What is chronic fatigue. Fatigue, asthenia and chronic fatigue. What it is? What to do if the cells do not have enough oxygen

Content

Each person at the end of a working day or workout experiences fatigue or a breakdown. Sometimes a person has the onset of CFS - chronic fatigue, which is a pathology and a real medical diagnosis that a doctor must make. The disease is characterized by specific symptoms that must be treated by all available means: medication, physiological methods, folk recipes.

chronic fatigue syndrome

This condition is characterized by a constant feeling of overwork, apathy, a strong decline in strength, which are not restored even after a long good rest. Chronic fatigue syndrome is more often diagnosed in megacities of developed countries. The main cause of the pathology is considered to be prolonged emotional and mental stress, which negatively affects the state of the human nervous system.

People aged 25-45 years are at risk of developing the syndrome. At this stage, a person has maximum efficiency, strives for career growth, success and is subjected to serious stress. About 90% of people suffering from fatigue syndrome live in large metropolitan areas, where the pace of life is faster and the level of environmental conditions is lower. According to statistics, Australia and the United States are in 1st place in terms of the number of registered cases.

The reasons

The exact provoking factors that cause the appearance of the syndrome are not established. There are certain conditions that can trigger this condition. The following probable causes of chronic fatigue are distinguished:

Psychological stress. Severe stress, frequent depression, gloomy thoughts, feelings of fear, anxiety harm the nervous system, which leads to overwork and fatigue.
Chronic infectious and viral diseases. Prolonged illnesses, frequent relapses lead to disruption of the immune system, the body as a whole, which entails the depletion of the nervous system, vitality, and provoke the onset of the syndrome.
Wrong way of life. Irrational daily routine, lack of sleep, lack of movement, fresh air, sunlight lead to chronic fatigue and fatigue.
Food. Poor-quality products, excess or lack of food, lack of micro- and macroelements, vitamins in the diet leads to a disruption in the metabolic process, which affects the energy supply. Due to its lack, there is a constant feeling of fatigue.
Environment. The human body "wears out" faster in an unfavorable environmental situation. People who live in polluted cities suffer from chronic overwork more often.
Viral infections. In medicine, there is a main version that fatigue and exhaustion occurs against the background of infection of the body with a retrovirus, cytomegalovirus, enterovirus or herpes.

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue

There is a significant difference between CFS and simple overwork. The latter disappears after proper rest, sleep, but chronic fatigue does not recede even with a decrease in the load on the body. This is the main sign of the presence of the disease, other symptoms include such manifestations:

Insomnia. A person is tired, but unable to fall asleep or sleep is superficial, often interrupted, there is a feeling of anxiety, fear and anxiety at night.
Headache. They are chronic in nature, pulsations are felt at the temples, the symptom is one of the first signs of nervous overexertion.
Violation of mental activity. The efficiency of the body is sharply reduced, fatigue disrupts the ability to memorize, think, concentrate, and creative activity.
Lack of energy. Chronic fatigue is characterized by apathy, weakness, fatigue even after performing simple tasks.
Psychological disorders. Chronic fatigue makes a person defenseless against a bad mood, depression, causeless fear, gloomy thoughts. The patient experiences a feeling of irritation, quick-tempered.
Violation of motor activity. Fatigue in the chronic stage can provoke pain throughout the body, often in the joints, muscles, hand tremors, muscle weakness appear.
Immune system disorders. A person with constant fatigue syndrome often suffers from chronic diseases, colds, and relapses of diseases.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis is not established based on the above symptoms alone. CFS is confirmed only if all pathologies, which are accompanied by chronic fatigue, weakness, are excluded. This is especially true for oncological diseases of 1-2 stages. In the early stages, the symptoms of cancer, when it is still possible to help the patient, are very similar to pathological fatigue.

Doctors need to exclude tuberculosis, which at first is asymptomatic, other somatic pathologies that have an erased form, a sluggish form. During the diagnosis of the syndrome, physicians must exclude helminthic invasion. A person before staging CFS should undergo a complete examination, which includes the following tests:

radiography of the lungs;
biochemical analysis;
Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
blood tests, urine tests (general);
pass feces three times to check for the presence of helminth eggs;
get tested for HIV;
donate blood to search for antibodies to roundworms, toxocara, giardia and other worms;
checking pathologies of the endocrine organs;
checking for the presence of antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus, herpes virus, cytomegalovirus, enterovirus;
examination of the fundus;
dopplerography of the vessels of the neck, head;
sometimes a CT or MRI of the brain may be ordered.

Chronic fatigue treatment

The doctor decides on the appointment of therapy and treatment regimen, based on the severity of chronic fatigue. Sometimes only psychotherapeutic treatment is enough, but medication may also be recommended. Treatment is complex, recommend the following ways to get rid of chronic fatigue:

mandatory, complete rest;
in the daily routine it is necessary to include physical activity (exercise therapy, walking in the fresh air);
a balanced diet, it is not recommended to eat a lot of sweets;
segmental or general massage;
timely treatment of those pathologies that can cause symptoms of fatigue syndrome: vasomotor rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, bronchiectasis;
daily contrast shower;
find a source of positive emotions (each person is individual).

