Chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS is an illness which has caused a lot of confusion, as attempts at detecting its cause have all been unsuccessful. Due to this, many people are unable to realize that they are being affected by this condition, as no evident signs of a disease may be present. For this reason it is essential to have enough awareness about the condition, so that a person can recognize the symptoms.
This state involves the persistence of chronic fatigue for a time period that exceeds six months, along with no obvious explanations coming forward. Along with fatigue, difficulties in cognition such as inability to concentrate and weak short term memory may proceed.
An individual who is suffering from this condition may feel highly exhausted and tired at all times, being unable to go on with the tasks of daily routine. A number of other symptoms may start appearing, which include a sore throat and severe headaches. A fact about CFS is that it is most prevalent among women, while men have a lower tendency of acquiring it. Moreover, women belonging to the age group of twenties have a higher chance.
As nobody has been able to pinpoint a cause of CFS, it has been frequently linked with infections that may take place previously. Infections that usually affect the immune system are considered to be responsible. Others may believe that it takes place due to a number of other conditions such as kidney, thyroid or liver diseases, and AIDS. Other symptoms include:
The main symptom remains that of excessive fatigue and tiredness. If it just does not seem to subside, one should take notice of it and get medical help. At times, it may also reach up to three years, which is an extremely long time for any other infections to have its after effects.
As far as the cognitive difficulties are concerned, they do not seem to affect the long term memory. For example, a sufferer of CFS may experience a lot of difficulty in remembering words that are used in daily conversations. Due to this, he or she may go feel highly frustrated and helpless.
As the individual may experience problems related to daily functions and routine, it may become difficult for him or her to cope with the symptoms that may arise. For this reason, most people who have CFS also feel highly depressed.
