QUEZON City, Philippines (February 27) – You’re dragging yourself to your daily routine. You haven’t even started yet but it feels like you just did a whopping task that consumed the energy you need for the day. Do you ever wonder what might be the cause of your fatigue?
“Myalgic encephalomyelitis” also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an extreme exhaustion that cannot be renewed by rest or sleep. Myalgic encephalomyelitis means pain in the muscles, and inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Its causes were not yet known but experts believed that the factors that trigger this syndrome include viral infection, toxic exposure, gastroenteritis, trauma or psychological stress. Also combining these two factors may trigger the CFS.
In 4,000 research articles involving ME/CFS cases, it was discovered that genetics plays a great role in the probability of a person acquiring it. Factors in genetics that may cause the syndrome are the ability of the body to produce and transfer energy, immune, neurological and hormonal systems, blood pressure, digestive, circulatory and cardiac systems and lastly, biochemical abnormality.
The mayoclinic.org suggested the eight official signs and symptoms: Fatigue, poor memory and 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, not refreshed by sleep and extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise.
Fatigue may be caused by other health problems like acute liver failure, heart disease, anemia, obesity and stress. This is the reason why a patient has to undergo several tests to confirm CFS.
There are at least 1 million affected in United States and 150,000 in United Kingdom. Anyone can be a victim of chronic fatigue syndrome. Statistically, this syndrome is more common in women than in men because they tend to do more multi-tasking. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, under Senate Bill 3195, assigned the Department of Health and the Philippine Information Agency for a national campaign in public awareness and knowledge with CFS.
“One of the challenges faced by CFS-affected persons is the apparent lack of recognition regarding the seriousness of the disease. A CFS patient faces the social stigma that he or she is just malingering, wants attention, or is feigning CFS-like symptoms,” Senator Defensor said. In 2008, the senator was diagnosed to have CFS and has to take leave of absence in the Senate. Even the wife of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Cristina Ponce Enrile was diagnosed in acquiring this syndrome and has to resign as an ambassador in Vatican.
In mild cases, a person can do light domestic task with difficulty. In order to work, a person has to take more day offs and minimize social activities to cope. A moderate person suffering from ME/CFS may experience being restricted in normal daily routine. The severity may vary from time to time which requires the person to rest of a period of time or stop from working. Also, the sleeping pattern is disturbed. Lastly, in severe cases, only minimal task can be done. The person suffers difficulty in mental processing. The person may be wheelchair-dependent or often in bed and very sensitive in bright light. “Ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”. Experts haven’t found the right treatment for CFS. Knowing what may cause this syndrome, it’s better to prevent before it’s too late.
Is Juan Tamad really lazy or does he suffers chronic fatigue syndrome? It is just the mindset or is it a disease that we have to understand and support?
references: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20022009
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/Pages/causes.aspx
betterhealth.vic.gov.au
http://patient.info/health/chronic-fatigue-syndromeme
http://forums.phoenixrising.me/index.php?threads/cfs-doctors-in-the-philippines.20598/
(written by Karen P. Llacuna, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Vince Alvin Villarin)
