatment plans to help patients regain health and vitality. Their integrative approach combines nutrition, nutraceuticals, bioidentical hormones, and cutting-edge therapies to optimize energy levels. Check out ]() to learn more!
I hope this overview on chronic fatigue helps provide some clarity around this challenging syndrome. Please share any other questions below!