Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Symptom List
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS, affects more than one million people in the United States. Adults between the ages of 40 and 50 are most prone to this debilitating disorder but it can hit anyone over the age of 11. While the primary symptom for CFS is extreme exhaustion, there is a whole list of symptoms that appear with chronic fatigue syndrome. Unless a certain number of these symptoms are present, doctors are unlikely to make a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. This symptom list for chronic fatigue syndrome includes severe fatigue, loss of memory and concentration, persistent muscle or joint pain and tender lymph nodes.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Severe Fatigue Not Improved By Rest
The first symptom on the list for chronic fatigue syndrome is, of course, fatigue. Fatigue is common for just about everybody at one time or another. CFS is different in that the fatigue felt is not improved, or at least not significantly improved, by sleep or rest. This extreme fatigue is often made worse by any small amount of physical or metal activity. Victims of CFS often find it difficult to even make it through the day since their ability to function is so low. Drug therapy may be prescribed to help patients but often treatment is of little help.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Loss of Short-Term Memory And Concentration
Next on the list of chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms is the loss of short-term memory and trouble maintaining concentration. People who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome often have problems with retaining short-term memories. This is due mostly as a cognitive response to fatigue. When the brain doesn’t feel it has been refreshed it simply refuses to function as well as it could. Doctors usually treat this symptom with change in diet and possibly nutritional supplements.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Persistent Muscle And Joint Pain
Persistent muscle pain and joint pain are often associated with CFS as well. In fact, patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome have reported that the symptoms are similar to those that you get with the flu. Doctors approach the joint and muscle pain in much the same way as they treat all the chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms on the list, with pain mediation and suggestion at lifestyle changes that may help.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Tender Lymph Nodes And Sore Throat
The final symptoms on our chronic fatigue list are tender lymph nodes and sore throat. It isn’t understood why CFS cause these issues but the presence of a sore throat and sensitive neck and armpit nodes are helpful to doctors trying to eliminate our causes for the patient’s symptoms. If all of these symptoms are present, doctors have a better idea that it is truly chronic fatigue affecting the patient and not another similar infection or disease.
By Health Editor
