What Can I Expect
Having chronic fatigue syndrome can be hard. But for most people, the symptoms are most severe in the beginning. Later, they may come and go. Teens with CFS generally get better faster and recover more completely than adults do. Most teens get partial or full recovery within 5 years after symptoms began.
Many new and experimental treatments for CFS are available. But don’t use any unproven treatments until checking with your doctor.
CFS is a misunderstood illness. But scientists continue to learn about it through research and clinical trials. They’re trying to better understand its symptoms and causes in kids and teens.
Good medical care and coping techniques are the keys to helping your child manage chronic fatigue syndrome. It can also help to find support sites and groups, such as:
How Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosed
CFS diagnosis depends on two criteria:
A specific treatment for CFS has yet to be proven effective. Vitamin supplements and medicines have some benefit. Many treatments just relieve the symptoms of CFS.
What Are The Treatments For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
There is no cure or approved treatment for CFS, but you may be able to treat or manage some of your symptoms. You, your family, and your health care provider should work together to decide on a plan. You should figure out which symptom causes the most problems and try to treat that first. For example, if sleep problems affect you the most, you might first try using good sleep habits. If those do not help, you may need to take medicines or see a sleep specialist.
Strategies such as learning new ways to manage activity can also be helpful. You need to make sure that you do not “push and crash.” This can happen when you feel better, do too much, and then get worse again.
Since the process of developing a treatment plan and attending to self-care can be hard if you have CFS, it is important to have support from family members and friends.
Don’t try any new treatments without talking to your health care provider. Some treatments that are promoted as cures for CFS are unproven, often costly, and could be dangerous.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Is It Sleepiness Or Fatigue
Sleepiness can occur when a person does not get enough good quality sleep, or when they have a lack of stimulation. It can also be a symptom of a health condition that interferes with sleep, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.
Sleepiness is more likely to be short-term than fatigue. It is usually treatable with regular and consistent sleep.
However, fatigue especially when it is chronic is often associated with a health condition or problem. It may also be its own chronic condition, called chronic fatigue syndrome, or myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Fatigue is associated with many health conditions and lifestyle factors. The sections below will outline these in more detail.
Your Body Is Listening To Every Thought You Think
It is important to understand that the pressure you feel from resisting only originates in your mind. When you think of something else, something that lifts you up and gives you joy, the internal pressure immediately lifts because your body listens to every thought that you think. Body and mind are not separated and are, in fact, one.
Since most of the time we are not aware of our thoughts, the tension can be there constantly because you simply dont notice how many times you internally are saying no to a situation, person, or even life. This saying no is equal to resistance and takes up tremendous amounts of energy. Say internally no to your life a lot and you will end up with fatigue.
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Why Am I So Tired What Am I Lacking
If your tiredness isnt caused by something obvious such as a lack of sleep and you dont suspect an underlying condition such as diabetes or an underactive thyroid, its sometimes worth looking at what youre eating and what nutrients you may be lacking.
There are a handful of vitamin deficiencies that might be the cause of your fatigue. If youre deficient in iron , vitamin B12 , or vitamin D , tiredness and consistent fatigue can occur.
Think this may be the case for you? You can check in on your vitamin levels from the comfort of home with LetsGetCheckeds range of at-home vitamin and mineral tests which test for some of the most common vitamin deficiencies.
Fatigue can be a result of a number of different health conditions or illnesses. If you feel as if youre always tired and its not a result of any lifestyle changes such as an increase in physical activity, its important to find out more. You can do this by visiting your doctor and keeping a close eye on your health and wellbeing with LetsGetCheckeds range of at-home health tests.
What Causes Excessive Sleepiness
There are many possible causes of excessive daytime sleepiness. One of the most common reasons is a chronic lack of sleep, whether due to long work hours, an irregular schedule, insomnia, or other reasons.
Excessive sleepiness can also be caused by getting fragmented or otherwise poor-quality sleep. Getting up multiple times a night to use the washroom, for example, disrupts the natural progression of the sleep stages and may reduce the proportion of restorative slow-wave sleep. Smoking, not exercising enough, and other lifestyle habits may also interfere with sleep quality and cause daytime sleepiness.
