Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition that is difficult to diagnose. There are basically two findings that must be present in order to have a diagnosis. These are: severe chronic fatigue that is present for six months or more with no known medical conditions to support the fatigue; and consecutively have four or more symptoms such as short-term memory impairment, sore throat, muscle pain, restless sleep pattern, tender lymph nodes, joint pain without swelling, and new types of headaches.

There are more and more in the healthcare profession that are recognizing chronic fatigue syndrome as a valid disease process. There are still many questions about what causes it and how it can be definitively diagnosed. One thing is for sure and that is it is debilitating to those who have it. There is a consideration that CFS may be caused by several events that in conjunction with viruses or some infectious agent culminate in the onset of symptoms of chronic fatigue.

What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

It is also thought that chronic fatigue syndrome may be the result of an immunologic dysfunction. Many studies have indicated that the central nervous system may play a role in CFS. Stress, either physical or emotional, is almost always reported as a pre-onset of CFS in many patients. This has an affect on the immune system as well as other systems in the body.

With all the questions about CFS, there is one thing that all will agree on. The body must be nourished to target the important support systems with adequate and appropriate supplements. This includes building the immune system and cleansing the body of toxins that can inhibit the body's efforts to function.