It’s official: Chronic fatigue is recognized as a disease

The chronic fatigue syndrome, often called the disease of modern age, could soon get a new name and criteria for diagnosis.

This means that all those who are diagnosed with chronic fatigue will get a chance to treat this disease with a specially designed therapy and that they will get a chance to get sick leave.

Experts working in an independent group created by the US government have agreed and have officially accepted the chronic fatigue syndrome as a legitimate disease that is characterized by five basic symptoms and in the future doctors will have to take this disease seriously. The Institute of Medicine, suggests that the chronic fatigue syndrome should be renamed to systematic exertion intolerance disease in order to explain and understand the consequences that this disease brings. The breakthrough regarding this syndrome, that wasn’t accepted by most doctors, could provide official confirmation of the complaints of those who have struggled with this condition for a long period of time. They have already proven that there is something wrong with their health. The first records of the appearance of chronic fatigue syndrome can be traced back about 50 years ago. It was not recognized as a separate disease.

Until now, doctors have used the definition of chronic fatigue syndrome from 1994, created to help researchers in examining the condition which was not proven to be disease back then. The new report coming from the Institute of Medicine in which the diagnostics criteria are concretized allows the medical profession to deal seriously with this disease. According to the new recommendations, individuals suffering from this syndrome must have three main symptoms:

• Difficulties in performing everyday activities that last for at least 6 months followed by chronic fatigue
• Good sleep habits that don’t affect the feeling of fatigue
• Worsening of symptoms after any kind of exercise, including mental and physical therapy or worsening after emotional stress.

In order to get a proper diagnosis, doctors will have to confirm two additional symptoms – memory and communication difficulties and reduced symptoms when the body position is changed.

According to some statistics, between 850.000 and 2.5 million Americans are suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and it is believed that about 90 percent of those who live with this condition are not diagnosed in the right way. This syndrome is most frequent in persons at the age between 40 and 50 years and about 75% of them are women.

How to treat chronic fatigue syndrome

It is good to point out that there is no specific therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome, but there are few ways in which you can relieve the pain and discomfort.

Medications

Painkillers, antidepressants, anxiolytics, sleeping pills

Alternative Medicine

Massage, acupuncture, meditation, yoga

Changing habits

Avoiding coffee, reducing stress, avoiding alcohol and tobacco

Related therapies

Exercise, visiting a psychologist, muscle relaxing techniques

 

Source: Medscape