Medical therapy

Drugs are part of complex therapy, prescribed depending on the source of the chronic condition. Your doctor may prescribe these pills for fatigue:

Antidepressants. Necessary to eliminate the symptoms of chronic depression, increase immunity. Assign, as a rule, Prozac, Zoloft, Fluoxetine, Azafen.
Daytime tranquilizers. Reduce the feeling of anxiety, restlessness, but do not provoke increased drowsiness.
L-carnitine. This element is responsible for the production of ATP in the mitochondria of cells during the oxidation of fatty acids. During CFS, a significant decrease in the amount of this amino acid in the human body is noted.
Magnesium preparations. Deficiency of this substance leads to fatigue, loss of strength. Magnesium, when combined with ATP, helps to transfer and store energy in cells.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Preparations of this group help to eliminate joint, muscle pain.
Vitamins of group B. Improve the interaction between the muscular and nervous systems.
Immunomodulators. Frequent colds, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis need therapy. To do this, prescribe means that strengthen the immune system: Levamisole, Polyoxidonium, Sodium nucleinate, Timalin or interferons.
Immunoglobulins, antiviral drugs. The doctor prescribes them to treat the syndrome with elevated antibody titers, to determine the DNA of these viruses in the blood.
Nootropics help relieve symptoms. With XY syndrome, it is necessary to increase the adaptive abilities of the brain, to stimulate its work. Prescribe drugs Aminalon, Semax,.

Physiotherapy methods

This is another direction in the treatment of constant fatigue syndrome. Below is a list of what to do with chronic fatigue:

Magnetotherapy.
water procedures.
Acupuncture.
Massage.

Autogenic training

This is a psychotherapeutic technique that is aimed at restoring homeostatic mechanisms in the human body after stress. Auto-training is a powerful tool for restoring emotional balance. The patient, with maximum muscle relaxation, uses the technique of self-hypnosis. This helps to influence mental, vegetative processes in XY syndrome. The principle of action is based on conscious control with the help of visual images, verbal formulas on the walls of blood vessels, skeletal muscle tone.

Folk remedies

For the treatment of XY syndrome, you can use the knowledge of traditional medicine. There are recipes that help to cope with stressful situations, apathy, insomnia, decreased performance, lethargy. This is the treatment of symptoms, but not the root cause, so traditional medicine is part of the complex therapy of the syndrome. You can use the following recipes:

Tonic drink. Take 100 g of honey (liquid), add three tablespoons of edible apple cider vinegar. Take 1 teaspoon three times a day.
Morning energy drink. To combat the symptoms of fatigue, you can mix a teaspoon of honey, one drop of iodine, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in warm water. You can drink a drink only in the morning 1 time per day.
Ginger tincture. Good for drinking after a day at work. Take 200 g of crushed root, pour 1 liter of vodka and keep in a dark place for a week. Drink 1 glass at dinner 1 time per day.

Forecast

This syndrome does not pose a danger to human life, as a rule, the prognosis is favorable and ends with recovery. Recovery of health may be the result of treatment or a spontaneous phenomenon. A number of people have relapses of XY syndrome after suffering somatic diseases, stressful situations. The danger to human health is the likelihood of perceptible deviations in the functioning of the immune system.

Disease prevention

An important factor in preventing the development of XY syndrome is the timely detection of symptoms. If you are haunted by insomnia, muscle and emotional tension, or other signs of chronic fatigue, it is necessary to avoid aggravating the condition. It is necessary to try to form an objective self-esteem, give yourself adequate mental, physical activity and draw up a daily routine. Try to get away from stressful situations, avoid overwork. If this is not possible, then try to fully relax, rest.

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Attention! The information provided in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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How to get rid of chronic fatigue syndrome - causes, symptoms and treatment

In the 19th century, it was condescendingly called "hypochondria". In the 20th century, it began to be called "chronic fatigue", and in the 21st century - "the disease of the century." The symptoms are the same, but the age and scale of distribution have changed significantly. The disease is like an epidemic, more and more young people, residents of megacities, and the population of economically prosperous countries fall into its sphere of influence.

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease in which a feeling of weakness and fatigue accompanies a person for a long time (more than six months). Moreover, this condition does not disappear even after prolonged sleep and rest.

Causes

Wrong way of life

Lack of movement, rare exposure to fresh air, chronic drinking of alcoholic beverages, prolonged mental stress, forced physical activity without proper rest, night vigils at the computer or TV screen - all this leads to the classic symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic pathologies

These can be both inflammatory processes and infectious ones - in any case, the body wears out rapidly during a long-term attack of pathogenic microorganisms, and frequent relapses only reduce immunity and lead to the depletion of the physiological and psychological capabilities of a person.

Unfavorable environment

It is known for certain that residents of large cities, megacities suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome much more often than residents of villages or small regional towns. Gas emissions from a car, constant noise, too fast a rhythm of life, inability to breathe fresh air, the use of chlorinated water and low-ecological products - these are all the reasons for the development of the disease in question.

Psychological disorders

Regular depression, being under stress for a long time, constant anxious thoughts, bad mood can provoke the development of increased fatigue - this is a direct path to the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Well, besides this, the syndrome in question may appear against the background of poor nutrition, with a lack of vitamins in the body, against the background of disturbances in metabolic processes - they are “led” by minerals. Please note: there is a theory that viruses can provoke chronic fatigue syndrome - it is often diagnosed in patients with early detected herpes, cytomegalovirus, enterovirus. But this is just a theory, therefore, when identifying the above viral pathologies, you should not tune in to the indispensable development of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Risk factors

Representatives of professions subjected to constant stress, which require increased responsibility and concentration of attention - air traffic controllers, military, firefighters, surgeons.
Hard-working mental workers who ignore vacations and weekends.
Teenagers preparing to enter the university, students during the session.
Not receiving adequate nutrition.
Sleep-deprived.
Leading an inactive lifestyle.
Living in an unfavorable ecological environment.
Not getting enough sunlight and fresh air.
Surviving life's troubles and troubles.
Possessors of suspicious, conflict psychotype.

