If you are asking yourself, what is chronic fatigue, you are not alone. The syndrome is baffling doctors across North America, and causing drowsiness and an inability to focus in many patients around the globe. Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by an inability to stay alert and awake throughout a regular day, and is ongoing. Weakness in your muscles, slowness, muscle pain, memory loss or concentration problems are often associated with the disorder.
There is still much to be learned about chronic fatigue syndrome, and as of now there is no cure, although many patients have had success through customized eating and sleeping schedules with specialized diet and medications. If you are wondering, what is chronic fatigue, you can read more about the symptoms below.
Insomnia:
While chronic fatigue syndrome makes you feel sleepy and leaves you weak and unable to focus on daily life, it is tricky in that it can also lead to insomnia. For some, the inability to sleep is brought on by constant bed rest and napping during the day, while for others it is stress related. There are natural ways to treat insomnia which won't affect other treatments your doctor is using to ease your chronic fatigue. Chamomile tea, a hot bath before bed, and meditation or stretching before bed can all help ease tension and bring you into a more relaxed state for sleep.
Fatigue:
It should come as no surprise when asking, what is chronic fatigue, that fatigue is in the description of the syndrome. You will find that you want to sleep constantly, especially if you have been performing any kind of physical activity, or even a mental activity such as problem solving in the workplace. Men and women with chronic fatigue syndrome, often find it difficult to spend long hours on their feet, and usually can't work the same shift lengths as others because of the disorder.
While the disorder is recognized by doctors across the world as a real syndrome with real symptoms, it is important to seek the proper treatment and get a note from your physician if you feel like your job might be threatened by your illness. Unfortunately, to many people the disorder may appear as laziness, or friends could think that you are spending too many hours up at night watching television when you should be in bed asleep, but lethargy and insomnia are to blame for this.
Muscle Pain:
Chronic fatigue syndrome doesn't only make you tired, anxious and unable to perform regular activities, it also causes muscle pain in the form of spasms or persistent twinges of pain. It can also cause headaches and make your lymph nodes sore, which can lead to its misdiagnosis as mononucleosis or another illness which causes exhaustion, pain, and swollen nodes.
For the muscle pain, a doctor can prescribe medication, or you can use heat and cold alternately to find comfort. These sore muscles can be especially bothersome at night when you are trying to sleep, and can be a leading factor in the insomnia symptom listed above.