Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can’t be explained by any known medical condition. The fatigue often worsens with physical or mental activity and doesn’t improve with rest. Many people with CFS have significantly reduced functional capacity and are unable to perform many daily tasks. It affects women more frequently than men. There are many similarities in symptoms shared between people with fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity and CFS.

The cause of CFS is unknown, although there are many theories of causative factors, including chronic viral infections, central nervous system (brain) abnormalities, immune system abnormalities, environmental toxic exposures and psychological stress. Some experts believe chronic fatigue syndrome might be triggered by a combination of factors in people who have a predisposition for the disorder.

CFS manifests in the following signs and symptoms which are used to diagnose this condition:

  • Fatigue
  • Loss of memory or concentration
  • Sore throat
  • Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
  • Unexplained muscle pain
  • Pain that moves from one joint to another without swelling or redness
  • Headache of a new type, pattern or severity
  • Unrefreshing sleep
  • Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise

Some of the potential causative factors that have been studied include:

  • Central nervous system problems.  Several symptoms reported by CFS patients—including fatigue; impaired concentration, attention, and memory; and headache—suggest that the central nervous system may be involved in the pathophysiology of the syndrome. Researchers have investigated a central nervous system (CNS) link to CFS but have been unable to identify a causal link.
  • Chronic pathogenic infections. Some people develop CFS after suffering from a viral, bacterial or other pathogenic infection. Therefore, some researchers believe that certain viruses or other pathogens might trigger the disorder. Suspicious viruses include Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) and other viruses. Some bacterial species that can become chronic and have been associated with fatigue and other symptoms are Borrelia, Bartonella and Babesia.
  • Toxicity and compromised hepatic detoxification. Some research suggests that toxic exposures to environmental chemicals and heavy metals may play a role in the development of CFS.  Studies suggest an association with increased levels of heavy metals and other toxins in patients with CFS and improvement in symptoms when the elimination of these toxins is supported via hepatic detoxification pathways.
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction.  The mitochondria are the “power-houses” of the cells which provide the energy needed to fuel cellular processes and efficient ATP production is required for tissue and organ health.  However, the mitochondria are very vulnerable to oxidative stress which can impair mitochondrial production of ATP.  Impaired ATP production by the mitochondria has been associated with CFS and is believed to be due to excessive oxidative stress and insufficient antioxidant enzyme activity.
  • Immune system dysfunction. The immune system of people with CFS appears to be dysfunctional.  There is often chronic inflammation as a result of other problems such as chronic infections, compromised hepatic detoxification, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.
  • Hormonal imbalances. Hormonal imbalances are common in people with CFS, particularly with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (H-P-A) axis.  The adrenal glands are responsible for producing corticosteroids, such as cortisol, which are important in regulating immune responses, glucose levels and the sleep-wake cycle, among other functions.

There is no single test to confirm a diagnosis of CFS. You may need a variety of medical tests to rule out other health problems that have similar symptoms.

Conventional Treatment of CFS

Conventional treatment for CFS focuses on symptom relief and may include the following medications:

  • Antidepressants. Since many people who have CFS are also depressed, antidepressants are commonly used in these patients. Low doses of some antidepressants can also help improve sleep and relieve pain.
  • Sleeping pills. Since many people with CFS have sleeping problems, various prescription sleep aids are often used.

Functional Medicine Management of CFS

A comprehensive approach to the management of complex conditions such as CFS must take into consideration many aspects of health, including gut barrier integrity and imbalances of gut flora, liver detoxification capacity and toxic burden, hormone imbalances, immune imbalances, nutrient status and most importantly, mitochondrial energy production capacity, which recent research indicates may be an important part of the development of CFS.  More specifically, Functional Medicine approaches CFS by supporting normal physiology of the organ systems which become imbalanced in this condition and may contribute to the development and progression of this condition.

There are several areas of management of CFS in the Functional Medicine approach:

  • Assessing for and eliminating pathogenic infection and supporting immune health
  • Restoring normal gut barrier integrity, digestion and gut microbial balance
  • Supporting liver detoxification processes and decreasing toxic load
  • Supporting restoration of hormone levels, including adrenal hormones involved in the sleep-wake cycle
  • Supporting restoration of brain neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter function responsible for mood, cognition and pain perception
  • Supporting energy production by the mitochondria, the “power-houses” of the body’s cells
  • Restoring healthy levels of nutrients in cases of nutritional deficiencies
Functional Medicine seeks to restore normal body Function

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