Fatigue test. Test: chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome test online

After intense intellectual work or heavy physical exertion, a healthy body quickly recovers thanks to good rest. If symptoms of fatigue persist, this is a sign of a serious chronic illness.

What is SHU?

The pathology in question was first discovered a little over 30 years ago in the United States. Syndrome of chronic (permanent) fatigue or CFS is characterized by neurosis of the regulatory centers of the nervous system. This is due to the inhibition of the functions of the brain zone, which is responsible for inhibitory processes. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease of the 21st century, caused by a high pace of life and a significant disruption of biological rhythms, especially among residents of megacities. The situation is aggravated by excessive psychological and emotional stress, environmental degradation.

Chronic fatigue syndrome - causes

The etiology and pathogenesis have not yet been studied, doctors continue to look for factors that accurately cause the described disease. The theory of the infectious origin of the problem is considered the most convincing. Can provoke chronic fatigue syndrome, Coxsackie and type 6 herpes. There is an assumption that the pathology debuts against the background of an unidentified pathogen.

Other studies have linked chronic fatigue syndrome to:

• deficiency of micro- and macronutrients;
• hepatitis C;
• food allergies;
• immunological disorders;
• retrovirus;
• somatic disorders;
• depression;
• deterioration of oxygen transport in the body;
• changes in cellular metabolism;
• excessive mental and physical stress;
• decrease in the number of mitochondria, their dysfunction;
• acute deficiency of L-carnitine;
• imbalance of bacteria in the intestine;
• specificity of ecology;
• hypodynamia;
• overweight.

Chronic fatigue syndrome - symptoms

The main clinical manifestation of the presented disease is considered to be a feeling of severe overwork, even if the day before the person had a good night's sleep and had a good rest. Chronic fatigue syndrome has the following symptoms:

• joint pain (without swelling, inflammation and hyperemia of the skin);
• memory impairment;
• decreased ability to concentrate;
• swollen lymph nodes in the armpits and neck;
• headache;
• sleep disturbance;
• causeless muscle tension, followed by weakness;
• pharyngitis or frequent;
• depression;
• irritability;
• low temperature fever;
• susceptibility to respiratory infections;
• migrating diffuse pain in the limbs and trunk;
• enlargement of the spleen;
• pale skin with low turgor, prone to premature fading;
• weight loss
• decrease in intellectual abilities, deterioration of logical thinking;

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Diagnosis

It is extremely difficult to identify the pathology in question due to the fact that its symptoms are identical to many other diseases. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome is possible only after the exclusion of all similar disorders. The main criterion for confirming this disease is a constant feeling of overwork, lasting more than six months and not disappearing after rest, and the presence of 4-8 symptoms from the list above.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in women is more common than in men, almost 2 times. The fair sex is automatically at risk, they have more pronounced signs of CFS, so the pathology is easier to diagnose. Women, in addition to the already listed clinical manifestations, suffer from hormonal disorders and instability of the menstrual cycle.

There is no single method for detecting the described disease yet. You can guess its presence by answering a few simple questions:

1. Has your sleep become restless and intermittent? Do you have difficulty falling asleep?
2. Is awakening hard? Do you need a cup of strong coffee or tea to tone yourself up in the morning?
3. Do you feel a sharp lack of strength and motivation in the middle of the working day? Do you need to make an effort to keep working?
4. Does your appetite keep changing?
5. Do you feel numbness of the feet and hands, they are almost always cool?
6. Do you often suffer from headaches, joint, muscle or heart pain?
7. Every day there is a deterioration in mood, causeless irritability and depression, apathy?
8. Decreased sex drive?
9. Does the body react sharply to weather changes?
10. Is the bowel broken?

If the answers are mostly or all positive, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is very likely in the early stages of progression. It is advisable to immediately contact a specialist for differential diagnosis and, in parallel, begin to pay more attention to your own health, change your lifestyle and balance your diet, and give up any addictions.

Chronic fatigue syndrome - tests

There are no laboratory studies to confirm the development of pathology yet. Even if the factor that provoked chronic fatigue syndrome is a virus, its detection is not the basis for making a diagnosis. In 2016, a blood test method was invented that provides the identification of specific markers (single nucleotide polymorphisms). Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with the expression of these substances, so this study can serve as a way to define the disease. The validity of the new diagnostic technology is still being studied.

