Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs It CFS?SymptomsCausesDiagnosisComplicationsTreatmentSupport and ResourcesOutlookNext in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome GuideSymptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Is It CFS?
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Complications
Treatment
Support and Resources
Outlook
Next in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Guide
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)is a condition that involves profound, long-term fatigue, brain fog, and other symptoms. Diseases commonly associated with CFS include anxiety and depression,fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and allergies or drug sensitivities.
A syndrome is a group of recognizable signs and symptoms that appear to be related, but the direct cause is not clear.A disorder is a group of signs and symptoms involving disruption in how the body functions. With CFS, healthcare providers may use the terms “syndrome” and “disorder” interchangeably. CFS is also known asmyalgic encephalomyelitis(ME) or ME/CFS.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for chronic fatigue syndrome.
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How Do You Know If You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Everyone feels tired sometimes. And almost everyone experiences fatigue on occasion. But CFS is much more than that. It’s an unexplained and overwhelming physical and mental exhaustion that makes pushing through the most basic activities hard. Then you crash. You rest, and you try to sleep, but nothing helps.
Here are some examples ofwhat it’s like to have CFS:
There are many potential causes for fatigue, and symptoms of CFS can overlap with symptoms of other conditions. The only way to verify your diagnosis is to see a healthcare professional.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
Symptoms can develop slowly or start suddenly, ranging from mild to severe. They can come and go or last for weeks, months, or years.
Symptoms of CFSmay include:
CFS vs. FibromyalgiaCFS and fibromyalgiaare chronic, complex conditions of an unclear cause that can significantly impact quality of life. Both affect women more than men. Both involve a variety of symptoms, including fatigue and widespread pain.However, the predominant symptom of CFS is chronic fatigue, while fibromyalgia is pain. It’s possible to be diagnosed with both.
CFS vs. Fibromyalgia
CFS and fibromyalgiaare chronic, complex conditions of an unclear cause that can significantly impact quality of life. Both affect women more than men. Both involve a variety of symptoms, including fatigue and widespread pain.However, the predominant symptom of CFS is chronic fatigue, while fibromyalgia is pain. It’s possible to be diagnosed with both.
Possible Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The exactcause of CFSis not clear. It may be a combination of genetic and environmental factors that include:
CFS affects about 1 million people in the United States.Anyone can develop CFS, but risk factors include:
Why Am I Always Tired? 20 Reasons Females Are Fatigued
How Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosed?
Currently, blood tests can’t determine that you have CFS. But that could change. Researchers developed a blood test that could find biomarkers that accurately detect people with CFS.More research is needed, but this could improve the diagnostic process in the future.
Diagnosis requires having these three symptoms:
It also requires one of these symptoms:
Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Real?CFS is real, despite a controversial history. Lack of understanding has led some to theorize that the condition is psychological. Its name, definition, and diagnostic criteria have changed over the years.Many questions remain, but there is evidence that it’s a biological illness, not a psychological disorder.
Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Real?
CFS is real, despite a controversial history. Lack of understanding has led some to theorize that the condition is psychological. Its name, definition, and diagnostic criteria have changed over the years.Many questions remain, but there is evidence that it’s a biological illness, not a psychological disorder.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Complications
Living with CFS can affect your overall quality of life, including a substantial impairment of work or school activities, social isolation, reduced mobility, chronic pain, anxiety, and more. Living with a chronic illness can affect your mental health and increase the risk of depression.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment: Managing Symptoms
There’s no standard treatment for CFS. However, you can manage specific symptoms. A healthcare provider may refer you to otherproviders, such as a sleep specialist, who can provide additional help with symptom management.
Activity Management
Activity management (or pacing) involves identifying your limits for physical and mental activities. Writing in anactivity/symptom journalcan help uncover the activities that have the most significant impact. This way, you can make a plan to balance activities with ample time for rest.
Lifestyle Adjustments
While not directly treating CFS, certain lifestyle changes may help you feel better. For example:
Medications
If needed, a healthcare provider may recommendmedicationsfor certain symptoms, such as:
Some providers may prescribestimulants, which are usually used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), to target the fatigue of CFS. These drugs should be used cautiously, as they can lead to a “push-and-crash cycle” that can potentially make matters worse.
CAM Therapies to Supplement CFS Treatment
When it comes to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy for CFS, research is lacking. That doesn’t mean you won’t find some helpful.
Remember that evennaturalingredients can be harmful in excess and many can interact with other medications. Before adding extra vitamins or herbal supplements to your diet, speak with a provider.
