CFS is the abbreviations for
"chronic fatigue syndrome". The translation is "Chronic
Fatigue Syndrom" or "Chronic Exhaustion Syndrome". Other
names for CFS are fatigue syndrome, chronic fatigue or exhaustion syndrome, and
myalgic encephalomyelitis (abbreviation: ME or ME / CFS).
The CFS is a serious illness . Chronic
fatigue syndrome has nothing to do with the usual tiredness or exhaustion that
everyone knows. The symptoms are much more intense and do not improve even
with sufficient rest or sleep. A chronic fatigue syndrome has an impact on
everyday life and work and significantly restricts the quality of life of those
affected.
Doctors estimate the
frequency of CFS in Germany at around 250,000 affected people. Around 17
million people worldwide have CFS. Womens are about three times more
likely than men to develop CFS disease.
The exact cause of CFS is unknown . However,
the onset of CFS often coincides with an infection with viruses such as the
Epstein-Barr virus, various herpes viruses, enteroviruses or influenza
viruses. An infection with bacteria such as Borrelia, Legionella or
Salmonella can also be associated with the onset of CFS. Doctors therefore
suspect that a misdirected immune system plays a role as the cause.
CFS: Symptoms affect
the entire body
Chronic fatigue syndrome can causes a wide variety of
symptoms. Those affected suffer from severe exhaustion ,
often accompanied by difficulty concentrating or sleeping . In
addition, there may be physical symptom such as sore throat, muscle pain or headache . The
type, number and intensity of the complaints can, however, vary from person to person.
Almost all people with chronic fatigue syndrome have in common that
physical exertion exacerbates the symptoms far beyond the usual level. If they exert themselves physically, they are often unusually long
and extremely exhausted afterwards. Some CFS sufferers even have to
stay in bed for several days after shopping in the supermarket. And even
turning over in bed can be so exhausting that symptoms arise
afterwards. Doctors call this exercise intolerance "Post-Exertional
Malaise" (PEM).
The symptoms usually affect the whole body, and in very different
places. This is how the complaints affect the autonomic
nervous system . CFS sufferers suffer from rapid heartbeat , dizziness,
lightheadedness, fluctuations in blood pressure and have problems sitting or
standing for long periods of time.
The immune system can also be involved. Those
affected feel a strong feeling of illness, have painful lymph nodes, sore
throats or respiratory infections. In general, they become more
susceptible to infections.
CFS can also cause neurocognitive symptoms ,
such as difficulty concentrating, remembering things, or finding the right
words. Sometimes those affected become very sensitive to sensory stimuli
such as light or noise.
In addition, different types of pain are often added,
for example headache, muscle pain or joint pain .
Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome: Which Doctor Is Right?
There are several CFS doctors in Germany who specialize in the diagnosis
and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. However, these CFS specialists
are still very rare in this country. Affected associations and
self-help groups keep saying that many doctors are not sufficiently familiar
with CFS.
In associations or self-help groups (more on this in the CFS section : Self-help group ) you will
often find information on doctors who are familiar with CFS.
CFS: Diagnosis means excluding other diseases
There is no specific test for diagnose chronic
fatigue syndrome . Doctors therefore cannot tell whether you have CFS
or not based on your blood values or other physical measurements.
To diagnose CFS, doctors
first need to rule out a number of conditions that can cause similar
symptoms. These include, for example:
- Various internal
diseases
- Chronic infections
- Thyroid or adrenal
disorders
- Various stomach and
intestinal diseases
- Various
neurological diseases
- rheumatism
- depression
A large number of examinations
and tests are necessary to rule out all diseases that can cause such complaints . Diagnosing CFS therefore
takes a certain amount of time.
Doctors always use their
patients' symptoms to diagnose CFS. The so-called "Canadian Consensus
Criteria (CCC)" are an internationally widespread instrument for
classifying symptoms. According to the questionnaire, there are three core symptoms that must always be
present:
- Significant extent
of a new, otherwise inexplicable, persistent physical or mental
exhaustion, which leads to a considerable reduction in the level of
activity.