How to deal with chronic fatigue syndrome?

The key to successfully overcoming the described problem is an individual comprehensive approach and constant consultations with a doctor. How to deal with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:

• normalization of the regime of loads and rest;
• restoring the quality of sleep;
• balanced diet;
• physiotherapy;
• psychotherapy;
• elimination of chronic diseases that cause tissue and brain hypoxia;
• massage;
• hydroprocedures;
• rejection of harmful addictions;
• autotraining.

Often, even the correct and long-term use of the above recommendations does not help eliminate chronic fatigue syndrome - treatment in such cases involves:

• taking medications;
• vitamin therapy;
• use of alternative means.

How to treat chronic fatigue syndrome with medication?

Given the sharp deterioration in the body's defenses during the progression of the problem in question, many doctors offer therapy with the help of neuroimmunoregulators. According to research results, they help to significantly alleviate chronic fatigue syndrome - treatment with drugs from this group (Bromantan, Kemantan) provides a triple effect:

• immunomodulation;
• neurotropic action;
• antiviral activity.

Vitamins for chronic fatigue syndrome

Several studies have identified severe deficiencies in antioxidants and other nutrients in CFS patients. There is a theory that the syndrome of constant or chronic fatigue can be treated by taking dietary supplements (BAA):

• magnesium;
• L-carnitine;
• vitamins E, C and A;
• fatty acids.

This is not the most effective option for treating chronic fatigue syndrome. It is impossible to improve the functioning of the immune system and cope with the symptoms of the disease using only dietary supplements. To normalize the work of the protective system, an integrated approach is required, including vitamin therapy, a significant lifestyle correction, and drug treatment.

Chronic fatigue syndrome - folk remedies

In alternative medicine, there are many effective recipes based on natural raw materials that produce a pronounced adaptogenic effect. Any natural remedy for chronic fatigue syndrome additionally stimulates the immune system and tones the body. Phytotherapy contributes to the normalization of metabolic processes and oxygen transport.

Prevention of chronic fatigue syndrome

Pathology is better to prevent in advance than to treat already during active progression. How to get rid of chronic fatigue syndrome in the early stages or prevent its occurrence:

1. Learn relaxation techniques.
2. Exercise regularly.
3. Give up smoking and alcohol.
4. Normalize the mode of rest and work.
5. Eat properly.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease that occurs in modern society quite often. Probably, everyone experienced such a state when, after hard physical or mental work, severe fatigue sets in. Usually, it can be removed by proper rest and sleep. But, if this condition persists for several weeks, then most likely you have chronic fatigue. And it is impossible to get rid of it with ordinary rest. Need help from a specialist.

The causes of the described disease are different. If the body experiences overwork for a long time, then a serious illness can be the cause of this problem. Often attacks of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) occur after a viral illness.

IMPORTANT: Unfortunately, modern medicine cannot unequivocally name the causes of CFS. But, almost all researchers of this problem agree that there is a connection between chronic fatigue and the presence of viruses in the body. Another "obvious" cause of this problem is disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system caused by stress, excessive mental fatigue, etc.

Also among the causes of this disease, experts distinguish:

• taking certain medicines
• diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema
• malfunctions of the cardiovascular system
• sleep disturbances and lack of rest
• poor nutrition
• depression and negative emotional state

Chronic fatigue syndrome can strike a person at any age. But, as statistics show, women most often suffer from this disease.

Chronic fatigue symptoms and signs

The symptoms of CFS vary, but most often appear in combination. Typically, these signs include:

• Feeling tired for more than 3 weeks
• Muscle discomfort similar to that which occurs after excessive physical activity
• Marked memory loss and frequent depression
• Wake-rest disturbances: insomnia, increased drowsiness
• Joint pain
• Frequent headaches
• Enlarged lymph nodes

If chronic fatigue is not treated in time, then all of the above symptoms can begin to progress. In this case, the presence of diseases accompanying these symptoms will be absent. Even laboratory studies will not be able to detect violations of the physiological norm.

Diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome is quite difficult due to the fact that blood and urine tests will be normal. Ultrasound and x-rays of a patient with this problem will not show deviations. That is why, most often people with CFS are diagnosed with vegetative-vascular dystonia or a neurotic reaction. At the same time, the treatment of these diseases does not give any result.

Akiyoshi Kitaoka mental fatigue test

As mentioned above, this problem has a viral and neuralgic pathology. With viruses, everything is clear, the body's immune system spends a lot of energy to fight them, which leads to chronic fatigue. As for nervous exhaustion, it is also a common cause of such an ailment.

In order to determine chronic fatigue caused by a mental state, you can use the Akioshi Kitaoka tests. This well-known Japanese professor of psychology developed a method for studying the mental state of a person based on "visual illusions".

Focus on one point in the picture:

• If the drawings are motionless, then the mental state is normal. Professor Kitaoka believes that this is possible only for a rested, balanced person.
• If, when focusing the gaze, the picture continues to move, then the patient urgently needs rest, both psychological and physical. A full sleep is especially shown to such a person.

The movement of "visual illusions" indicates physical fatigue, a stressful state of a person and a deterioration in his health. Akiyoshi Kitaoka developed this test to detect mental problems, but it can also be used to detect chronic fatigue syndrome.

IMPORTANT: CFS can be diagnosed with another test that was developed by Australian scientists from Griffith University. They found several biomarkers (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in the body, which were in 80% of the subjects who had symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Now, with the help of simple tests, you can not only detect the presence of such a problem, but also find out the effectiveness of its treatment.

Epstein Barr virus chronic fatigue syndrome

Not so long ago, Andrew Lloyd from the University of New South Wales in Australia found a connection between the Epstein-Barr virus and chronic fatigue syndrome. This virus belongs to the herpesvirus family and is the causative agent of mononucleosis. According to statistics, it is in the body of almost every adult and every second child.

The scientist believes that the activity of the Epstein-Barr virus can temporarily "damage" the brain. Which can lead to chronic weakness and apathy. A group of specialists led by Andrew Lloyd tested people who complained of chronic fatigue syndrome. Most of them had traces of the presence of the virus in their blood.

But, the presence of the Epstein-Barr virus does not necessarily lead to CFS. Of the 39 people who had mononucleosis, only 8 could not recover quickly. This difference, according to experts from the University of New South Wales, depends on the state of the immune system of patients. The stronger it is, the faster the patient with chronic fatigue syndrome will be able to recover.

How to improve performance?

A decrease in efficiency can hurt the “pocket”, the psychological and physical state of the body. It happens that if you give yourself slack, then everything starts to fall, problems grow lumpy. And there is a reverse moment. When you seem to want to work productively, but something gets in the way. This is just the notorious chronic fatigue syndrome.

If the vitality is at zero, then it is impossible to force events sharply. We need to find out the reason for this situation. If it is caused by fatigue, then you need to ensure yourself a good rest. If you ignore it, it can only aggravate the situation.

Improving performance

• Drinking liters of coffee is not an option. Firstly, such an amount of caffeine negatively affects the nervous system. And if 1-2 cups of coffee can invigorate the body, then all subsequent cups of this drink will have a detrimental effect on well-being
• Second, coffee is a diuretic. That is, it has a diuretic effect. Which can lead to dehydration of the body and, as a result, overwork. Therefore, if you need to increase your efficiency, you need to drink no more than two cups of coffee a day and provide water access to your body.
• It helps to improve the performance of such a drug as "Deanol aceglumate". With it, you can improve mood, increase brain function and improve well-being during depression. This drug is indicated for memorization and reproduction of large amounts of information, as well as for excessive physical activity.
• Also, Phenotropil has proven itself well to stimulate the brain and improve its blood supply. This drug in the form of tablets stimulates intracellular metabolism. What helps increase physical and mental performance
  But, you can not use these drugs without consulting a doctor!

Which doctor should I go to?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a problem that should be treated only under the guidance of a specialist. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for CFS to be a symptom of a serious illness. And success in its treatment will depend only on the timely assistance of a qualified specialist. With the symptoms of this disease, it is best to consult a therapist. He will be able to assess the patient's condition and refer to a specialist.