Thus, the main factor leading to the occurrence of CFS is of a nervous nature - emotional burnout, nervous stress, insomnia, mental overwork. All this provokes endocrine and metabolic failures of the body, a decrease in the protective forces of immunity.

How to recognize chronic fatigue syndrome: signs and symptoms

Jamming of the nervous system is fraught with serious health problems and far-reaching consequences, so it is important to recognize the "enemy" in the early stages in order to know how to deal with it.

Symptoms of CFS are divided into mental and somatic.

Mental symptoms

Decrease in working capacity - absent-mindedness, problems with concentration of attention, memorization, systematization of information, inability to creative activity.
Psychological disorders - depression, anxiety, anxiety, irritability, gloomy thoughts, unmotivated irritation, bad mood for which there are no reasons
Intolerance to bright light.

Somatic symptoms

Decreased physical activity - weakness, feeling tired and overwhelmed even after doing simple work.
Migraines - frequent, accompanied by "pulsation of the temples", dizziness, often recurring headaches for no apparent reason
Insomnia - despite fatigue, sleep does not come or is not strong, intermittent, increased drowsiness during the daytime, the inability to fall asleep quickly even after strenuous physical labor;
Tachycardia.
Enlargement and soreness of the lymph nodes.
Violation of motor functions - muscle and joint pain, hand tremor, muscle weakness.
Reduced immunity - pharyngitis, sore throat, frequent colds, exacerbation of chronic diseases.
lack of feeling of rest after a good night's sleep

Headache

The first sign of an overstrain of the nervous system is considered to be pain of a pulsating nature in the temples. Headache can have a different character in different diseases, but it is for chronic fatigue syndrome that there will be a pulsation in the temples and diffuse pain in all areas of the skull of a non-intensive manifestation.

Insomnia

A person with developing chronic fatigue syndrome cannot fall asleep even after heavy, prolonged exertion. He gets the feeling that sleep will come as soon as his head touches the pillow, but in fact the person tosses and turns for a long time, looking for a comfortable position for sleeping, various disturbing thoughts begin to visit him. By the way, it is for the disease in question that night attacks of fear and an unreasonable feeling of anxiety are characteristic.

lack of energy

This symptom refers to apathy, constant muscle weakness, extreme fatigue even after doing minimal work (eg, washing dishes, ironing clothes, driving a car for a short distance). It is this condition that is an unconditional evidence of a developing or already fully present chronic fatigue syndrome.

Movement disorder

If a person has a tremor of the upper limbs, intense muscle pain, unwillingness to make any body movements, then this is a sure sign of the disease in question.

Mental disorders

Chronic fatigue syndrome can provoke a decrease in memory and concentration, the inability to quickly and competently respond to questions, the perception of information (training, general) does not occur in full.

Decreased immunity

Chronic fatigue syndrome provokes frequent relapses of colds, instant infection with respiratory viral diseases during periods of epidemic, prolonged healing of even small wounds on the skin.

Psychological disorders

People with chronic fatigue syndrome are often subjected to "attacks" of depression, they are constantly in a bad mood, there are unreasonable fears, an excessive feeling of anxiety. And irritability and outbursts of unmotivated aggression only confirm the diagnosis. It is noteworthy that in a state of chronic fatigue syndrome, a person begins to look for a way out of the situation on his own - this disease is often perceived as ordinary fatigue. And often doctors recorded an increase in cigarettes smoked per day - in this way, patients try to bring their body into working condition, and in the evenings, patients necessarily drink a certain amount of alcoholic beverages - this is how they “relieve” physical and mental stress. Naturally, such measures will not help solve the problem, and a long vacation on a desert island is also unlikely to relieve chronic fatigue syndrome.

It is useless to wait for it to “pass by itself”, as well as to hope that this is ordinary overwork and it is enough to go to the sea and sleep off on the weekend. With CFS, neither a change of activity nor a change of environment will help.

On a note: a full-fledged examination is also important because such dangerous diseases as oncology in the early stages, tuberculosis are cleverly disguised as chronic fatigue syndrome.

Can idleness be cured?

The answer to this question is not as simple as it seems. On the one hand, there is a common misconception that laziness is an excuse for those who shirk work. In fact, laziness can be a manifestation of a natural instinct - the desire to save vitality.

Important: if the desire to lie down, relax occurs often and becomes regular, then this is an alarm signal that the body is on the verge, and its supply of vitality has dried up. Laziness can be evidence of both CFS and another serious illness.

On the other hand, there is another persistent myth: "Chronic fatigue will go away if you get some rest."

It won't pass! If a person is healthy, then even with great physical exertion, his strength will be restored after a night's sleep. With CFS, you can not bother with anything, sleep all night and in the morning feel completely overwhelmed and devastated.

The causes of fatigue are inside, not outside. For example, it may be a malfunction of the thyroid gland, which slows down the metabolism, depriving the brain of good nutrition.

Fact: 14% of patients who are referred to a psychiatrist for signs of depression and weakness are actually suffering from a decrease in thyroid function.

The question arises: what leads to a malfunction of the thyroid gland? Psychologists believe that the imbalance between stimuli is to blame for this - those that are sent to us by the external environment and those that we issue in response.

