Do you often feel tired even after sleeping or getting enough rest throughout the day? If so, it could be a sign of a condition called chronic fatigue syndrome.
Chronic fatigue syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition characterized by feeling tired all the time. This will certainly reduce the quality of life of the sufferer, because complaints of constant fatigue will make CFS sufferers feel powerless to work or do other activities.
In contrast to fatigue due to strenuous physical activity or being unfit, chronic fatigue syndrome can even cause fatigue that is severe enough to make it difficult for the sufferer to get out of bed (malaise). This fatigue can also still appear when you wake up, even though you have had enough sleep. Not only in adults, this condition can also occur in children.
Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome can cause symptoms that vary, depending on the severity of the condition experienced by each sufferer. A person is said to have chronic fatigue syndrome if he or she frequently or continuously feels tired for more than 6 months for no apparent reason.
In addition to fatigue, symptoms that can appear as a result of this health disorder are:
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Headache.
- It's hard to concentrate.
- Sleep disturbances, such as having trouble falling asleep, getting to sleep more often, or waking up frequently while asleep.
- Dizziness when sitting or standing due to decreased blood pressure.
- Psychological problems, such as uncontrollable emotions, frequent panic, and anxiety.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Sore throat.
In addition to the above symptoms, sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome may also experience other symptoms, such as chills and night sweats, indigestion, chest palpitations, and numbness or tingling in certain body parts.
Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Until now, the exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is still unknown. However, the following factors are thought to increase a person's risk for developing this syndrome:
- Weakness in the immune system.
- Autoimmune disease.
- Hormonal disorders, for example due to thyroid disease.
- Excessive stress.
- Psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders.
- Cancer.
- Viral and bacterial infections.
- Heart disease.
To determine whether a person suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, it is necessary to have an examination by a doctor. In determining the diagnosis, the doctor will perform a physical examination and trace the history of complaints felt by the patient.
The doctor will also perform a series of examinations to detect whether there are some of the risk factors above. After confirming the diagnosis and risk factors, the doctor will provide appropriate treatment.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment
So far, there is no fully effective treatment method for curing chronic fatigue syndrome. However, several treatment steps can be taken to relieve symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and help sufferers to be able to return to work and activities smoothly.
After knowing what risk factors can trigger symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome in sufferers, the doctor will treat these risk factors. The following are forms of treatment that can be done to treat chronic fatigue syndrome:
Administration of drugs
Doctors will give drugs to treat disorders that are suspected to be the trigger for chronic fatigue syndrome.
For example, if symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are caused by depression, your doctor will prescribe antidepressants to treat depression. This drug can also be used to help patients sleep more comfortably.
In addition, doctors can also prescribe pain relievers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin, to treat pain complaints felt by sufferers.
Psychotherapy
In addition to taking drugs, doctors will also suggest psychotherapy to help calm the mind of people with chronic fatigue syndrome. In addition, this method can also be used to further explore the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome, if this condition is suspected to arise due to psychological problems.
One form of psychotherapy that is often used to help sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome is cognitive behavioral therapy.
Physical therapy
Even though they feel tired, CFS sufferers still need to exercise regularly. This is because doing light exercise has been shown to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
To increase the stamina of people with chronic fatigue syndrome, doctors can suggest physical therapy in the form of: graded exercise, namely physical exercise that begins with low intensity, then gradually increases according to the patient's ability.
In addition to medical treatment, people with chronic fatigue syndrome are also advised to improve their lifestyle to be healthier. Some of the changes that can be made are:
- Limit intake of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.
- Quit smoking.
- Reduce stress by doing relaxation.
- Get enough rest. Try to get 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
- Eat a balanced nutritious diet.
- Exercise regularly according to doctor's recommendations.
If you are constantly feeling tired or weak, to the point that you are often absent from work or unable to perform daily activities, then you should immediately consult a doctor. This is important to find out if you have chronic fatigue syndrome and find out what causes it.