If chronic fatigue syndrome occurs as a result of frequent stress, anxiety and unreasonable fear, then it is best to seek help from a psychotherapist or psychologist. This specialist will help to overcome psychological problems.

With CFS caused by an overstrain of the nervous system, it would be more appropriate to contact a neurologist or neuropathologist. This specialist will help you choose the right therapy for this disease and help get rid of this ailment.

Sometimes chronic fatigue can cause malfunctions in the endocrine or immune system. In this case, help should be obtained from specialists in these areas.

chronic fatigue syndrome drug treatment

There are several drugs that are used in the treatment of this disease. These include:

• sleeping pills and sedatives
• agents that stimulate the production of serotonin
• psychotropic drugs
• vitamins B1, B6, B12 and C
• immunocorrectors with adaptogenic effect
• anti-inflammatory drugs
• other aids (tranquilizers, enterosorbents, nootropics, antihistamines in the presence of allergies)

Staphylococcal vaccine Staphypan Berna and intravenous immunoglobulin have a good effect on the treatment of CFS. Also, recent studies have shown that some antidepressants have a good effect on the body with the above problem.

You can significantly reduce the symptoms of this disease with the help of L-carnitine and magnesium. A special place in this list is given to drugs containing L-carnitine. This substance is responsible for the transport of fatty acids. With their lack, the cells of the body will receive energy in a smaller volume. If the lack of L-carnitine in the body is prolonged, then this can lead to chronic fatigue.

As for magnesium, it is this macronutrient that is responsible for the production and consumption of energy in the body. And its lack can also result in the above-described disease. That is why, when diagnosing CFS, doctors often prescribe drugs with magnesium and L-carnitine.

IMPORTANT: Chronic fatigue syndrome may be due to a lack of iodine in the body. Lack of this element can lead to disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland. Such violations are very dangerous and can lead to various negative consequences. In particular, to a breakdown, lethargy and muscle weakness.

Non-pharmacological treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome

You can restore your strength not only with the help of pills, potions and injections. The main success factor in this disease is proper rest. And that is why it must be provided. Good sleep is especially important.

Another non-drug treatment for CFS is exercise. Moderate physical activity can increase the "capacity" of a person's energy reserve. Regular fitness, running, swimming and other physical activities will help to accumulate energy and improve the condition of the body over time.

No less important for defeating chronic fatigue is proper nutrition. After all, it is with the help of food that a person can stock up on energy. Some nutrient deficiencies can lead to serious consequences. Fruits, vegetables, cereals and whole grains are the main sources of many useful and nutritious substances that will not only help fight fatigue, but also improve health.

You also need to keep a record of the fluid you drink. Two to three liters of clean water a day will help get rid of toxins, improve metabolic processes in the body and, as a result, overcome the problem described above.

Chronic fatigue syndrome treatment with folk remedies

In folk medicine, there are also several recipes with which you can cheer up and overcome CFS:

• Honey and vinegar. Mix 100 g of honey and 3 tablespoons of vinegar. The resulting mixture should be consumed one teaspoon per day. After 1.5 weeks, there should be no trace of fatigue

Based on this mixture, you can prepare a healthy energy drink. To do this, in a glass you need to mix a teaspoon of vinegar, honey and iodine. The mixture must be poured with boiled water and mixed. Drink this mixture only after meals, one glass a day.

• Cinnamon tincture. Well helps to cope with such an ailment cinnamon. But, just adding it to baking is not enough. A more effective remedy is a tincture of this spice. To prepare it, you need to pour a bag of cinnamon (50 g) into a container and pour vodka (0.5 l). It is necessary to insist such a remedy in a dark room for three weeks. Cinnamon tincture well calms the nervous system and relaxes the body
• Ginger. Another natural immune stimulant is ginger root. This natural product has many useful qualities, and one of them is help with chronic fatigue syndrome. The greatest effect can be achieved with tincture of ginger. To do this, grate 150 g of the root of this plant and mix it with 800 ml of vodka. Such a remedy should be infused for at least a week. Ginger can also be used in tea. To do this, you need to divide the root into 6 parts and squeeze the juice from each. Then the juice must be poured into a glass of boiling water. Add honey and lemon to this drink.
• Kefir and honey. Before going to bed, you can help your body relax and fall asleep faster with the help of kefir and honey. To do this, half a glass of kefir must be diluted with a half glass of boiled water. Then add honey to this drink and mix

