In the 1980s, people thought only "yuppies" got Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and called it "the yuppie flu." However, this stereotype had less to do with who was actually afflicted with the disease versus who sought medical treatment for it. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome currently affects 500,000 people in the US according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and is prevalent in other countries as well. Most of CFS sufferers are adults within the 40-50 age bracket, although the disease can occur in children and adolescents.
Women are more likely to report having CFS than men. However, CFS is not exclusive to the groups it tends to be the most common in. CFS affects people from every rage, gender, age group and lifestyle. CFS is a serious disorder that can inhibit the life and happiness of anyone.
CFS is not just feeling tired sometimes; it is an intense sense of fatigue that cannot be cured by normal sleep and that has been endured for six months or longer. CFS hinders daily life and the capacity to complete daily chores, and can actually be made worse by activity. Some patients report symptoms that came on gradually over a long period of time, while many other patients developed symptoms following an illness (flu, allergies, etc.) or a traumatic event, such as a car accident or loss.
CFS sufferers typically have the following symptoms: Pain in muscles and joints, headaches, sore throat, sore neck as well as sore armpit lymph nodes, trouble with memory and concentration, inability to feel refreshed after sleep, and a recurrence of these symptoms following exertion. Other symptoms may include bloating, chest and jaw pain, depression, weight loss, dizziness, earache, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, nausea, anxiety or panic attacks, an intolerance of alcohol, and/or shortness of breath.
The cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome remains unknown. Some doctors have suggested anemia, low blood sugar, allergies, or even an advanced yeast infection as possible causes for CFS, but a definite answer is not available.
CFS can easily be confused with other diseases that have fatigue as a symptom. Therefore, it's important to look at the particular symptoms as well as their duration. Doctors frequently run tests for other maladies before narrowing it down to CFS. Due to the mystery shrouding the cause of the disease, many of its victims go untreated for months, even years. A study by the CDC indicates that fewer than just 20% of those suffering from CFS have been diagnosed.
There is no known cure for CFS, but there are some things that can help. CFS patients are often advised to change their lifestyles to decrease stress and exertion, as well as by changing their diet habits. There are some herbal supplements that may decrease symptoms, including Activive.
Herbal supplements for CFS are available without a prescription and are made with all-natural ingredients, such as Tragacanth gum, which can aid the body in eliminating toxins, and the extract of Shitaake mushrooms, which can lower blood cholesterol and improve metabolism.
Source: www.articlesphere.com