Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Chronic fatigue can be defined as a persistent or recurring fatigue or tiredness lasting for six or more months consecutively. A person suffering from CFS experiences lack of energy, frivolous boredom, and as time progresses it could lead to decrease in libido, depressive often suicidal thoughts and a general lack of enthusiasm toward life.
 
What causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Chronic fatigue could be caused either due to hormonal imbalances or psychological disturbances. Often times, these are correlated. If your mental energy is disturbed, for example either because of prolonged depression or a traumatic situation, it affects your body’s normal healthy pattern, which in turn could lead to disruptions in hormonal secretions. Hormones play a very pivotal role in the flow and balance of your body’s Energy system or ‘Prana’.
 
What are the Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndome?
Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by extreme fatigue and associated symptoms such as lack of concentration, poor short-term memory, sleep disorders, and generalized body ache. However, chronic fatigue syndrome can be diagnosed only after excluding any other medical or psychiatric cause.
 
How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosed?
There are no specific signs or symptoms, Nor are there any validated diagnostic tests for this condition. However, a clinical evaluation should be carried out to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms. That could include:
• Laboratory tests such as a complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver function tests, renal function tests, thyroid function tests, urinalysis, and stool examination. Serological tests to rule out viral or bacterial infections. CT, MRI, and PET scans may be required to eliminate the presence of other pathological conditions.
• A physician presented with a case that is likely to be suffering from Chronic fatigue, should also conduct a detailed physical examination comprising of general and systemic examinations
• Look into the patient’s history, covering physical, mental, and circumstantial variations that could have heralded the fatigue. Alcohol or substance abuse, and any use of health supplements, current or past.
• Psychological analysis and evaluation to look for mood abnormalities, personality disorders, behavioral disorders, and changes in the intellect. Anxiety, depression, homicidal or suicidal thoughts, and poor reactivity should also be noted.
How do I know if I am suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
• If you are feeling particularly lethargic, and unenergetic all of a sudden
• Inexplicable muscle soreness and body ache
• If your tiredness persists even when you are getting plenty of sleep
• Your mind is unfocused and you tend to bungle up things a little too often
• Your response “Naah..I don’t feel like it” has become way too frequent, when your friends/ family suggest going out or doing something
• You experience a fairly reduced sex drive
• Mundane depressive thoughts or suicidal tendencies
All of these could be indicative of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but could also be associated with another
condition. If you are experiencing any of these, please consult one of our physicians on
 
How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treated?
At present, there is no specific medication available to treat or cure chronic fatigue syndrome, but medication to subside symptoms are more common. Over the counter painkillers could help relieve some of the muscle soreness, or a stronger pain management medication, such as NSAIDs acetomorphine or Vikodin could be prescribed if necessary.
Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Amitriptyline are commonly prescribed medications for CFS patients that are experiencing depression, anxiety or related symptoms. They are both selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and are commonly prescribed antidepressants. They work by blocking the re uptake of serotonin back into the brain cells from which they were emitted. This creates a threshold of serotonin across the synapse.
Amitrptyline is prescribed if there is any sleep disorders associated with CFS. It is not suitable for patients with a history of heart or liver disease or coronary failure. Side effects such as nausea, palpatations, dry mouth, muscle stiffness, agitation, mood swings, etc are associated with both these medications.
Additionally, Vitamins, exercise and a healthy diet is recommended for a better recovery.
Treatment Programs
The National Institute of health care management (NICE) recommends a therapeutic treatment that
a. Helps regain and maintain physical abilities with appropriate exercise therapy
b. Works toward balancing and maintaining emotional aspects of your CFS symptoms
Two Therapies have been designed to help achieve these goals, these are:
Graded Exercise Therapy (GET)
GET is a structured exercise program, designed to gradually enhance your physical activity levels. The first stage of this program involves assessing your baseline, the maximal activity you are capable of.
Activities such as walking, swimming, etc. are good moderate activities to start with.
The second stage is to work with your trainer to establish gradient goals, and then work towards achieving these. As you do, you slowly increase your bodily strength, rebalance your hormonal cycles and regain fitness capabilities by:
• Increasing exercise intensity and
• Length of time that you exercise
• Number of repetitions in each exercise
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a therapeutic program, designed to manage and overcome CFS by altering your thought and behavior patterns. It works by :
1. Helping you accept your condition
2. Understanding the root cause of your difficulties
3. Breaking down the overwhelming problems into smaller parts
4. Challenging the thoughts that are preventing you from improving your condition
5. Breaking the negative cycle of thoughts that are causing your behavioral symptoms
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been fairly successful in overcoming CFS and has also been employed in other ailments such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.
 
Are there any natural medicines for my Chronic Fatigue?
The goal of Natural medicine in treating chronic fatigue syndrome, is to rebalance your hormones, calm and restrengthen your mind and rejuvenate your body’s energy producing mechanism. Our Doctors recommend the following herbal formulations, in conjunction with a healthy diet and recuperative exercise program:
1. Ashwagandha (Withainia Somnifera): Also known as Winter Cherry is an effective anti-depressant and energizing herb. It contains withanols and withanoids that work in conjunction to:
• Boost energy levels
• Enhance neurotransmittance
• Reducing fatigue
• Reducing stress and anxiety by calming the mind
• Protective effects on the human nervous system Ashwagandha has powerful anti-oxidant components, that seek and destroy free radicals and helps prevent aging and is considered to be a powerful rejuvenating herb.
2. Dashamoola Kashayam
3. Nutramore