Chronic fatigue

What is chronic fatigue?

Chronic fatigue, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS, is a complex, long-term illness characterized by extreme and persistent fatigue that is not improved by rest. This debilitating fatigue significantly impacts a person's ability to carry out ordinary daily activities and often worsens with physical or mental activity.

Some key facts about chronic fatigue:

• The key symptom is severe, unexplained fatigue lasting 6 months or longer that is not relieved by rest


• The fatigue worsens with physical or mental exertion, what patients call "post-exertional malaise"


• Other common symptoms include muscle and joint pain, headaches, trouble thinking clearly ("brain fog"), and insomnia


• There is currently no FDA approved treatment, so symptom management is important

What causes chronic fatigue?

The exact causes of ME/CFS are still unknown, but some suspected factors include:

• Viral infections and immune system abnormalities


• Hormonal imbalances - many patients have low cortisol, testosterone or thyroid hormones


• Mitochondrial dysfunction reducing cellular energy production


• Problems with the autonomic nervous system which regulates unconscious body functions

Ongoing research is exploring these potential mechanisms and working to identify biological markers to improve diagnosis and treatment. If you're struggling with low energy and other unexplained symptoms, consider getting your hormone levels tested! The expert physicians at Hormone Health Clinic provide cutting-edge testing and hormone treatments to help restore energy, vitality and quality of life for those with chronic illnesses.

How is chronic fatigue diagnosed and treated?

There are currently no FDA approved treatments for ME/CFS itself. Instead, management focuses on symptom relief and lifestyle changes to cope with the limitations it causes. Key treatment approaches include:

• Pacing and activity management to avoid overexertion


• Sleep hygiene techniques


• Stress reduction methods like yoga and mindfulness


• Graded exercise therapy - gentle, slowly increasing exercise


• Medications for pain, sleep issues, brain fog, etc


• Dietary supplements like B12, Vitamin D, etc.


• Treating hormonal deficiencies and imbalances

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