Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition difficult to characterize. Typically patients have extreme fatigue, at least 6 months duration, not relieved by rest, and an additional set of symptoms that also maintain constant for at least six months. In many people with chronic fatigue syndrome complaints begin suddenly, often after a flu-like infection or an episode of physical or psychological trauma, such as surgery, an accident or death of a loved one. In other cases, chronic fatigue syndrome develops gradually. The disease persists for many months or years and only a small percentage of people can recover fully.
Many people may feel tired for much of the time and some seek help from their doctors for that reason. However, the majority of people who feel chronic fatigue (long-term) do not suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. Depression and overwork are the most common causes for this symptom.
The exact cause for chronic fatigue syndrome remains a mystery. This disease may follow several common infectious diseases such as Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) or infectious mononucleosis, but not all cases are associated with infections. Tests have shown that people with a chronic fatigue syndrome exhibit abnormalities in the brain, particularly in the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that regulates hormones and vital functions) and the pituitary. The tests also showed that patients have abnormalities of the nervous system in a zone termed the autonomic nervous system which controls blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and other vital functions. For example, many patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have a significantly high heart rate and low blood pressure when they have to stand for some time.
Some studies have revealed that the immune system remains active for long periods in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome. Recent studies indicate that patients with chronic fatigue syndrome have deficiencies in the ability of body cells to produce energy. Other studies show that, in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, certain genes have a different constitution and activity of genes in white blood cells is different.
Many of these anomalies appear to be transient and does not constitute a permanent disability. Moreover, not all anomalies affect all patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
No data Portugal, but the United States it is estimated that chronic fatigue syndrome affects between 1 and 8 per 1,000 Americans over the age of 18 years. Women are affected approximately two times more than men. Although the disease is most common in people aged between 25 and 45 years, chronic fatigue syndrome can affect people of all age groups, including children. The syndrome is also found in people of all ethnic and economic substrates seeming, however, to be more common in people from socio-economic groups lower. American studies have estimated that the economic losses associated with chronic fatigue syndrome are located between 9 and 25 billion dollars per year in lost productivity and medical expenses.
Although most cases of chronic fatigue syndrome not occur in the form of epidemic, these were at least 30 outbreaks of this syndrome, during which many people in the same area disease developed suddenly simultaneously. However, health experts were unable to identify a cause for the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. Both programs graded aerobic exercise such as cognitive behavioral therapy? counseling that aims to change the beliefs about the situation? improve the performance levels, but do not cure the disease. In patients with a similar problem, fibromyalgia, low doses of tricyclic antidepressant drugs have shown to improve symptoms probably due to improving the sleep disturbance that is part of the disease. There is a preferred approach for all persons with chronic fatigue syndrome, and the syndrome is rarely cured.
Generally speaking, physicians use a combination of the following measures:
• Changes in lifestyle - Patients are encouraged to slow down your pace and avoid physical and psychological stress, learning how to save energy for essential activities, both at home and at work, and reduce the less important activities.
• Start exercising gradually, but stable - With the help of a physical therapist, patients begin an exercise program in which aerobic physical activity starts very slowly, and gradually increased. Patients can expect to feel worse the next day occasionally to practice aerobic exercise. If this happens, many experts recommend avoiding exercise for several days and then resume their practice with a less intensive program, slowly increasing your pace.
• treatment of psychiatric problems exist - In approximately 50-60% of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who develop depression, antidepressant treatment sessions and psychotherapeutic can be valuable in the treatment of the latter, however, chronic fatigue seldom or never is cured by antidepressant therapy.
• Treatment of existing pain - Aspirin, paracetamol or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat headaches as well as muscle and joint pain. Antidepressant medications may also help reduce chronic pain.
• Treatment of the symptoms of allergy exist - antihistamines and decongestants are used to treat allergy symptoms.
• Experimental Therapeutics - Some studies indicate that it may be useful consumption of high doses of omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oil capsules). Are being tested several anti-viral therapies. Sometimes they are prescribed stimulants, but its value has not been carefully tested.

Prevention
Since the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome remains unknown, there is no way to prevent this disease.