Have you been experiencing issues with sleeping or feeling fatigued even after a good 8-hour sleep? It is a symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Dr Manoj Khanal, Associate Director, Neurology, Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, said that it is more common among women, and can last for six months.
This health issue most often goes undetected, and people suffer from it without understanding what is happening to them. They cannot perform usual activities and experience issues with concentrating on work.
Why Are More Women Prone To CFS?
According to studies, women are more prone to CFS because of their hormones. It has been difficult for scientists to understand why women are prone to the disease compared to men, but it has been speculated that hormonal imbalance, viruses, and a weak immune system, and viruses contribute to the problem.
The good news is that scientists are developing a blood test that can help healthcare experts diagnose the condition. It has been found 91% accurate in detecting the problem. Therefore, healthcare professionals can help patients deal with the symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)?
Dr Khanal shared a list of symptoms that people suffering from the disorder experience,
- Fatigue
- Inability to exercise
- Myalgia
- Arthralgias
- Confusion
- Excessive sleepiness
- Anxiety
- Depression (How To Help Someone With Depression)
- Forgetfulness
- Lack of concentration
- Headaches
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other symptoms include pain in muscles and joints. Some people have also reported experiencing chills, night sweats, sore throat, muscle weakness, digestive issues, irregular heartbeat, allergies, swelling or redness, tender lymph nodes in the armpits or neck, and shortness of breath.
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Many people experience mild symptoms, but the added stress, lack of awareness, and nary intervention from the expert can worsen the situation and elevate the symptoms. If it goes unnoticed, the patient might be affected by severe mental health issues.
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When To Visit A Doctor For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)?
Dr Khanal said that a person experiencing symptoms must visit the doctor as soon as they witness difficulty carrying out everyday tasks. Feeling excessive sleepiness, fatigue, confusion, forgetfulness, etc. is not good for your health and can immensely affect your productivity.
The expert added that one must seek consultation from a rheumatologist or neurologist. You can also seek help from a sleep specialist who will help to identify the root cause and guide you in the right direction to get rid of it.
Since the blood test is in the testing phase, Dr Khanal said that healthcare experts conduct other tests to rule out various other health issues. For example, excessive fatigue is also a symptom of deficiency of iron, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, and autoimmune disease.
If you seek consultation from a doctor, they will conduct tests to rule out the above issues before concluding that you might have chronic fatigue syndrome.
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