Many people who experience excessive daytime sleepiness dont appear to have any problems sleeping enough. In these cases, sleepiness may be a sign of an underlying health condition or sleep disorder.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Similar Disorders
Chronic fatigue syndrome encompasses a wide range of symptoms that affect most systems in the body, so doctors may easily confuse it for another disorder. Examples of the many conditions that may cause similar symptoms include anemia, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, cancer, celiac disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Chronic fatigue syndrome may look especially similar to hypersomnia, narcolepsy, fibromyalgia, depression, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Erratic Or Changing Sleep Patterns
Another common cause of fatigue is simply not getting enough sleep. Your teen may have lots of homework that keeps them up late during the week, and/or have to wake up early. On weekends they may go to bed even later and then not feel like getting up until noon on Saturday and Sunday.
These changes in sleep pattern, coupled with stress during the week, can lead to fatigue.
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What Can I Do To Cope With Me/cfs
Talking about your feelings with a friend or family member can help. Sometimes it also helps to talk with people who are going through the same thing. Consider joining an ME/CFS support group. See the “ME/CFS Organizations” section at the end of this fact sheet for a list of organizations that offer additional information on ME/CFS and can help you find ME/CFS support groups.
Sleep Disorders And Fatigue
Symptoms: Chronic fatigue, feeling exhausted upon awakening, snoring
Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that disrupt or prevent restful, restorative sleep. That can take a toll on your health and quality of life, so its important to look out for signs and symptoms.
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Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders. If you or your partner notices loud snoring and you wake up tired and stay that way, you could have sleep apnea. More than one-third of adults in the U.S. snore at least a few nights a week. But if the snoring stops your breathing for seconds at a time, it could be sleep apnea. Learn more about the best sleep positions and see if sleeping on your stomach is bad or not.
Obstructive sleep apnea causes low blood oxygen levels. That’s because blockages prevent air from getting to the lungs. The low oxygen levels also affect how well your heart and brain work. Sometimes, the only clue that you might have sleep apnea is chronic fatigue.
Your doctor may prescribe a medical device called CPAP that helps keep your airways open while you sleep. In severe cases of sleep apnea, surgery may help. The surgeon will remove tissues that are blocking the airways. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
But sleep apnea is just one of many sleep disorders that cause fatigue. Other common types include:
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Home Remedies For Fatigue
If youre having fatigue but arent sure if it warrants a trip to the doctor just yet, Dr. Waters recommends trying to make a few changes at home to see if they help. Those include:
- Take breaks during the day. This can help you refocus.
- Alternate boring tasks with more active ones. That can be as simple as getting up and walking to check your mail after paying your bills online.
- Try to be more physically active. Sometimes fatigue can be due to a lack of activity, Dr. Waters says. Making a point to get the recommended 150 minutes of physical exercise a week may help.
- Make sure you take time for things you enjoy. Stress and even boredom can lead to fatigue, Dr. Waters points out, so trying to get hobbies and other things you like into your day may help.
The Emotional And Mental Causes For Chronic Fatigue
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In my practice, I work a lot with people who suffer from low levels of energy. Some even experience chronic fatigue on a daily basis and are dealing with Fibromyalgia.
I too am no stranger to fatigue and have had my own share of it.
From doing thousands of medical intuitive readings and from my own experience, I have come to realize that the most common reasons for fatigue are not found in physical reasons only, but often stem from negative patterns of thinking and unresolved negative emotions.
Let me explain:
Usually, when it comes to fatigue we are trying to find the physical cause for it. Being trained as a medical doctor, I can totally relate and always suggest getting tested for undiagnosed thyroid issues, adrenal fatigue or chronic infections, like EBV or CMV .
However, the test results often come back normal and you are told everything is fine, even though you are still exhausted.
This is usually the point at which people find me and decide to have a medical intuitive session. In a session, I always look into the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual aspects of a person to find the root cause for the fatigue.
What I have found is that fatigue stems primarily from two things:
Unresolved trauma and mental resistance to a person, situation, or even to life itself.
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When To See A Doctor About Being Tired All The Time
While making certain lifestyle tweaks could help with your fatigue, its unlikely to do much if youre struggling with an underlying health condition. In those situations, youll need to seek help from a medical professional.
Of course, that can be tricky to detect on your own. So, when should you seek medical attention? If fatigue is persistent, and it is disrupting daily tasks, work productivity, or limiting your participation in enjoyable activities, it may be time to speak to your doctor, Dr. Waters says.
Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The main feature of ME/CFS is a type of exhaustion known as post-exertional malaise, crash or payback. This means having flu-like symptoms after exercise and not having enough energy for daily activities.
Research shows that people with ME/CFS have a different physiological response to activity or exercise from other people. This includes abnormal exhaustion after any form of exertion, and a worsening of other symptoms. The response may be delayed, perhaps after 24 hours. Depending on the amount and type of exercise, it may result in post-exertional malaise for a few days, or serious relapses lasting weeks, months or even years.