Most often this occurs in housewives and people of monotonous work. They don't get enough stimulation of their nervous system. In other words, they lack impressions, a certain dose of stress, so that the body has the opportunity to shake itself up, mobilize and respond properly.

When there are few such incentives, the settings begin to go astray. A similar situation occurs when there is too much stress.

Everything is good in moderation. Achieving the golden mean, finding harmony with yourself and the world around you will become the very antidote that will save humanity from the disease of the 21st century - chronic fatigue syndrome.

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome with folk remedies

There are a lot of remedies for getting rid of progressive chronic fatigue syndrome in the category of traditional medicine. It is undesirable to take them uncontrollably - after all, appointments, consultation with the attending physician will be needed. But it is folk remedies that make it possible in many cases to do without the use of a complex of drugs.

Water tinctures

The recipes for water tinctures are very simple, everyone can cook them. But the effect in the case of the disease in question will be excellent. How to prepare water tinctures:

St. John's wort
We take 1 cup (300 ml) of boiling water and add 1 tablespoon of dry St. John's wort to it. Infuse this infusion should be in a warm place for 30 minutes. Scheme of use: 1/3 cup three times a day 20 minutes before meals. Duration of admission - no more than 3 weeks in a row.
Plantain common.
It is necessary to take 10 g of dry and carefully crushed leaves of the common plantain and pour 300 ml of boiling water over them, insist for 30-40 minutes in a warm place. Scheme of use: 2 tablespoons at one time, three times a day for half an hour before meals. Duration of admission - 21 days.
Collection
Mix 2 tablespoons of oats, 1 tablespoon of dry peppermint leaves and 2 tablespoons of tartar (prickly) leaves. The resulting dry mixture is poured with 5 cups of boiling water and infused for 60-90 minutes in a dish wrapped in a terry towel. Scheme of use: ½ cup 3-4 times a day before meals. Duration of admission - 15 days. Clover. You need to take 300 grams of dried meadow clover flowers, 100 grams of regular sugar and a liter of warm water. We put the water on the fire, bring to a boil and pour in the clover, cook for 20 minutes. Then the infusion is removed from the heat, cooled, and only after that the specified amount of sugar is added to it. You need to take clover infusion 150 ml 3-4 times a day, instead of tea / coffee.
Cowberry and strawberry
You will need leaves of strawberries and lingonberries, 1 tablespoon each - they are mixed and poured with boiling water in an amount of 500 ml. The drug is infused in a thermos for 40 minutes, then drink a tea cup three times a day.

Kefir, onion, honey and apple cider vinegar

Such simple products that are available in every home will help to quickly cope with chronic fatigue syndrome, but only if it is in the initial stage of development and has not yet led to severe pathological changes in the body.

Kefir should be drunk every evening, but first it is mixed with ordinary warm water in a ratio of 1: 1, then a teaspoon of honey is added to the composition.

Finely chop the onion - you should get the amount that fits in a regular glass. Then add a glass of honey to the onion and leave it in a dark place for 3-4 days.

Then the resulting drug is placed in the refrigerator and taken 1 teaspoon 20 minutes before meals.

The course of admission is 14 days, then you need to take a week break and, if necessary, repeat the course.

Mix 100 g of honey and 3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, take 1 teaspoon per day (no more!) For 10 days.

This tool actively restores vitality, gives vigor and energy. 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 3-4 drops of iodine are added to a glass of warm water. The recommended dosage is 1 glass per day, the duration of administration is no more than 5 days in a row. This tool can be safely compared with an energy drink. Please note: the listed recipes are categorically contraindicated for people with previously diagnosed pathologies of the stomach, intestines and kidneys. It is not recommended to use recipes with honey and onions for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome in women during menopause or menopause.

Take a glass of peeled walnuts, the same amount of honey and lemon.

Grind walnut kernels and lemon, pour liquid honey, store in the refrigerator. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day for 2 weeks.

Freshly squeezed grape juice . Take 2 tbsp. spoon before meals until you feel better.

Quickly eliminates chronic fatigue pine needles. Rinse the needles collected in the forest, dry in the oven for 15 minutes, 2 tbsp. grind spoons of needles, pour 200 ml of water and boil over low heat for 30 minutes, add 3 tbsp. spoons of honey, wrap for 1 hour. Take 1 tbsp. spoon at bedtime for 10 days.

An old recipe gives a good effect: 200 ml milk, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of honey and 0.5 tbsp. tablespoons dried chamomile flowers . Pour chamomile with milk and bring to a boil, dissolve honey, strain, drink before going to bed.

To maintain immunity, especially in men - mixture of pumpkin seeds, honey and cognac . Pour 0.5 cups of peeled seeds with liquid honey and add 2 tbsp. spoons of cognac Take on an empty stomach 1 tbsp. spoon daily for at least 3 weeks.

Preventive measures

To avoid the development of chronic fatigue syndrome, you need to work less and rest more - so many people think. But in fact, doctors give the following recommendations:
do not experiment with fasting and strict diets for weight loss without specialist appointments;
food should be varied;
regularly use vitamin complexes - this is especially true in winter and early spring;
try to relax as much as possible after work - take a warm bath, drink a cup of hot tea, have aromatherapy sessions, but in no case take "work from home";
learn to correctly alternate physical and mental stress: work with papers and in a computer - every 1-2 hours you should be distracted and do the simplest exercises; do not avoid playing sports - it can be a simple walk, and work in the country;

For residents of megacities, a disease called "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" is characteristic.

