What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? (CFS)

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Main Category: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Article Date: 23 Apr 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disorder that causes long-term tiredness that affects everyday life. It is characterized by extreme fatigue that does not improve with sleep or rest. There are many theories about what causes this condition, ranging from viral infections to psychological stress, however, in most cases the cause is still unidentified.

Symptoms of CFS include widespread muscle and joint pain, cognitive difficulties, chronic mental and physical exhaustion and other characteristic symptoms in a previously healthy and active person. CFS patients may report additional symptoms including muscle weakness, hypersensitivity, orthostatic intolerance, digestive disturbances, depression, poor immune response, and cardiac and respiratory problems. It is unclear if these symptoms represent co-morbid conditions or are produced by CFS.

Because the symptoms are difficult to determine, CFS was not widely accepted as a real medical condition for several years. However, today doctors and researchers agree that this chronic condition should be taken seriously.

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