- problems with thinking, concentrating, memory loss, vision, clumsiness, muscle twitching or tingling
- disrupted sleep
- sore throat, tender lymph nodes and a flu-like feeling
- inability to cope with temperature changes.
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How Do You Know Whether Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Has Taken Hold Of Your Body A Number Of Chronic Fatigue Symptoms Provide Important Clues
Chronic fatigue syndrome may leave you too exhausted toaccomplish job responsibilities.
Day after day, you find yourself struggling to overcome exhaustion, find energy, maintain a steady effort at work, maybe even to stay awake. If you can relate, then you may be battling whats known as chronic fatigue syndrome .
What exactly is CFS? Its debilitating disorder involving unyielding fatigue that doesnt improve even with bed rest, and that can be exacerbated by physical activity or mental tasks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that symptoms can affect several body systems and may include weakness, muscle pain, impaired memory and/or mental concentration, and insomnia.
When Should I See A Doctor For Fatigue
If youâve been tired for several weeks with no relief, it may be time to call your healthcare provider. He or she will ask questions about your sleep, daily activities, appetite, and exercise and will likely give you a physical exam and order lab tests.
Your treatment will be based on your history and the results of your exam and lab tests. Your doctor may prescribe medications to target underlying health problems, such as anemia or irregular thyroid activity. He or she may suggest that you eat a well-balanced diet and begin an exercise program.
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When Is Being Too Tired A Problem
Let’s face it: We aren’twhat we used to be as we get on up there. Aging has many wonderful aspects, butone of the many problems is that we do not have the stamina and energy we didwhen younger. That is a normal part of aging and just something that comes withthe territory. However, being excessively tired or listless can be termedfatigue.
Fatigue Caused By Underlying Medical Conditions
Fatigue may be caused by several underlying medical conditions. However, among patients with chronic fatigue, only a small proportion will have an underlying medical disorder as the primary cause of their symptoms.
Laboratory studies should include complete blood count, chemistry screen , thyroid stimulating hormone , and creatine kinase if muscle pain or weakness is present. Screening for occult hepatitis C viral infection may sometimes be appropriate as well as screening for HIV. These tests should reveal most common medical disorders potentially causing fatigue.
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Common Causes Of Chronic Fatigue
How does it feel to have limitations on your daily activities? It may imply a negative impact on how we perceive our lifestyle. Every day, there are habits that people often forget to recheck. Significantly, working day and night without having a good sleep can lead to one of the causes of chronic fatigue. Doctors often suggest that stretching, strength training, and anaerobic exercises can stop these causes. People that want to enhance their endurance and flexibility should go to this site . Improving your core and ensuring that your heart rate is stable defeats the chances of chronic fatigue. Yet, be careful with how you work out and read more information regarding the causes of chronic fatigue.
How Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treated
Treatment is determined by your healthcare provider and based on:
- Your overall health and medical history
- Extent of the condition
- Your tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, or therapies
- Expectations for the course of the condition
- Your opinion or preference
- Medicine, including corticosteroids, antidepressants, and others
- Light-intensity aerobic exercise
- Dietary supplements and herbal preparations
- Psychotherapy and supportive counseling
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease refers to a group of conditions that cause airflow blockage leading to shortness of breath, cough, mucus production and wheezing. It includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and in some cases asthma.
Tobacco smoke is the leading cause of the development and progression of COPD in the United States . Genetic factors, exposure to air pollutants, and respiratory infections also play a role.
COPD was the third leading cause of death in the United States in 2014 .
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions that contribute to COPD.
Although shortness of breath is the most common symptom of COPD, many patients complain of fatigue .
Reasons For Chronic Fatigue
If you are constantly tired, obviously for no reason, you should have your doctor examine you. It could be a sign of a disease, the one
Chronic fatigue can be triggered by a wide variety of factors. In many cases, stress and heavy stress in everyday life are responsible for this. But there are other causes as well.
Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, metabolic disorders, hormonal disorders or autoimmune diseases can also trigger chronic fatigue .
We then go into more detail on 6 possible causes of chronic fatigue.
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Who Gets Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome can affect people of all ethnicities and ages, but is most common in people in their forties or fifties. Itâs very rare in kids. A few teens do get CFS, and it affects more girls than guys.
Sometimes different people in the same family get CFS. This may be because the tendency to develop CFS is genetic.
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