Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is more than just an extreme feeling of sleepiness. It’s an incapacitating exhaustion combined with concentration problems, short-term memory loss, and flu-like symptoms. The fatigue related to CFS usually lasts at least six months and is not cured by rest.
No one knows what causes the illness, and since symptoms and severity vary from person to person, there is no specific recommended treatment. Instead, doctors choose to treat each symptom separately in the hopes of alleviating some of the mental and physical strain.
If you have CFS, the National Institutes of Health suggests you:
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Exercise regularly but without causing more fatigue.
• Pace yourself physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Too much stress can aggravate your symptoms.
May 12 is International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day.