Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in India: Causes, Signs, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment in Indian Hospital

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a condition in which you feel so tired (mentally & physically) that you won’t be able to perform your normal daily activities. The tiredness will be for at least 6 months or more. The fatigue is different from normal tiredness.

The fatigue:

• does not have any underlying medical cause,
• worsen with physical or mental activity,
• doesn’t improve with rest

There are many other disease conditions that present with fatigue. Following are few conditions that may be one of the reasons causing fatigue:

• Over intake of caffeine or alcohol
• Excessive physical activity
• Lack of sleep
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Grief
• Hypothyroidism
• Chronic anaemia
• Heart or Kidney disease
• Obesity
• Diabetes

An in-detail study of your symptoms by your doctor will confirm the diagnosis of the disease.

The exact causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are not known. It is believed to be caused by a combination of internal as well as external factors. Some individuals are:

• believed to be born with a predisposition for CFS.
• a viral infection
• problems with the immune system
• an imbalance of hormones
• psychiatric problems, such as stress and emotional trauma

Currently, there is no single test to diagnose CFS. Doctor makes a diagnosis by excluding all other illnesses after a person has had symptoms continually for six months. To meet the diagnostic criteria of chronic fatigue syndrome, you must have unexplained, persistent fatigue for six months or more, along with at least four of the following signs and symptoms:

• Loss of memory or concentration
• Frequent sore throat
• Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
• Unexplained muscle pain
• Pain that moves from one joint to another without swelling or redness
• Headache of a new type, pattern or severity
• Sleep that is not refreshing
• Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise.

The treatment is primarily based on relieving/managing the most distressing or disruptive symptoms such as:

• Sleep Problems: Sleep medications can be prescribed to help get better sleep at night.
• Pain: Medications to control the pain if it is severe or hampering routine activities.
• Depression and anxiety: Anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications are prescribed to treat the associated depression or anxiety wherever required.
• An optimal exercise regime can be developed which is neither too stressful nor too easy for the patient. However, care must be taken to avoid extremes.
• Professional counseling is also very helpful to accept the problem and find ways to work around the limitations imposed by the CFS.
• Lifestyle changes such as taking steps to reduce emotional stress, practicing relaxation techniques, improving sleep habits and pacing activities as per the level of distress.

If you notice the above list and go by the conventional medicines you will be taking a minimum of 4 different tablets every single day for each symptom! And you may also have to bear the extra burden of their individual side effects. Homeopathy believes in gentle cure through the use of natural medicines that have been prepared so as to avoid any side effects and yet, bring about a positive change in your health! Live the Happiest Healthiest Life Style & Get a widest range of TOP Rated physicians at your fingertips by sending us your query.

CFS can have a major impact on your relationships with loved ones/family/friends. You may get frustrated due to the exhaustion that reduces your working ability. You may show improvement within a few months or years with proper treatment. Some continue to suffer for longer time. You may have to opt for part time work. It will avoid the over-exertion and worsening of the disease. Memory loss and difficulty in concentration may be troublesome for you. The outlook in children and young people is usually better. The main goal in improvement of symptoms is to adopt certain lifestyle changes, optimal exercise regime, coping techniques such as talking with persons affected/recovered from CFS, etc.

You may not be sick forever. Most patients recover within five years of the beginning of the illness. CFS is a complicated disease which has to be managed with medications by healthcare professional, proper exercise regime by physiotherapist, professional counselling to accept the problem and find ways to work around the limitations. Homeopathy provides a long-term reduction in symptoms and ensures improvement in the general well-being. Homeopathic treatment is a much safer and better mode of treatment without any unwanted side effects and resolves the problem in a harmonious way. Homeopathic medicines help your body’s natural defence system to fight against the disease and alleviate the symptoms. Our experienced physicians assess all of the factors- your physical, emotional, and psychological makeup and administers the most appropriate remedy. Normally, most of the Health Portals have one or two physicians unless it is a hospital or a very big organization. Here you will get the widest range of experienced physicians, with most subtle experiences, at your fingertips, in your comfort zone.

It is wrong to call CSF a psychological condition as researchers have found causative factors associated with the disease. Viral infection, problems with the immune system, an imbalance of hormones can lead to CFS. The World Health Organization has categorised chronic fatigue syndrome as a neurological condition. The sustained exhaustion and reduced working ability sets depression in the individual. Psychological treatment such as cognitive behaviour therapy may be helpful for the depressed/anxiety state.