Prevention of chronic fatigue syndrome

• In order to prevent CFS, you need to change your daily routine. It is advisable to try to go to bed and get up early. Such a change in the daily regimen will benefit not only in terms of preventing chronic fatigue syndrome, but also in terms of increasing productivity.
• It is also very important to devote at least 30 minutes a day to physical activity. And for this it does not matter to go to the gym. There are sets of exercises that can be performed at home or at work. Physical activity will help not only keep the body in good shape, but also significantly reduce mental stress.
• Bad habits such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol can also cause CFS. That's why you need to get rid of them.
• Good walks in the fresh air and vivid impressions help to cope with fatigue. Go to the theater and cinema regularly. This will help get rid of the above ailment associated with mental problems.

Nature is an excellent antidepressant. Therefore, at least once a year you need to get out to the sea or into the mountains. On vacation, you need to relax not inside concrete walls, but where there is a lot of clean air devoid of city dust. In addition, the air in such places is saturated with useful substances that can improve health.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is not a harmless disease. It can cause not only loss of efficiency, but also adversely affect the health of the body as a whole. In addition, the treatment of this disease is very difficult and long. Therefore, it is easier to prevent it. And the best way to do this is with proper rest, sound sleep, physical activity and proper nutrition.

Sophia. Somewhere recently I read that chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with disorders in the brain. And in order to prevent such violations, it is necessary to eat foods rich in omega 3. After this article, I try to eat fish and nuts once a week.

Elizabeth. I am also prone to fatigue. It's more of a moral thing for me. Sometimes everything gets boring: monotony, lack of joy in life, etc. Hands go down. Want nothing. I don't know if it's fatigue or something else. But I'm trying to please myself with something. I'll go to the museum or cook some delicious dessert. And look, life is getting better. And immediately the performance increases and fatigue as unprecedented.

Video: Illness of a city dweller. Great Leap

This is one of the most common diseases of the XXI century. Check yourself: suddenly you are at risk? ..

1. Do you often wake up in the morning already feeling tired?

A) Very rarely.

B) Quite often.

C) Sometimes it happens.

2. Does getting 8 hours of sleep help you fight fatigue?

A) Yes, after that I feel great.

B) No, no matter what time I go to bed, I wake up still sleepy.

B) differently.

3. Do you associate fatigue with increased physical activity?

A) Yes, especially if after work I do household chores for a long time (cleaning, washing, etc.).

B) No, I am a person of intellectual labor, but I get tired every day, as after "unloading the wagons."

C) On the contrary, physical labor helps to “switch”, and fatigue goes away.

4. Do you often find yourself unable to sleep after a working day?

A) No, unless there was an emergency at work.

B) Yes, almost every other day I suffer from insomnia.

C) Only if I drink coffee or watch horror movies before bed.

5. How often do you drink alcohol to relieve fatigue?

A) Periodically, if in addition I was also nervous.

B) At least 3 times a week, but a little bit.

C) A couple of times a month I can have a glass of wine with friends.

6. How much time do you spend walking outdoors every day?

A) Half an hour, no more.

B) I drive a car more often, so only on weekends I manage to “breathe”.

C) From 1 to 1.5 hours.

7. Have you noticed excessive irritability in yourself lately?

A) Sometimes I can flare up, but only on business.

B) Yes, I “start up with a half turn” even for nothing.

C) I profess the principle of Carlson: “Calm, only calm! It's a matter of life!"

8. How often do you play sports?

A) Sometimes I do exercises in the morning.

B) I get so tired that I don’t care about sports!

C) I regularly buy a subscription to a fitness club.

9. How often do you go to the doctor for help?

A) As soon as you need a sick leave.

b) What's the point? Nothing will help me...