- Exhaustion,
increased feeling of illness and / or pain after exertion with a delayed
recovery phase (usually more than 24 hours, can take days).
- Symptoms
can worsen with any type of physical or mental exertion or stress .
In addition, there must be
additional symptoms for a doctor to diagnose CFS based on the Canadian
Consensus Criteria. These symptoms affect very different parts of the
body. Some examples:
- Sleep disorders,
such as falling asleep or staying asleep
- Pain, e.g. headache,
muscle pain, joint pain
- Neurological /
cognitive impairments, e.g. concentration problems, memory problems, word
finding disorders
- Symptoms of the
autonomic nervous system such as racing heart, dizziness, drowsiness,
fluctuations in blood pressure
- Immune system
complaints, such as a strong feeling of illness, painful lymph nodes, sore
throat, frequent respiratory infections
The symptoms must also
persist for at least six months.
CFS: Treatment relies on several strategies
The exact cause of the CFS
is unknown. Thus, the chronic fatigue syndrome cannot be treated
causally. CFS therapy therefore aims to relieve symptoms and improve the
quality of life of those affected. Doctors use drugs, but also other non-drug
treatment strategies.
One of the essential
treatment steps is the so-called pacing (English for “adapt”, “adjust”). The attending doctor
will work with you to determine how much you can physically achieve. You
align your everyday life and lifestyle with these performance limits.
It is very important that
you shape your everyday life within your personal performance
limits. Because excessive demands may lead to the symptoms worsening and
you may then have to lie in bed for days. Overexertion also has an adverse
effect on the further course of the disease. In the future, the symptoms
could worsen and the performance limit could drop.
Restricting physical
activity does not mean that you shouldn't move at all. Studies show that
targeted forms of exercise therapy can have positive effects on CFS. However,
you should plan sports or physical exercise together with your doctor. You
may even do exercise therapy in a clinic - at least the first time. In
this way you can approach your individual performance limits together with your
doctor.
When pacing, it is also
advisable to inform your relatives or to involve them in the
planning. Especially those people who are part of your everyday life need
to know about your situation and your performance limits - this is the only way
everyone can get along well and no false expectations arise.
The Open Medicine
Foundation, a foundation that researches CFS, has put together a few tips on
how to prevent overexertion:
- Plan your daily
activities.
- Divide your energy
and take regular breaks in between = pacing.
- Get to know the
reaction patterns of your body better - this is how you find out what you
are over- or under-challenged.
- Build your own
"support community".
- Provide your body
with all important nutrients through a healthy diet: vitamins,
minerals, carbohydrates , fats , proteins, secondary plant substances
- Get a good night's
sleep - it's not just how long you sleep that counts, it's also the
quality of your sleep that counts.
- Make sure you stay
mentally and emotional healthy as well.
- If you suffer from
other illnesses: get adequate treatment.
Medicines are also used
in CFS treatment to improve symptoms. Which herbs are suitable
will depend on the particular symptom you are trying to relieve. There are
medications for sleep problems, pain, and possible accompanying depression or
allergies that can be exacerbated by CFS. Psychotherapy may
also be advisable for mental health problems such as
depression .
Also make sure you have
a healthy and balanced diet . The German
Nutrition Society (DGE) has summarized what this looks like in ten rules:
- 1. Enjoy the
variety of foods
- 2. Vegetables and
fruits - take "5 a day"
- 3. Choose wholemeal
instead of white flour products
- 4. Supplement the
selection with foods of animal origin
- 5. Prefer
health-promoting fats - fat from vegetable rather than animal sources
- 6. Save sugar and
salt
- 7. It is best to
drink calorie-free water
- 8. Prepare food
gently
- 9. Eat mindfully
and enjoy the food
- 10. Watch your
weight and keep moving
Dietary supplements can be
useful when a lack of certain substances such as iron, folic acid or vitamin D is. A
doctor should have proven such a deficiency.