This condition is associated with prolonged psychoemotional stress and is most often observed in people aged from 25 to 45 years .

It can lead to s. Therefore, at the first signs of the disease, you need to consult a doctor and find out how to get rid of it.

What it is

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) It is expressed in unmotivated general weakness, which takes a person out of active everyday life for a long time.

Pathology occurs against the background of damage to the immune and nervous systems. And women suffer this disease more often and more difficult.

The most prone to the development of pathology are people of working age. Often it is observed in children of middle and older age. Predisposing factors in this case are a long stay at the computer and lack of physical activity.

Causes

Previously, it was thought that CFS could be due to the herpes virus or inflammatory processes in the nervous system.

Today revealed and other factors that cause chronic fatigue.

These include:

Chronic, viral and infectious diseases. Most pathologies lead to disruption in the functioning of the body, depletion of the nervous system and vitality.
Wrong daily routine and lifestyle. Lack of sleep and physical activity cause tiredness and fatigue. Rare walks in the fresh air are also the cause of the disease.
depression. Negative thoughts, fear and anxiety cause great harm to the nervous system.
Bad ecology. In polluted megacities, an unfavorable state of the natural environment is observed. This negatively affects many body systems.
Wrong nutrition. Lack of vitamins and minerals, overeating and hunger lead to metabolic disorders, deplete energy reserves, provoking a feeling of fatigue.

Reasons for the development of CFS among women often become heredity and hormonal failure. Unfortunately, the lack of information about chronic fatigue syndrome does not always make it possible to find out the true cause of the disease. It is known for sure that the pathology in each case is caused by various factors.

Symptoms and signs

It is important to be able to distinguish between normal overwork and chronic fatigue syndrome, the symptoms of which do not disappear after rest or a decrease in the load on the body.

CFS is manifested by the following symptoms:

weakness;
headache;
dizziness;
sleep disturbance;
irritation;
decrease in working capacity;
nausea.

Patients with CFS more often than others suffer from chronic diseases, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections. They may have pain in the joints and muscles, numb limbs.

Often they are concerned about problems with the intestines and digestion, dry eye syndrome, tachycardia. Women may experience an increase in PMS symptoms.

Fatigue and drowsiness provoke a deterioration in mental activity. The patient is constantly in a bad mood, he has unreasonable fear and anxiety, he is disturbed dark thoughts, apathy . In this state, a person experiences difficulties in maintaining an active social life. Sometimes chronic fatigue syndrome is observed due to problems in personal life.

If a person has similar symptoms and does not know what to do, first of all, you should consult a therapist. After examining and collecting an anamnesis, the doctor will prescribe treatment or refer you to other specialists: a psychotherapist, a neurologist, an infectious disease specialist.

Treatment

Before making a diagnosis, the patient must undergo a complete examination of the body and pass the necessary tests.

The doctor prescribes therapy depending on the degree of the disease and the state of health of the patient. Treatment is complex and aimed at eliminating the cause of CFS.

It includes:

Taking medication

An experienced doctor knows how to deal with chronic fatigue in each case, and prescribes appropriate medications to the patient.

It can be:

Preparations magnesium. Allows you to store energy.
. Struggling with lethargy, apathy, anxiety.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are prescribed for pain in the joints and muscles.
Vitamins of group B. Improve the functioning of the nervous system.
Immunomodulators. Restore the functions of the body's defenses.

The dosage and duration of the therapeutic course are prescribed individually. It is forbidden to take such drugs without consulting a doctor.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy methods are useful for chronic fatigue syndrome:

massage;
hydrotherapy;
acupuncture;
exposure to a laser or magnetic field;
physiotherapy.

These procedures can speed up metabolism, restore the functioning of the body and energy metabolism, and calm the nerves.

Psychological impact

Psychotherapeutic methods are aimed at restoring emotional balance, achieving maximum muscle relaxation.

Auto-training, hypnosis and other special relaxation techniques are actively used. Only an experienced psychotherapist can teach them.

Folk remedies

As an adjunctive therapy, it is useful to use folk remedies. They help eliminate insomnia and stress.

A tincture of ginger. It is necessary to pour 200 g of ginger root with a liter of vodka and put it in a dark place for 7 days. Drink tincture 1 time per day during dinner, 50 ml.
In chronic fatigue, it is useful to take decoctions based on St. John's wort, plantain, clover, lingonberry and strawberry. Before using folk recipes, it is important to make sure that there is no allergy to their components.

In the treatment of CFS, it is important to follow a special diet , which is aimed at restoring the body's strength, saturating it with the necessary substances. The patient's diet must contain honey, nuts, protein foods, salted fish.

As a preventive measure, experts advise:

do not get involved in diets without the appointment of specialists;
regularly use vitamin complexes;
more often walk in the fresh air, go on a picnic;
competently alternate mental and physical activity;
relax as much as possible after a working day;
try to avoid stress;
to do something that brings pleasure;
eliminate bad habits;

Doctors consider chronic fatigue syndrome a serious problem that greatly impairs the quality of life. Therefore, it is important to treat pathology in time with the help of complex therapeutic measures, not relying only on one's own strength.

Video:

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.

What it is?

Chronic fatigue syndrome - a constant feeling of fatigue and overwork, a breakdown that does not go away even after a long rest. This disease is especially typical for residents of developed countries and populated megacities. The main cause of the syndrome is considered to be prolonged psycho-emotional stress on the human nervous system.

