Health Issues Linked to Chronic Fatigue
Description:
Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome refers
to severe and disabling fatigue for at least six months without a
proven physical or psychological cause. Although the cause of chronic
fatigue is unknown, it has been postulated that psychological factors,
viruses or toxic chemical agents, or abnormalities of the immune system
may be significant contributors.
Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome usally sets in after a cold or other illness during which the lymph nodes are swollen. Patients experience extreme fatigue
that is not relieved by sleep or rest. Most have abdominal pain,
headaches, and pain in the muscles and joints. Over time, the symptoms
lessen and are less as debilitating.
The greatest frequency of the disease is experienced by people
between 20 and 50 years of age, and seems to correlate most with
psychological and/or immunological factors. Some believe that chronic
fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome is actually a psychological
disorder as depression often accompanies it, and the depressed immune
system is caused by the psychological stress. However, there have also
been sporadic outbreaks in various locations throughout the years,
which suggests that it is more than just a psychological disturbance.
Since the exact cause of chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome
is unknown, there are no tests or procedures that can be performed to
determine if a patient has chronic fatigue syndrome. Health
practitioners must rule out other diseases with similar symptoms before
they can diagnose their patient with chronic fatigue. In the past,
other diagnoses were used to describe what we now group together as
chronic fatigue, such as the vapors, neurasthenia, effort syndrome,
hyperventilation syndrome, chronic brucellosis, epidemic
neuromyasthenia, myalgic encephalomyelitis, hypoglycemia, multiple
chemical sensitivity syndrome, chronic candidiasis, chronic
mononucleosis, chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection, and post-viral
fatigue syndrome.
-- Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome --
There are no consistent initiators to this condition, but Chronic
Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome is most often preceded by
infections of viruses, bacteria, fungi, or yeast; allergies, flu-like
conditions, or stressful situations. Some researchers suspect mercury
poisoning from amalgam fillings or infection with the Candida albicans
fungi. This syndrome typically arises suddenly in normally active
individuals.
-- The Nutritional Approach --
Foods that have been proven to help with Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome:
Soluble fiber found in flax, psyllium, and okra. Garlic, Reishi
mushrooms, and shitake mushrooms. Raw foods and raw juices (preferably
vegetable juices), raw nuts, deep-water fish and acidophilus should be
added to the diet.
Avoid processed nutrient-poor foods,
simple/refined sugars, hard and altered fats, stimulants such as
coffee, tea, and sodas; fried foods, white flours, and heavy meals.
Nutrients that have been proven to help with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:
Magnesium, Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids, L-carnitine, Zinc,
Copper, Potassium, Phosphate, Calcium, Vitamins A, B, C, and D, Amino
Acids and Proteins.
Exercises that have been proven to help with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:
In studies on chronic fatigue therapies, both fatigue and quality of
life improved with three months of exercise therapy, writes researcher
M. Edmonds with the Cochrane Collaboration research group. Edmonds'
report provides a review of data from five studies (involving more than
300 chronic fatigue patients) comparing results of treatments including
exercise therapy.
Exercise therapy is typically defined as three to five exercise
sessions every week for 12 weeks, each session involving 30 minutes of
moderate to intense levels of aerobic exercise. |
