There was a time when people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome were diagnoses as depressed or just lazy and lacking in energy. They were told to get a hobby or a new hairdo. The disease couldn’t be seen under a microscope, so it didn’t exist. Today…we know better. If you’re suffering from CFS or suspect that you are, this article will alert you to the common symptoms and some treatments that you have available to you.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, clinically, is a prolonged length of time suffering from extreme tiredness or weariness and a lack of energy. According to doctors, to “qualify” for having this disease, you have to be unable to participate in at least 50% of your normal activities.

The main symptoms are fatigue or tiredness that have lasted for at least six months. It’s normal to become tired from time to time. But symptoms lasting for this period of time are normally considered to be those associated with CFS. As far as exertion, if more than 50% of your activities cannot be carried out by 50% of the normal effort to do so, this is also considered to be, clinically speaking, chronic fatigue syndrome.

However, these symptoms alone don’t tell the whole story. Other symptoms include headaches, forgetfulness, joint pain, lymph node tenderness, muscle aches, muscle weakness and sore throat. All these symptoms combined usually make up a profile of chronic fatigue syndrome. As I said, years ago we didn’t understand this disease. Now we do.

But what about treatment? For now, there is no cure. The only treatment is common sense medicine and care. Rest when you’re tired. There are some drugs that you can take for depression, commonly part of chronic fatigue syndrome, but these drugs can have very unpleasant side effects. An active social life and exercise greatly help people who suffer from this disease.

In my signature, you’ll find some more information that will help you in battling chronic fatigue syndrome.