History reference

The disease was named after an epidemic in Nevada (USA) in 1984. Dr. Paul Cheney, who practiced in the small town of Incline Village, located on the shores of Lake Tahoe, recorded more than 200 cases of this disease. Patients felt depression, mood deterioration, muscle weakness. They found the Epstein-Barr virus or antibodies to it and to other viruses - "relatives" of the herpes virus. Whether the cause of the disease was a viral infection or something else, such as poor environmental conditions, remained unclear.

Outbreaks of the disease have been observed before: in Los Angeles in 1934, in Iceland in 1948, in London in 1955, in Florida in 1956. The syndrome is not limited to any geographic or socio-demographic groups. In the US, chronic fatigue syndrome affects about 10 patients per 100,000 people. In Australia in 1990, the incidence was higher: 37 people per 100,000 population. Women aged 25 to 45 are most susceptible to the syndrome.

In 2009, scientists from the United States became the authors of an article that described the impact on the human body of the chronic fatigue syndrome virus that affects mice. A few years later, these data were refuted, since the virus was not found in the blood of the studied sick people. Recently, however, other biologists have announced their results. Their conclusion proved the presence of a certain virus in the blood of the sick: it appears when the immune system is in a state of constant tension.

In January 2016, a group of British scientists published their study, according to which the chronic fatigue syndrome virus exists, and adolescents are especially susceptible to infection. According to experts, more than two percent of teenagers in the UK have chronic fatigue syndrome. The characteristic symptoms of this disease are insomnia, fatigue, headaches and frequent spasms.

Reasons for development

The exact causes leading to chronic fatigue syndrome have not yet been established. However, there are certain risk factors that can provoke the occurrence of this disease:

Malnutrition - lack or excess of food, poor-quality products, lack of vitamins, macro- and microelements in food disrupt the body's metabolism, leading to a lack of energy and a persistent feeling of fatigue;
Environmental factors - an unfavorable environmental situation makes the body work hard, protecting itself from the effects of harmful factors, so people living in polluted noisy cities often suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome;
Chronic diseases - prolonged illnesses or frequent relapses disrupt the coordinated work of the immune system and the body as a whole, leading to an overload of the nervous system, depletion of the body's vitality and a feeling of chronic fatigue;
Psychological disorders - frequent depressions, constant stress, gloomy thoughts and feelings of anxiety and fear are the main "pests" for the activity of the nervous system, leading to constant fatigue and overwork;
Wrong lifestyle - chronic fatigue syndrome can be caused by constant lack of sleep, an irrational daily routine, prolonged mental or physical stress, lack of sunlight, fresh air or movement;
Infections and viruses - there is a theory according to which one of the main causes of chronic fatigue is the ingestion of herpes viruses, cytomegaloviruses, retroviruses, enteroviruses, etc.

Symptoms

Chronic fatigue syndrome has a variable clinical picture, and it is rather problematic to identify any specific signs. And yet, doctors identify the following symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome:

lack of feeling of rest after a full night's sleep;
recurring headaches for no apparent reason;
increased sleepiness during the daytime;
inability to fall asleep quickly even after intense physical labor;
unmotivated irritation;
bad mood, for which there are no reasons;
frequent infectious diseases;
allergic reactions;
decreased memory and ability to concentrate;
pharyngitis;
swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpit;
unexplained muscle pain.

In general, this condition can last for several months in a row - in some cases, patients report similar symptoms for 5-8 months. And this does not mean at all that a person has developed a specific chronic fatigue syndrome - identical symptoms may indicate other pathologies in the body. Therefore, carefully analyze your condition - doctors highlight the characteristic features of each of the symptoms.

Diagnostics

Since chronic fatigue syndrome still refers to pathologies with an etiology that has not been fully elucidated, a large-scale examination of the patient is required to identify the disease. To establish the causes of a breakdown, it is initially necessary to check a person for the presence of such pathologies as:

Due to the fact that there are a lot of reasons for the exhaustion of the body, it is important to exclude all types of diseases of internal organs and functional systems. To do this, you will need to undergo a study on markers of viral hepatitis, virological examination (herpeviruses, chlamydia).

For an accurate diagnosis of CFS, consultations of narrow specialists - an infectious disease specialist, a gastroenterologist, a neurologist, an immunologist, a rheumatologist, a cardiologist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, an endocrinologist, will be required. This approach is justified by the fact that chronic fatigue syndrome can be both an independent disease and one of the side effects of hidden internal diseases.

How to treat chronic fatigue syndrome

The doctor decides on the appointment of therapy and treatment regimen for chronic fatigue syndrome, based on the severity of fatigue. Sometimes only psychotherapeutic treatment is enough, but medication may also be recommended.

mandatory, complete rest;
in the daily routine it is necessary to include physical activity (exercise therapy, walking in the fresh air);
a balanced diet, it is not recommended to eat a lot of sweets;
segmental or general massage;
timely treatment of those pathologies that can cause symptoms of fatigue syndrome: vasomotor rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, bronchiectasis;
daily contrast shower;
find a source of positive emotions (each person is individual).

Drug treatment: what drugs are used?

