Sleep and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
by: Wendy Owen
Could improving your sleep lessen the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome (CFS)?
Our aim here is to understand the connection between the two as it may
be possible to confuse the symptoms of CFS and sleep deprivation.
There are however definite differences.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
The main symptom of CFS and probably the hardest to live with, is
constant and persistent fatigue lasting 6 months or more. Others include:
* Feeling feverish
* Sore throat
* Muscle aches and pains
* Tender or swollen lymph nodes
* Joint pain
* More headaches than usual
* Abnormal lethargy after exercise
* Poor concentration
* Depression
* Poor quality sleep
Although not everyone who suffers with CFS will display all of the above,
two or more of these symptoms would definitely bear further investigation.
By contrast, sleep deprived people would not usually experience swollen
lymph nodes, joint pain, feverishness or sore throat.
CFS often follows a bout of flu or other respiratory disease. It's onset can
be quite sudden following recovery of the initial disease. It occurs more
frequently in middle age and elderly people, and twice as often in women
as men. Sleep deprivation is not so choosey! It can affect male, female
and all ages alike.
CFS is a debilitating illness which is hard to diagnose due to the
symptoms being non specific. Also the symptoms described by the
sufferers often cannot be verified. For instance, patients often describe
feeling feverish although their temperature is normal.
Recent studies indicate CFS may in fact be an immune disorder due to
inflammation of the immune system, but there are medical practitioners
who still believe it to be a disease of "malingerers". In fact some of those
suffering with CFS often wonder sometimes if they are imagining their
symptoms. But CFS is very real and can lead to broken marriages and
wrecked careers.
It is very important for those who suspect they have CFS to seek medical
attention straight away. If you feel your doctor is not taking you seriously,
get a second and even a third opinion. It helps if you have been seeing
the same doctor for some time, as they know you and can recognize that
you are not a "hypochondriac" or a time waster looking for sympathy.
CFS is certainly not new, although the association of symptoms under the
name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome only took place in the 1990s. Previously
it was largely overlooked or thought to be something else, for example low
blood sugar, Lyme disease, allergies, fybromyalgia, yeast infections etc.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment
These vary from antidepressants, steroids, immune system medications
and anti-histamines to the more holistic treatments like evening primrose
oil, diet therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, removal of dental fillings
(mercury poisoning) and gentle exercise programs.
Although lack of a definite treatment for CFS leaves a lot to be desired,
the above treatments, whether all or a combination, can prove fairly
effective. The broad answer seems to be to treat the symptoms as they
occur and make the effort to improve quality of sleep.
The quality of sleep of patients must have a direct effect on the severity
of the disease. If depression is the main problem, treatment of that can
significantly improve the quality of sleep, thus relieving somewhat the
persistent fatigue.
In conclusion. a combination of better quality sleep with gentle exercise,
optimal diet and cognitive behavioural therapy would go a long way to
improving the lives of patients with CFS.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as
medical advice. Please see your health care provider.
Copyright 2005 Wendy Owen
About The Author
Want to know how to have better sleep? Find out how! Sign up for our
monthly ezine and score our free book “How to Cure Insomnia and
Achieve Healthy Sleep” at: http://www.insomnia-connection.com your
resource for detailed information on better sleep and curing stress. The
author, Wendy Owen, has had a lifetime interest in general and
alternative health as well as being an ex insomniac