C) I try to undergo an annual medical examination and take the necessary tests.

10. How would you describe your diet?

A) As in a film about Shurik: “First, second, third and compote!”

B) Occasionally, I have no appetite.

C) I try to eat more vegetables and fruits and less flour and fat.

Summing up

If you have more "A" answers. You are convinced that you are leading a completely healthy lifestyle. Meanwhile, this is not entirely true. In order not to become a victim of CFS over time, adjust your diet and be outdoors more often.

If you have more "B" answers. You are clearly at risk for CFS and most likely already suffer from chronic depression. We urgently need to take matters into our own hands. Try to change something in the usual course of things: for breakfast instead of coffee - oatmeal with a banana; at lunchtime, if you don’t feel like eating, go out for a walk; in the evening, instead of watching the series, take a contrast shower. And be sure to seek the advice of a psychotherapist.

If you have more "B" answers. Congratulations: CFS is not threatening you in the near future! But "rest on our laurels" is not worth it. Do not stop there: give up bad habits, add vegetable juices to your diet and think over options for outdoor activities.

Today, one of the most topical issues for every person living in a big city is chronic fatigue syndrome as well as its symptoms and treatment. And there are many reasons for this.

In Japan, for example, there is such a thing as "karoshi". This, at first glance, sweet and kind word means sudden death in the workplace, caused by fatigue and overwork. The first case of such a death was recorded in 1969. Every year, karoshi claims hundreds of lives (only 250-350 cases per year are officially recorded).

Each of us feels tired from time to time, especially after a cold or a stormy weekend. But what to do about the fatigue that persists day after day, no matter how much coffee you drink or how long you sleep?

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Once considered an “all in your head” disease, chronic fatigue syndrome is now recognized as a real and debilitating disease, characterized by an extreme degree of fatigue that cannot be explained by any underlying medical condition.

A person constantly feels tired, memory loss, muscle and joint pain, mental and physical exhaustion.

What is the difference between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and General Fatigue?

Most of us go through periods when we don't get enough sleep and feel constantly tired. The difference between this kind of fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome is that you can take a nap and feel better. With chronic fatigue syndrome, a deep breakdown occurs and no amount of sleep will make a person feel rested.

What are the symptoms?

It is very difficult to identify or somehow designate certain symptoms. However, many qualified doctors recommend paying special attention to signs of chronic fatigue syndrome, such as:

1. Lack of a sense of rest even after a good night's sleep;

2. Persistent headaches that recur for no apparent or obvious reason;

3. Increased sleepiness at any time of the day;

4. Prolonged falling asleep, even after physical strenuous labor;

5. Unmotivated irritation;

6. Decline in mood, without any reason.

Test visual illusions Akioshi Kitaoka.

There is a test for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, visual illusions by Akioshi Kitaoka.

You need to focus your eyes on one point of the picture:

· If the image is still, then everything is in order and you are not afraid of CFS.

· Professor Akioshi Kitaoka believes that only a person who is not rested will have a picture moving;

If, after focusing, the picture continues its circular motion, then the person urgently needs rest and medical care.

Treatment.

Treatment of CFS is a complex of measures aimed at restoring the body's strength. A person should not only adjust his own daily routine, strictly adhering to a diet, but also receive medication prescriptions from the attending physician. The treatment should be done, of course, by a qualified doctor. But at the initial stage, you can try to help yourself by “nourishing” the body with useful supplements.

In a comprehensive review of nutritional research, the following supplements have been identified that may help with chronic fatigue syndrome and keep you fit.

(We would like to remind you to consult with your doctor before starting any supplementation).

Folic acid

It takes part in metabolism, in the production of DNA, plays an important role in the synthesis of immune blood cells, and normalizes the function of the digestive tract. The mood of a person also depends on the level of folic acid, it is often called the “vitamin of good mood”

Vitamin C

Being a powerful antioxidant, it protects the body from bacteria and viruses, has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, strengthens the immune system and enhances the action of other antioxidants such as selenium and vitamin E.

Coenzyme Q10

The properties of which allow it to be a strong antioxidant, eliminates the negative effects of free radicals. As a person ages, its production in the body decreases significantly, therefore, in the lists of risk factors for the occurrence of various pathologies, the item “age” can often be found.

