Has Progress Been Made on Understanding the Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
“The cause or causes of chronic fatigue syndrome remain unknown, despite a vigorous search,” writes the Centers for Disease Control. It’s still plausible that the symptoms result from a combination of factors, including genetic, environmental, stresses and toxins. Currently, it’s believed up to one million Americans suffer from CF symptoms. The only way they can be diagnosed is through a careful assessment of their symptoms and by ruling out other serious illnesses or diseases.
The CDC has several theories on the causes of CFS. One is that acute or persistent infections including herpes virus 6 or Epstein-Barr can leave lingering effects in the body, such as fatigue and aches. A four-city surveillance study could not trace CFS back to just one specific human pathogen, although it’s thought that infectious agents may have a role to play in causing persistent fatigue.
The latest research indicates that people contaminated with Epstein-Barr virus, Ross River virus and Coxiella burnetti will pick up a post-infective disorder that matches the chronic fatigue syndrome indicators in twelve percent of cases.
While it’s not one of the purported causes of chronic fatigue syndrome, a recent study showed that 96% of adults with a CFS diagnosis also tested positive for neurally mediated hypotension during tilt table testing (compared to 29% of healthy controls). Neurally mediated hypotension is induced when a patient gets up too fast, causing a sudden drop in blood pressure, lightheadedness, nausea and fainting. Some CFS patients were given medication normally administered to NMH patients and many saw dramatic improvement in their symptoms, but much more medical research is required before this one-size-fits-all approach is recommended.
Finding treatment is often as difficult as finding the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome. Some patients feel better with some lifestyle modifications. They try to eat better, start a regular exercise schedule, steer clear of known stressors and change their sleep habits. Counseling often helps patients find a more positive outlook and identify ways to change their situation. Others try medications for pain relief, depression, anxiety, blood pressure regulation or allergies. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, massage and movement therapy have been treatments recommended by CFS and fibromyalgia doctors as well.
If you have been recently diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome you are going to need to research the condition as much as you can. While you can treat the symptoms, the chronic fatigue syndrome causes are still largely unknown. Find out what you can do at Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Help.