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Rachel Baudistel

Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - What to Know


Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as CFS, is a complex chronic illness that affects millions of people around the world. It is a condition that presents itself as deep fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, and exhaustion after seemingly not-too-strenuous activities. This condition can have a huge impact on your daily life and limit the type of activities that you can enjoy. Unlike normal fatigue, those with CFS cannot experience relief by resting for a day or two. The exact cause of this condition is yet to be identified, but many people believe it to be a combination of genetic predisposition factors. As of now, the diagnosis is based on the symptoms and exclusion of other causes. Treatment is focused on changing your lifestyle and easing the symptoms with the help of medications and therapies.


If you have been experiencing a minimum of these four symptoms for at least six months, you have reason to be concerned about CFS:

  • Unrefreshing or non-restorative sleep

  • Minor fevers with an oral temperature that is above 37 but lower than 38 degree Celsius for at least 24 hours

  • Scratchiness, pain, or irritation of your throat

  • Cognitive difficulties with concentration and sleep

  • Post-exertional malaise that lasts more than one day

  • Muscle and abdominal pain

  • Multi-joint pain without swelling

  • Painful cervical or axillary lymph nodes

  • Persistent head pain that differs in type of severity


Living With CFS

 

Stress can be threatening to anybody’s physical and mental health. However, it is even more so for those who suffer from CFS. Therefore, learn ways to manage and reduce stress in your everyday life. You can begin by accepting that there are things you cannot control, being positive instead of aggressive, and practising techniques to relax like yoga for stress management. Other than that, try to improve your nutritional status and make sure that you keep an eye out for any issues with your kidneys, liver, and adrenal glands.


Lifestyle Changes for CFS

 
  • A healthy diet plays a significant part in coping with chronic fatigue syndrome. That being said, it is not a cure. There is no specific diet that suits everyone, but eating right can give you more energy and make you feel better.


  • Eat fewer foods that contain a lot of acids and promote inflammation. These are things such as coffee, tea, alcohol, dairy, wheat, sugar, and processed foods. Instead of starting your day off with a hit to your immune system, begin with a warm glass of water and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.


  • Make sure that you eat right by consuming more water, vegetable juices, fresh fruit, organic chicken, grains, meats and eggs, nuts and seeds, and fish. It’s also a good idea to eat more antioxidants which means consuming more berries, fruit and vegetables, almonds, and garlic. Most importantly, stay hydrated by drinking at least 2 litres of water per day because dehydration is often the cause of lethargy.


  • You can better your digestive and immune system by healing digestive weakness and reducing inflammation, immune sensitivity, and lymphatic congestion. To improve these systems, you should try some herbs, including Olive Leaf, Astragalus, Golden Seal, Chamomile, Licorice, Siberian Ginseng, Reishi mushrooms, Oats, Calendula, and Aloe Vera.


  • Probiotics are a good option as well. They help to secure your healthy intestinal flora. Probiotics are essential after antibiotic therapy, which is a medication that totally kills both good and bad bacteria in the intestine. To improve your nervous system, consume some herbs such as Passionflower, Sacred Basil, Cordyceps, Siberian Ginseng, Withania, Shizandra, Maca, Hops, and Kava.


  • Apart from that, Vitamin B and Alpha-lipoic acid are things that can keep you energized, release the tension from your mind, and help you live a happier and healthier life overall.




Transformation Health are experts in natural medicine and holistic therapy. If you're looking for a naturopath in Brisbane then why not contact us, we're here to help!

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