Other therapies that may help manage symptoms and improve overall well-being include:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support and Resources
If you’re having trouble coping with CFS, you’re not alone. Living with chronic fatigue and pain takes a toll. Here are a few places to seek information and support:
Outlook for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
CFS is a long-term debilitating condition. Still, some people do return to their previous levels of functioning. Others make only a partial recovery.While many do not fully recover, they can continue finding ways to keep symptoms under control. Children and teenagers may have a better chance of full or partial recovery than adults, and there may be a benefit to early diagnosis and good management.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Calvo F, Karras BT, Phillips R, Kimball AM, Wolf F.Diagnoses, syndromes, and diseases: a knowledge representation problem.AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2003;2003:802.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Symptoms of ME/CFS.Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Chronic fatigue syndrome.National Health Service U.K.Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Symptoms.Natelson BH.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: definitions, similarities, and differences.Clinical Therapeutics. 2019;41(4):612-618. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.12.016Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome possible causes.Bateman L, Bested AC, Bonilla HF, et al.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: essentials of diagnosis and management.Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2021;96(11):2861-2878. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.07.004Esfandyarpour R, Kashi A, Nemat-Gorgani M, Wilhelmy J, Davis RW.A nanoelectronics-blood-based diagnostic biomarker for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Me/cfs).Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2019;116(21):10250-10257. doi:10.1073/pnas.190127411Lim EJ, Son CG.Review of case definitions for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Me/cfs).J Transl Med. 2020;18(1):289. doi:10.1186/s12967-020-02455-0Hornig M, Montoya JG, Klimas NG, et al.Distinct plasma immune signatures in ME/CFS are present early in the course of illness.Sci Adv. 2015;1(1):e1400121. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1400121National Institute of Mental Health.Chronic illness and mental health: Recognizing and treating depression.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Treatment of ME/CFS.Ghali A, Lacout C, Fortrat JO, Depres K, Ghali M, Lavigne C.Factors influencing the prognosis of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.Diagnostics.2022;12(10):2540. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12102540Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Prognosis.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Diagnosis of ME/CFS.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Calvo F, Karras BT, Phillips R, Kimball AM, Wolf F.Diagnoses, syndromes, and diseases: a knowledge representation problem.AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2003;2003:802.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Symptoms of ME/CFS.Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Chronic fatigue syndrome.National Health Service U.K.Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Symptoms.Natelson BH.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: definitions, similarities, and differences.Clinical Therapeutics. 2019;41(4):612-618. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.12.016Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome possible causes.Bateman L, Bested AC, Bonilla HF, et al.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: essentials of diagnosis and management.Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2021;96(11):2861-2878. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.07.004Esfandyarpour R, Kashi A, Nemat-Gorgani M, Wilhelmy J, Davis RW.A nanoelectronics-blood-based diagnostic biomarker for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Me/cfs).Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2019;116(21):10250-10257. doi:10.1073/pnas.190127411Lim EJ, Son CG.Review of case definitions for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Me/cfs).J Transl Med. 2020;18(1):289. doi:10.1186/s12967-020-02455-0Hornig M, Montoya JG, Klimas NG, et al.Distinct plasma immune signatures in ME/CFS are present early in the course of illness.Sci Adv. 2015;1(1):e1400121. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1400121National Institute of Mental Health.Chronic illness and mental health: Recognizing and treating depression.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Treatment of ME/CFS.Ghali A, Lacout C, Fortrat JO, Depres K, Ghali M, Lavigne C.Factors influencing the prognosis of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.Diagnostics.2022;12(10):2540. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12102540Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Prognosis.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Diagnosis of ME/CFS.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Calvo F, Karras BT, Phillips R, Kimball AM, Wolf F.Diagnoses, syndromes, and diseases: a knowledge representation problem.AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2003;2003:802.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Symptoms of ME/CFS.Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Chronic fatigue syndrome.National Health Service U.K.Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Symptoms.Natelson BH.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: definitions, similarities, and differences.Clinical Therapeutics. 2019;41(4):612-618. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.12.016Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome possible causes.Bateman L, Bested AC, Bonilla HF, et al.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: essentials of diagnosis and management.Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2021;96(11):2861-2878. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.07.004Esfandyarpour R, Kashi A, Nemat-Gorgani M, Wilhelmy J, Davis RW.A nanoelectronics-blood-based diagnostic biomarker for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Me/cfs).Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2019;116(21):10250-10257. doi:10.1073/pnas.190127411Lim EJ, Son CG.Review of case definitions for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Me/cfs).J Transl Med. 2020;18(1):289. doi:10.1186/s12967-020-02455-0Hornig M, Montoya JG, Klimas NG, et al.Distinct plasma immune signatures in ME/CFS are present early in the course of illness.Sci Adv. 2015;1(1):e1400121. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1400121National Institute of Mental Health.Chronic illness and mental health: Recognizing and treating depression.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Treatment of ME/CFS.Ghali A, Lacout C, Fortrat JO, Depres K, Ghali M, Lavigne C.Factors influencing the prognosis of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.Diagnostics.2022;12(10):2540. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12102540Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Prognosis.
Calvo F, Karras BT, Phillips R, Kimball AM, Wolf F.Diagnoses, syndromes, and diseases: a knowledge representation problem.AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2003;2003:802.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Symptoms of ME/CFS.
Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Chronic fatigue syndrome.
National Health Service U.K.Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Symptoms.
Natelson BH.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: definitions, similarities, and differences.Clinical Therapeutics. 2019;41(4):612-618. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.12.016
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome possible causes.
Bateman L, Bested AC, Bonilla HF, et al.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: essentials of diagnosis and management.Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2021;96(11):2861-2878. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.07.004
Esfandyarpour R, Kashi A, Nemat-Gorgani M, Wilhelmy J, Davis RW.A nanoelectronics-blood-based diagnostic biomarker for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Me/cfs).Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2019;116(21):10250-10257. doi:10.1073/pnas.190127411
Lim EJ, Son CG.Review of case definitions for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Me/cfs).J Transl Med. 2020;18(1):289. doi:10.1186/s12967-020-02455-0
Hornig M, Montoya JG, Klimas NG, et al.Distinct plasma immune signatures in ME/CFS are present early in the course of illness.Sci Adv. 2015;1(1):e1400121. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1400121
National Institute of Mental Health.Chronic illness and mental health: Recognizing and treating depression.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Treatment of ME/CFS.
Ghali A, Lacout C, Fortrat JO, Depres K, Ghali M, Lavigne C.Factors influencing the prognosis of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.Diagnostics.2022;12(10):2540. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12102540
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Prognosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Diagnosis of ME/CFS.
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