Magnesium

Participating in most of the processes of our body, it is necessary for the normal functioning of each organ. But, as doctors admit, this is the most important mineral for the heart.

To combat fatigue, most of us just need to improve our diet, exercise a little more, and sleep better.

The modern world requires maximum output and constant tension from a person. All you have to do is relax a little and you're already out of the loop. Therefore, most people are always in a hurry somewhere, live in a frantic rhythm and do not give themselves a moment's rest.

This behavior has the flip side of the coin in the form of health problems. Moreover, they result in completely different diseases: someone is overcome by frequent acute respiratory infections, someone has hormonal disruptions, and someone even earns cancer in this way. The formulations of the main diseases are more or less clear to the average layman. But since the end of the last century, an official separate disease has appeared in medicine under the strange name “chronic fatigue syndrome”. Yes, chronic fatigue, today, is a disease, and not just a temporary condition. And like every disease, chronic fatigue syndrome has its own causes, symptoms and treatments. Since the state of prolonged fatigue accompanied almost every one of us at least once in a lifetime, let's try to figure out where is the line between the norm and pathology? What is considered ordinary fatigue, and what is already a disease? How to determine the presence of chronic fatigue syndrome in a person? You can find answers to these questions by reading this article.

Definition

The official definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is something like this: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a disease characterized by excessive physical and mental fatigue, lasting at least 6 months, not relieved by rest or sleep, accompanied by numerous joint, muscular, infectious and neuropsychological symptoms. Thus, it becomes clear that fatigue can be considered a disease only if it exists for at least six months and in combination with other signs.

The first mention of chronic fatigue syndrome dates back to the 30s of the twentieth century, but until 1988 the wording was different. Synonyms of CFS are the following formulations: benign myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic mononucleosis, myalgic encephalopathy, postviral fatigue syndrome. This is how the disease was called throughout the 20th century. Such different formulations of the same condition have been associated with the search for immediate causes of CFS. Since the only reason was never established, the scientists decided to associate the name with the main symptom. So, in 1988, the Americans proposed the term "chronic fatigue syndrome", and since 1994 the name has become international.

Causes of CFS

A reliable source of CFS development has not yet been established. There are only assumptions about the leading role of this or that process in each specific case. Among the conditions with which the connection of CFS is directly traced, it is worth noting the following:

• transferred viral infections (, Coxsackie virus group B, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus type 6, hepatitis C virus, enteroviruses);
• disturbances in the control of body functions by the nervous system. This is especially true of the sphere of higher nervous activity (memory, thinking, and so on);
• mental disorders. In most cases of CFS, precursors are detected in the form of mood changes, feelings of unmotivated anxiety;
• being in a state of chronic stress;
• unfavorable environmental conditions combined with an unhealthy lifestyle. Residents of large cities, working "for wear and tear", with an inadequate diet, without enough physical activity in conditions of constant lack of sleep, are the first applicants for CFS.

It cannot be said that any one of the above factors is decisive or more significant. Modern scientists believe that it is the coincidence of a number of conditions that leads to the development of CFS.

There are predisposing factors for CFS. It:

• female (according to statistics, 60-85% of all those suffering from this pathology are women);
• increased emotionality (cholerics are more likely to suffer from CFS);
• age 30-49 years;
• the presence of a responsible profession (doctors, firefighters, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, pilots, etc.).

Symptoms

The main symptom of CFS is physical and mental fatigue that bothers a person for at least 6 months. Fatigue seems to the patient beyond. “I'm squeezed like a lemon”, “I'm exhausted to the point of exhaustion”, “it's like I was passed through a meat grinder”, - this is how patients with CFS formulate their feelings. The difference between simple overwork and chronic fatigue syndrome is that in CFS, no amount of rest helps to restore the body's strength. Neither sleep nor vacation with a change of scenery in any way affect the feeling of fatigue. At the same time, do not confuse the state of CFS with depression. With depression, a person does not want to do anything, does not strive for anything, and with CFS, the situation is reversed - desires do not coincide with opportunities.