For the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome at home, the following drugs are prescribed:

Antidepressants, which not only eliminate the symptoms of depression, but also significantly improve the immune status of such patients by activating the activity of NK cells. For the treatment of CFS, Azafen, Zoloft, Serlift, Prozac, Fluoxetine are prescribed;
Daytime tranquilizers. These are drugs that eliminate anxiety and anxiety, while not causing drowsiness;
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are prescribed to eliminate pain in muscles and joints;
Immunomodulators. With frequent colds, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma. These can be broad-spectrum drugs (for example, Polyoxidonium, Levamisole, Timalin or Sodium nucleinate) or only antiviral (interferons);
Antivirals and immunoglobulins. They are prescribed by an infectious disease doctor when elevated titers of antibodies to viruses are detected in the blood or the DNA of these viruses is determined in the blood;
L-carnitine, which in the mitochondria of cells is involved in the production of ATP obtained from the oxidation of fatty acids. Its purpose is justified, because with CFS there is a decrease in the concentration of this amino acid in the blood;
Magnesium preparations. When prescribing them, they proceed from the fact that loss of strength and fatigue can be caused by magnesium deficiency, 80-90% of which is intracellular. It is the combination of this electrolyte with ATP that allows energy to be transferred and stored in cells;
B-group vitamins, which improve the communication of the nervous system with the muscle;
Nootropics that increase the adaptive abilities of the brain and stimulate its work. These are Glycine, Semax, Aminalon.

Physiotherapy

Doctors assure that it will not be possible to cure chronic fatigue syndrome exclusively with drugs and long rest / sleep. Patients must definitely undergo a course of physiotherapy - they can be different and carried out in a complex, but the doctor can choose one thing.

Effective physiotherapy procedures for the disease in question include:

laser therapy. This is a relatively new procedure that helps speed up metabolism, restore and enhance regenerative processes in the body, and stimulate the central nervous system.
Hydrotherapy. We are talking about the effect of water on the body - various souls perfectly relieve tension in the muscles, have a relaxing effect on the nervous system, and provoke sound sleep.
Massage. This procedure is carried out only in a calm rhythm, the massage should be relaxing. Helps relieve muscle pain, improve blood circulation, relieve general tension.
Physiotherapy. No matter how trite it may sound, the simplest exercise will help to cope with chronic fatigue syndrome. Yes, some patients literally force themselves to do it, but after 3-5 sessions they already begin to get used to regular physical activity. Therapeutic exercise helps to strengthen the immune system, restore balance in the psycho-emotional state, relieve muscle pain, get rid of general weakness and apathy.
Magnetotherapy. It is most often prescribed for the detection of pathological changes in the work of the endocrine system. It is this type of physiotherapy that has analgesic and maximally relaxing effects.
Acupuncture. This is a very unusual way to treat chronic fatigue syndrome, but no less effective. Impact on specific active points of the body stimulates the work of all organs and systems, allows you to get rid of pain, insomnia, and restores strength.

The duration of the course of physiotherapy depends on how long the doctor prescribes certain medications. If the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome is carried out without medication, then it is recommended to attend the above procedures according to a strict schedule drawn up by the doctor.

Folk remedies

Among folk remedies, water tinctures have become popular. Especially when it comes to chronic fatigue syndrome in a child. The bottom line is that water tinctures allow you not to resort to drugs.

At home, for the treatment of CFS among water tinctures, you can use:

St. John's wort. A glass of boiling water, 1 spoon of St. John's wort. It is necessary to insist for half an hour and drink 1/3 cup 3 times a day for 30 minutes. before meals. Course - 3 weeks;
Plantain. 10 grams of crushed dry plantain, 300 milliliters of boiling water. Infuse for half an hour, drink 2 tablespoons per dose, three times a day 30 minutes before eating. Course - 3 weeks;
Strawberries and cranberries. It is necessary to take lingonberries and strawberries, each 1 spoon. They must be mixed and poured with boiling water (500 milliliters). Infuse for 40 minutes in a thermos, and then drink a cup three times a day.

These are the means and basic folk recipes that can be used in such a case as the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

What is needed for prevention?

Healthy nutrition, adequate physical and mental stress, objective self-assessment and the correct daily routine - this is what will allow you to avoid the development of chronic fatigue syndrome. If possible, avoid stressful situations and avoid overwork. If this was not possible, then after stress or overload, you should fully relax and unwind.

During work, every 1-1.5 hours you need to take a short break. If the work is mental and sedentary, then during the break it is useful to do physical education. That allows you to temporarily switch from mental to physical labor and relieve fatigue from constant sitting. Pauses and switching of attention are especially necessary during monotonous work. Industrial noise, which causes increased fatigue, is important. If possible, it is necessary to reduce the influence of this harmful factor.

Useful for normal mental activity of a person is a change of scenery and impressions. Therefore, sometimes you should go out into nature and travel during your vacation.

Forecast

Very often, chronic fatigue syndrome gradually progresses over a period of one to several years, which significantly aggravates the psycho-emotional and physical condition of patients, especially in the case of inadequate treatment. Chronic fatigue syndrome can only conditionally be attributed to dangerous pathologies; with timely and comprehensive treatment, it is possible to quickly get rid of painful symptoms and manifestations of permanent overwork. However, for every patient who has encountered this problem at least once, it is extremely important to reconsider their lifestyle, sleep patterns, physical and emotional rest, diet, and pay attention to strengthening the immune and cardiovascular systems.

Even high-quality therapy and complete recovery does not guarantee that CFS cannot recur if a person does not draw the appropriate conclusions and does not change his life. In complex cases of the disease, in the absence of proper psychological and therapeutic assistance, CFS can significantly affect the human psyche. It is important to treat chronic fatigue syndrome without starting the process by itself. In some cases, people with severely advanced CFS have shown mild symptoms of schizophrenia.

