Chronic fatigue syndrome
What is it?
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis are terms often used interchangeably though ME may be thought of as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome accompanied by chronic inflammation in the body.
There’s an estimated 20 million Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers worldwide, and 250,000 in the UK. It is most common in people between 40-60 years of age and it affects women more than men.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome happens when the body can no longer make enough energy to meet its demands. It is characterised mainly by long-term physical and mental exhaustion which is not alleviated by rest.
Symptoms
The onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be sudden or gradual, and can occur over months or years.
Fatigue after exertion.
Muscle and joint pain.
Unrefreshing sleep.
Flu-like symptoms with sore throat and tender lymph nodes.
Mood disturbances.
Brain fog.
Memory and concentration issues.
Pain.
Lightheadedness.
Nausea.
Loss of appetite.
Sensitivity to light, sound, smells, food, and/or medication.
Diagnosis can be difficult as each person experiences a different range of symptoms.
Causes
The full mechanisms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome aren’t yet fully understood but possible explanations include:
Infections; People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome often start with an illness similar to the flu triggered by a viral infection.
Poor immune system; there could be factors in your surrounding environment which cause an over-activation of the immune system. There is an association of people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to having allergies, food and medication reactions, frequent hives, and recurrent infections.
Adrenal fatigue; too much stress over time means our adrenal glands can no longer produce enough cortisol, which means our body starts to slows down.
Low antioxidant status;
Your body makes antioxidants, mainly in the liver. If your liver is overburdened, it can’t make enough.
Melatonin is also an antioxidant produced during sleep. So less sleep means less antioxidants.
Exposure to environmental toxins may use up your antioxidant reserves.
Genetics; There may be certain genes which make it more likely to get Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Low Serotonin; this is thought to be a result of an autoimmune trigger. This happens when the immune system mistakes its own cells for foreign invaders and begins to attack them
Poor digestive health; This leads to a breakdown in communication between the gut and the brain (the gut-brain axis), and this may affect brain function.
Mitochondrial dysfunction; think of a mitochondrium as the power plant within each of your cells - it’s where the energy gets made! When this is not working properly, your body can’t make as much energy.
How do GP’s diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
There's no specific test for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and it can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms are similar to many other illnesses.
A GP diagnoses Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by asking about your symptoms and medical history, performing a physical and mental exam and taking blood and urine samples to rule out other conditions.
A diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is considered if you don't get better as quickly as expected. It can take a significant time to receive a diagnosis.
What treatment is available?
There is currently no cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but various treatments are used to manage the day-to-day symptoms such as:
Managing your daily activities so you don’t over do it.
Having Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to become more comfortable with living with a long-term condition.
Being prescribed painkillers or anti-depressants to manage pain and/or sleep symptoms.
How can a nutritional therapist help?
Fortunately there are natural approaches for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that can be utilised to improve your symptoms.
My approach
Rebalance the immune system response.
Optimise liver function to improve antioxidant production.
Normalise neurotransmitter function in the brain (serotonin is one)
Improve stress resilience thereby improving adrenal function.
Investigate and address nutrient deficiencies.
Assess any ongoing environmental factors to reduce oxidative stress.
Support digestive health to improve gut-brain communication.
Assist the body’s energy production processes.
Functional testing
My recommended test is the FDX advanced blood analysis, which will provide a clear view of where you most need support. Depending on your symptoms, I may recommend a stool test to accompany this.
If you or someone you know is struggling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, get in touch. Help is available.