by Adrienne Shelar

Created on: June 07, 2008   Last Updated: June 09, 2008

Do you ever feel like you can't get out of bed in the morning because you're too tired? Imagine having this feeling amplified and on a daily basis. This is how the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patient feels.

Chronic fatigue syndrome doesn't just refer to normal tiredness. It is a condition in which the person feels exhausted every day, all day, regardless of how much sleep they get. It affects their daily life, causing them not to be able to do daily activities, and lasts for more than six months. Feelings of being unable to concentrate are common, and some sufferers also have headaches, muscle and joint aches, sore throats and swollen glands.

Often dismissed by their doctors, some people with this condition suffer with it for years before they are diagnosed. There is no definitive test that can tell someone they have CFS. As of yet, there is also no known cure or treatment, although there are several things one could do to help. Making sure your sleep is as undisturbed as possible, napping when necessary and altering your daily activities so you don't overexert yourself are just a few ways. Having a good support system of friends and family is invaluable, and being willing to delegate tasks and arrange your schedule for naps is a good way to manage your syndrome. Especially if you have been very active before being struck with this peculiar condition, this can be hard to do. Learning to use breathing techniques or forms of relaxation, altering your diet and engaging in mild exercise are also helpful ways to cope.

Depression is also a very common side-effect to this syndrome. Feeling like your entire world now revolves around your bed can make you feel very sad. Loss of normal daily activities, feelings of isolation, and frustrations at being unable to make others understand can lead to depression, or make it worse.

There are no medications specific to chronic fatigue syndrome available on the market today, although often sleep aids or antidepressants are prescribed by physicians to ease the symptoms of this illness. There are a multitude of herbal supplements sold in health food stores that are claiming to help the symptoms of this condition, such as zinc, vitamin d, and folic acid.

No one knows what causes chronic fatigue syndrome. It can affect men or women of any age, although it normally affects women between the ages of 40 years and 60 years old. According to the CDC, there are an estimated 1 to 4 million people in the USA with CFS, but only 20% of them have been diagnosed. If you're one of the sufferers of this life-altering condition, speak to your doctor about managing it. There are ways to make your disease more manageable and help you lead a fulfilling life.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/news/2008/04/cfs.html).

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