Almost every inhabitant of modern megacities knows about chronic fatigue (CFS). Due to irrational nutrition, poor health, non-compliance with the regime of work and leisure, the disease is increasingly manifesting itself. Overwork can develop at any age, but according to statistics, women are more prone to this type of disorder than men.

The process is simple, but requires immediate action. At the first signals, it will be possible to overcome the disease with folk remedies. It is important to take the issue seriously.

What is CFS and what causes it

CFS is a feeling of constant overwork, a feeling of weakness, which is present even after a good rest, a long sleep.

Feelings are similar to the state at the beginning of the disease or after recovery, the immune system is lowered, the body is weakened, the forces are depleted. In this state, people can live for months, years.

The reasons:

Insufficient physical activity

A frequent source of malaise is the absence or insufficient amount of sports activity. Most urban residents choose intellectual work, they spend a lot of time sitting at computer monitors.

Minimal time for exercise. The autonomic nervous system suffers from such an imbalance. The result is exhaustion, depression, nervousness, insomnia, feelings of anger, fear.

Infections, diseases

A viral infection can be a factor in the disease. Evidence may include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and sore throat. Diseases weaken the immune system, deplete the body's strength, and lead to the depletion of the nervous system.

Unbalanced food

The abundance of fast food, the wrong food, constant snacking, overeating at night disrupt the immune system. Insufficient consumption of fruits, nuts, vegetables leads to a lack of vitamins, trace elements. With a weakened immune system, it is easier to catch various viruses.

Emotional disorders

Fatigue is a physical illness and a psychological one. Violation of sleep, wakefulness, lack of quality rest, constant lack of sleep, frequent stress lead to serious consequences. Depression, passivity appear, mood worsens.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: symptoms and treatment at home

Don't confuse CFS with normal fatigue. After a hard long day, it is enough to sleep for 9-10 hours, take a day off to feel cheerful again, a surge of strength. In such a case, this method will not work.

Signs:

The main indicator is weakness, fatigue. A person always feels weak, even after sleep, rest. It is difficult to get to work, it seems to be overwork due to weakness in the muscles.
Often there is insomnia. At night, regardless of exhaustion, restless sleep, and during the day it tends to sleep all the time.
For many, the disease is accompanied by a headache. Rarely, the temperature rises, the lymph nodes increase, there is a sore throat.
Often people experience feelings of fear, anxiety, anxiety. Bouts of anger are possible. All such feelings are unreasonable, appear during an exacerbation of the disease.
The disease is accompanied by emotional fatigue, which can easily turn into apathy, depression.

At the initial stages, it is enough to adjust the mode of work, rest, develop the right diet, and do exercises.

Fighting methods:

Adjust your diet

First of all, you need to pay attention to the products. It is recommended to exclude or reduce the use of strong tea, coffee, carbonated drinks. Eradicate completely bad habits: alcohol, smoking, snacking, fast food. It is required to drink mineral water, compotes, natural juices.

Increase your intake of high protein foods. Recommended fish, lean meat, vegetables. Also, the body needs iodine, which is contained in large quantities in caviar, seaweed. You can replace ordinary table salt with iodized salt, then the necessary daily dose of iodine for the body will be provided.

You need to eat a variety of fruits. Apple, grape, carrot juice helps to get rid of the disease. It is recommended to drink a vitamin complex.

Give up empty calories

Cross off the list of products:

semi-finished products, sausages, sausages;
fatty sauces, mayonnaise, butter;
sugar, sweets, chocolate, confectionery;
White bread;
packaged juices, carbonated drinks.

"Junk food" does not benefit the body, does not make up for the daily need for vitamins. Empty calories lead to weight gain, obesity, diabetes, clog the intestines.

Such products do not fill the body with vitamins, strength, energy, they only remove the feeling of hunger. If your diet consists entirely of these products, completely change the diet, otherwise fatigue will be permanent.

Keep a rest regimen

Chronic fatigue syndrome: symptoms and treatment at home begins with a good rest from external stimuli. Sleep 7-9 hours daily, go to sleep and wake up at the same time, the rule also applies to weekends. For insomnia, it is recommended to drink valerian tincture. Enough 10 drops a day at bedtime.

Eliminate emotional shocks

Avoid situations that provoke nervous irritation, fatigue, blues. Avoid conflicts, do not react to provocations.

go in for sports

You need to walk more in the fresh air, sunbathe in the sun. Start exercising. It can be swimming, aerobics, yoga, dancing, going to the gym. If there is no time, it is recommended to do 10 minutes of daily exercise.

Psychotherapy

A visit to a psychologist will help you understand the roots of overwork. Perhaps you need to change jobs, profession. The psychologist will teach you how to cope with emotional stress, find a way out of difficult situations. It will tell you how to cope with insomnia, restless sleep, how to find a way out of depression.

A psychologist can be replaced by keeping a diary, paper or electronic. Fill in daily, honestly revealing the emotions that took place during the day's events. Indicate what you ate, how much physical education you did.

After analyzing a week, a month, you can understand the reasons for poor health, lethargy. Knowledge will help to correctly determine the method of therapy. And in the future will help in prevention.

Prevention of CFS requires an integrated approach, the event is long and complex. It is required to take the problem more seriously, even if you have never encountered a similar problem. The disease is required not to be treated, but to be prevented with the help of prevention.