SolveYourProblem Article Series: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Help Me Understand Chronic Fatigue

What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating condition that amongst a host of worrisome symptoms, such as aches in muscles and joints, muscle spasms, recurrent upper respiratory infections, swollen glands, sore throats, intestinal issues, anxiety and depression, causes most essentially, an extreme and disabling fatigue.

Statistics show that it is three times more prevalent in women, and it seems to range from young adults in their twenties to individuals in their fifties. While it is a condition that some can appear to recover from spontaneously - it is possible for it to return throughout their lives in conjunction with some other illness or during low periods when one is under great stress.

For someone suffering from this condition, however, there is not only the seemingly endless struggle to cope and maintain some sort of quality of life - there is also enduring the history of controversy that surrounds it.

For decades this controversy has been over the lack of many professionals in the medical community in recognizing chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS as a very real condition. As a result, sufferers have had to face a nearly constant resistance to receiving adequate and/or focused treatment.

The nature of CFS is that many of it's symptoms mimic those of the flu or similar viral infections. Due to this, in the past, it has been mistaken for other disorders. As well, because routine tests may not find any underlying problems initially, it has been misdiagnosed as such conditions as depression, hypochondria, and just basically a psychosomatic illness. It is one thing to struggle to cope with a mysterious disease - it is another to have to face down naysayers who suspect that you just might be imagining it, or worse, making it up.

This contentious issue has divided many in the medical community to the point where some insist that research funds should not only go to finding a physiological causation but also psychological and psychosocial aspects as well.

Over time there has fortunately been greater recognition of the existence of CFS and of it's widespread growth worldwide. But the etiology (the study of the causation of a disease or medical condition) still remains lacking. Without having this basic understanding of underlying causes the medical profession is often in dispute over, not only how to diagnose the condition, but also how to effectively go about treating it.

As a result, sufferers of CFS have often sought help from alternative sources. As with any condition or disease there is also the factor that each individual is unique, and how they manifest their condition and respond to different treatments will be unique as well. The resulting data of therapy and treatment can be daunting to assess, making the decision to choose to follow any particular course difficult.

However, despite these challenges there are people and organizations out there who care. They, or someone they care deeply about, may suffer from CFS and they understand the great challenges involved with this condition. As well, in the United States alone, it is thought that one in 250 people is being affected. If yourself or someone you know is currently enduring this illness it is good to know that you can find the knowledge and support you need to cope and find the quality of life that everyone deserves.

Click here and learn how to beat chronic fatigue. It's my SolveYourProblem recommendation.

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by SolveYourProblem.com : 2009

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