Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is far from feeling tired after every day’s work or having the urge to relax after doing your early morning workout routine. Feeling tired after a busy day is normal; give the body a few hours of rest, and you are back to normal. What is not normal is having severe fatigue that may require bed rest for days or even months to get better.
Chronic Fatigue syndrome is sometimes referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). It is characterized by a feeling of acute tiredness, pains, and having abnormal sleep patterns. It has not yet been decided medically what the actual cause of chronic fatigue is.
Some researchers believe that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is hereditary and can be triggered by several factors. As of now, no laboratory test can show that a patient has chronic fatigue syndrome. Series of tests have to be conducted to eliminate other similar conditions before the doctor can say a patient is suffering from chronic fatigue.
Tiredness, pains, and abnormal sleep patterns are not the only way you know you have chronic fatigue syndrome. Other symptoms of chronic fatigue are discussed below.
Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue and Autoimmune Disorders
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) does not have defined symptoms. It might range from not focusing, feeling dizzy, and even low blood sugar, but the most common thing associated with it is severe tiredness.
Unfortunately, CFS symptoms are almost the exact symptoms of many other conditions, diseases, or infections (obesity, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and hypothyroidism). In addition, the side effects of certain drugs can make you get or feel the symptoms of CFS. Even allergies can contribute to it.
So in a situation where you have all the symptoms, it would still be reckless for you (or your doctor) to presume that you have CFS. However, many tests and other means of eliminating the different conditions from the pool of possibilities. From there, you can then go ahead to receive treatment for CFS.
But as a general rule, the symptoms of CFS are present below:
Fatigue: Of course, the number one symptom for CFS is fatigue and tiredness. Round the clock tiredness irrespective of whether you just woke up or you took a day off work, or you only did a hobby. There’s permanent tiredness in your muscles and your bones, and it almost feels like there’s a dark cloud hanging over your head.
Acute Insomnia and Irregular sleep patterns: This is where the affected person cannot sleep. Tossing and turning all night without sleeping or only being able to sleep in short bursts. Ten minutes here, fifteen minutes there, and maybe even only just five minutes of sleep is all they get, and it still doesn’t make a difference to them. They don’t wake up feeling refreshed or any better than when they slept. It just feels like they closed their eyes for a second, and the world moved past.
Memory Loss and low attention span: All that tiredness will most definitely lead to memory loss, even without CFS. The attention span of the affected person will reduce drastically. They zone out during conversations and are easily bored. The person will forget little things like chores or the positioning of essential household items. It can even graduate into total memory loss: places, events, names, and faces of other people and even of themselves.
Orthostatic Intolerance: Dizziness and fainting from simple actions or movements is another strong indicator. The way a person is dizzy from standing up too fast after deep sleep is how people with CFS feel after almost every slight movement.
Muscle and joint pain: Especially in parts of the body that such a person uses predominantly for work and other activities. Wrists, fingers, waist, shoulders, elbows, and knees. Usually, this pain does not come with swelling, but it has been known to happen.
Headaches and sore throats too can be present.
And like symptoms of every other disease, these symptoms can intensify or reduce from time to time as they are usually aggravated by stress levels and can reduce (or increase) based on a reduction in the workload of such a person.
Foods to Eat if you Have a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Your diet can significantly help you to manage or reduce the symptoms of CFS in your body.
The number one thing you can do to alleviate CFS without going to the hospital is to adjust your diet. Your intake influences many things on your body, and even a slight change can make a lot of difference.
Here are ten kinds of food you should include in your diet if you are suffering from CFS.
- Fruits: An increased intake of polyphenols helps a lot in the alleviation of CFS. Fruits like berries, apples, and cherries are very rich in polyphenols.
- Legumes: They are highly rich in Magnesium. They can also be substituted for protein as they contain a high level of protein.
- Vegetables: They are significantly enriched with antioxidants and fiber. Carrots, Tomatoes, Sweet Potatoes, etc., are some of the vegetables you should eat more of.
- Fish: Fish is generally a great source of Omega-3 fats, which helps reduce inflammation from CFS. They are also lean protein, which experts encourage to be included in a person’s daily diet suffering from CFS.
- Seafood(generally): Fish are also lean protein and should make up your diet if you are stressed frequently.
- Whole or cracked grains: Whole grains help regulate the digestive system, making everything work in good order.
- Fermented dairy: Fermented dairy, like Greek yogurt, is significantly enriched with probiotics, reducing symptoms. It also acts as great support for the gut.
- Nuts and seeds: Like fish, they are a great source of Omega-3 fats. However, they are plant-based omega-3, not protein-based, which is also beneficial to the body.
- Chocolate: You can include chocolate in your diet. Dark chocolate has been discovered to be a great source of polyphenols.
- Whole soy foods are a suitable replacement for dairy products. Instead of having dairy products, consider taking whole soy foods as they can help reduce CFS.
Boost Your Immune System for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Here are a few elements you must pay attention to as you seek to solve your autoimmune disease-related issues. These are rules that will help with autoimmune factors but will also help in other ways as well.
Increase vegetable intake. And make sure the vegetables are fresh and crunchy when you eat them. Fruits can be helpful too. Legumes, fruits, vegetables, and grains. They are important.
Reduce caffeine intake and do not compromise on this. Caffeine disables the receptors in your body that are supposed to notify your body when you’re tired. The more caffeine you take, the lesser these receptors can function, and after a long while, it becomes permanent.
Drink water and stay hydrated. Water doesn’t necessarily make the fatigue better; it just keeps it from getting worse. A hydrated body is in a much better position to fight CFS than a dehydrated one.
Reduced processed foods. Processed foods are associated with things like inflammation, high cholesterol levels, and high sugar. Reduce them and eat more vegetables. Prepare your food yourself as much as you can, burn some calories while cooking.
Work with Anti Inflammatory Experts in Winston Salem Today
Remember that there is no medical prescription to cure CFS. However, the symptoms of chronic fatigue on a patient can be managed or improved medically, and a proper meal plan can supplement the nutrient deficiencies in people who have chronic fatigue syndrome.
Whether you need medical advice diagnosis or treatment when it comes to autoimmune disease and autoimmune disorders in the Winston Salem area or seeks to find more information about types of autoimmune disease, cells, thyroid hormone, immune response, abdominal pain, infections, issues that run in families and health-related issues in general, reach out to the experts at Robinhood Integrative Health.
We take a more holistic approach to your health, diseases, and disorders. Whether we are dealing with grave illness, issues with the cells, or other aspects, we are sure to optimize your health and present the best ways to move forward with an integrative health approach.
From medication to different types of therapy or other forms of treatment to restore your health, we are here for you. We understand the necessity for chronic fatigue treatment and how mental health, lifestyle changes, medical history, and other aspects related to chronic syndrome fatigue.
Learn more about how we may focus on sleep problems, offer a treatment plan, and provide support and treatments that may help you manage this situation and obtain more energy. We are here to be helpful and ensure that you live more healthily.
