Sometimes patients feel tired and fatigued, but upon check-up no abnormality is identified. This may be because the cause is the group of symptoms, collectively called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
What is it?
CFS s a group of symptoms causing fatigue that may prevent the patient from carrying out a normal lifestyle. These symptoms may suddenly appear all at once, or gradually accumulate and build up over time.
Causes
Current Research has not identified a clear definite cause of CFS. Possible factors that may contribute include previous viral or bacterial infections, immune system abnormalities, nervous system problems, endocrine systems, or genetic influence.
Symptoms
Characteristic symptoms that identify CSF include tiredness and fatigue not improved with rest and sleep over the duration of 6 months, plus at least 4 of the following conditions:
- Forgetful and poor memory. Attention deficit.
- Sore throat
- Cold, Fever
- Painful Lymphatic nodes in the neck and underarm (axilla) upon applying pressure.
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain, but no inflammation
- Headaches. This can be distinguished between normal headaches.
- Not feeling fresh and nourished even after a good’s night sleep. May be due to ineffective sleep.
- Fatigue or tiredness lasts longer following physical activity or exercise.
- Other symptoms that may be present include dizziness, lightheadedness, and depression.
Diagnosis
CFS can be diagnosed from symptoms alone, but doctors might order further lab investigations such as blood and urine samples or X-rays to find the underlying cause. In the case of Integrated Medicine, additional tests may be required to look for hidden food allergies, heavy metal content, and a functional test on the digestive system.
General Treatment
This mainly involves relieving symptoms to enable patients to continue living a normal lifestyle. Actions include pain prevention, improving quality of sleep and healthy diet, and increasing load of physical exercise by gradually increasing training duration or by combining Eastern exercise techniques like tai chi, chi gong and yoga to help with fatigue.
Treatment with Integrated Medicine
This method works on the belief that by re-establishing the body’s homeostatic balance, the body will gradually restore itself back to normal health. This type of therapy will vary according to each patient’s diagnosis and specific needs.
- Physiotherapy with electrical stimulation, and patient-specific exercise program
- Therapeutic massaging
- Acupuncture to relieve pain and restore homeostasis
- Vitamin therapy through IV/Chelation
- Hormone homeostasis
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Inner Balance Training to control stress