It is difficult to diagnose fibromyalgia and CFS since there are no confirmatory tests. Your doctor can identify the two disease conditions based on peculiar symptoms. People with fibromyalgia have multiple areas of their body that are painful to touch (tender points). Tenderness or pain in at least 11 of 18 specific tender points when pressure is applied is a criterion for diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

CFS occurs four times more frequently in women than in men, although people of either sex can develop the disease. Most often people in their 40s and 50s, but people of all ages can get CFS. CFS is less common in children than in adults & more common in adolescents than in younger children.

CFS affects the quality of a persons’ life mentally as well as physically. It may start with less severe to severe symptoms of CFS. She may be able to care for herself, but would rest for days. She may have disturbed sleep patterns, reduced mobility. If not treated well or managed appropriately, she might find it difficult to maintain relationships with partners, family members and friends; difficult to concentrate; the loss of independence, economic security and livelihood; the worries about taking care of and raising children. Give your loved one the best care and treatment from our panel of expert Homeopaths. People say “Homeopathy is placebo”. We have many evidence based cases which are available on the portal on multiple clinical conditions right now!!! You are just one click away from restoring your family’s health!

CFS has started to affect your quality of life. If you continue to ignore the disease, some of the following complications can occur:

• Depression and Anxiety. CFS also predispose one to increased suicide risk.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Difficulty in sleeping
• Social isolation due to avoidance of social contact and social interactions as a result of easy fatigue, low stamina and associated depressed mood
• Lifestyle restrictions due to inability to exert oneself physically or mentally, which significantly influences the person’s lifestyle choices
• Increased work absences, especially due to sleep difficulties and low stamina leading to problems with employment and career issues
• You must seek medical advice of a well experienced physician.

There are no known preventive measures. However, some measures that might be helpful are:

• Having a balanced diet
• Having reasonable levels of physical activities
• Managing stress
• Having adequate sleep

CFS is sometimes seen in members of the same family, but that does not indicate that it is contagious. However, there may be a familial or genetic link.

There is no specific lab test or biomarker for CFS. One has to rely on the detailed history and clinical examination by an experienced doctor.

Homeopathy targets the roots of CFS, NOT JUST the fatigue or other superficial symptoms which are merely the outward reflections of the internal illness. Homeopathy significantly reduces the intensity, frequency and duration of the associated symptoms and helps the person lead a fairly normal day-to-day life. Homeopathy literature shows that there are nearly 100 highly effective remedies to successfully conquer this exhausting ailment. The combined skills of our Experts and the modern science of Homeopathy help you reclaim your health and life!

Emotional support and counseling may help you and your loved ones deal with the uncertainties and restrictions of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Perform physical activities at a comfortable pace; avoid overexertion. However, total rest is not advisable as it may make the fatigue worse. Always gradually increase the physical activities.

Maintain healthy social interactions at a comfortable level. Avoid social isolation as it may lead to depression or other illnesses.

Eat a healthy and nutritious diet and try to maintain good health. Take supplements as necessary. Dietary deficiencies can worsen the fatigue and other symptoms.

Resolve emotional stress.

Get adequate sleep.

Learn and practice relaxation techniques such as yoga, vipassana, meditation, etc.

Don’t overexert physically or mentally.

Avoid junk foods loaded with sugar, caffeine, preservatives, colors, etc.

Avoid skipping meals.

Decrease consumption of alcohol and caffeine at night.

Try to find out if you have any food intolerances and then avoid those foods. Eat beans, nuts, seeds that suit you well as they are a good source of protein, healthy fat, fiber and antioxidants. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables to provide enough vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Eat foods containing omega-3 fatty acids such as mackerels, sardines, salmon, flaxseed, hempseed, walnuts. Omega-3 fatty acids have excellent anti-inflammatory properties and help to ease the pain. Eat adequate amounts of proteins. Drink plenty of water and stay well hydrated. Water helps flush out toxins from the system that cause toxins. Eat whole grains such as wheat, rice, barley, oats, etc.

It is very important that a health care professional to guide you regarding exercises. Since a person with CFS suffers from post-exertion malaise, anaerobic exercises are recommended such as resistance training and stretching. Stop the exercises before you get too tired. Start slow and gradually increase the pace of the activity is the key you must remember. Daily chores such as cleaning, washing should be divided into shorter and less strenuous ones. If you avoid exercises and daily activities with the fear of aggravating your symptoms, it might worsen your disease. Choose a type of exercise/daily activity which works best for you.

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