Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome
One of the most important aspects of dealing and
recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is your diet and nutrition.
Unfortunately, many people do not realize how important nutrition and
diet is to the process. Which nutritional supplements should you take?
How much should you take? Smith Chiropractic combines a chiropractic
and a nutritional approach to this disease and can help you answer these
tough questions!
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
 A
syndrome is defined as “A group of symptoms that collectively
indicate or characterize a disease, psychological disorder, or other
abnormal condition.”¹ In a recent study published in the
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, researchers compared
symptoms in over 37,000 patients whose presenting complaints also included
chronic unexplained fatigue.
The researchers were attempting to define the diagnostic criteria for
people suffering from CFS.² Across cultures and geographic areas,
they found five distinct categories of symptoms: at least six months
of unexplained fatigue; trouble concentrating and thinking straight;
joint pain with or without redness and swelling; sleeping problems;
disturbed mood.
You must remember that CFS can also mimic
other common health problems, including thyroid conditions, cancer,
viral infections, anemia and depression. So, if you suspect that you’re
suffering from CFS, be sure to check with your chiropractor, your medical
doctor, or other healthcare professional.
Have you been suffering from fatigue for several months without reason?
Have you endured continuing joint pain that seems unrelated to overuse,
injury
or illness? Maybe you’ve also had trouble sleeping and suffer
from moodiness. While these symptoms are linked to a number of different
health problems, you may be a candidate for chronic fatigue syndrome
(CFS).
It’s a health condition that’s attracting more and more
attention from the medical field and public alike. According to the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), somewhere between 1 and 4 million North Americans
currently suffer from the symptoms of chronic fatigue.¹ Although
CFS
seems to be on the rise, what classifies chronic fatigue as a syndrome
still remains a bit of a mystery.
How can you get CFS?
According to the CDC, there’s no single factor that explains why
you might develop CFS. However, there are several likely possibilities.
These include:
1. Infections - People
who are recovering from infections often show a ‘post-infective
fatigue syndrome’ that resembles CFS.³
2. Immune dysfunction
- When your immune system is manipulated by certain cancer treatments,
you may suffer from an illness similar to CFS.
3. Physical response to emotional stress
- Studies show a link between people that exhibit CFS symptoms and the
incidence of highly stressful periods
early in their lives, such as childhood abuse, neglect and loss. This
may hinder an individual’s ability to properly handle subsequent
stress throughout
life, making these individuals vulnerable to CFS.
4. Neurally mediated hypotension (NMH)
- This is an autonomic nervous system disorder. Some studies show a
strong link between people with CFS
and the incidence of NMH.
5. Allergies and nutrition
– there’s some evidence that people who have CFS are also
more likely to suffer from allergic reactions or food sensitivities.
Can Chiropractic Help with CFS?
Given the mysterious nature of CFS and its unknown cause, there is no
cure. But there are many documented treatments that can help minimize
or
eliminate some of the symptoms. And chiropractic is one of the recommended
options for fatigue related conditions. Adjustments restore proper alignment.
This conserves your energy and reduces the load on your joints. Chiropractic
adjustments can also increase immune system function, and this may help
normalize a compromised immune system associated with CFS. Ask your
chiropractor for advice if you suspect you suffer from chronic fatigue
syndrome
References and Sources:
1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/cfs
2. Are chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome valid clinical entities
across countries and healthcare settings? Hickie I, Davenport T, Vernon
SD, Nisenbaum R, Reeves WC, Hadzi-Pavlovic D, Lloyd A. (2009) Australian
and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry; 43:25-35.
3. Post-infective and chronic fatigue syndromes precipitated by viral
and non-viral pathogens: a prospective cohort study. (2006) British
Medical
Journal. Sep 16;333(7568):575. 2006
4. Neuroendocrine-immune mechanisms of behavioral comorbidities in patients
with cancer. (2008) Journal of Clinical Oncology; 26:971-982
5. Childhood trauma and risk for chronic fatigue syndrome: Association
with neuroendocrine dysfunction. (2009) Archives of General Psychiatry;
Vol. 66 (1): 72-80.
6. Neurally mediated hypotension and chronic fatigue syndrome. (1998)
The American Journal of Medicine; 105(3A):15S-21S.
7. CDC. www.cdc.gov/cfs/cfscauses.htm#nutritional
8. Why is Alignment Important? – Part II – Energy. (2009)
Guenette, C. Vista Magazine; 62: 20.
9. The Effects of Chiropractic on the Immune System: A Review of the
Literature. (1993) Chiropractic Journal of Australia 1993 (Dec); 23
(4):132–135.
10. Dictionary.co
written and designed by
Brican Systems Corporation exclusively for its chiropractic clients.
Writer/Editor: David Coyne
Writer: Christian Guenette, DC
Design: Elena Zhukova
Photos: Fred Goldstein
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