|
|
|
A Turning Point
19 years ago, I was a young working mother at 28, independent and working for a prestigious company, until circumstances made me choose between family and career. After going through weighing my options, I chose to become a full-time Homemaker...
Aging and Physical Frailty-Can It Be Helped?
Aging and physical frailty in our society can be seen at every hand. Have you noticed a change in your aging parents or even a change in yourself? If not then possibly you are not looking. Maybe you are not as bouncy, not as strong, reflexes...
Carbohydrates: What You must know
This scares me to death, every day you walk down the street it is becoming more and more apparent that the average person is becoming larger and this trend has escalated over recent years. Why are they getting fatter? Here are some reasons...
·...
Health Care Costs Are Rising At Epidemic Proportions - Here's How To Protect Yourself
Health care costs are now approaching 15% of our national economy and the economic repercussions have been felt by most American families as employers are unwilling to absorb the bulk of the health care cost burden.
In 2004, employer...
Making that smile look new again with dental veneers.
Many people are plagued with unsightly stains, chips or
imperfections of their teeth. Nowadays, there is a way to take
care of this problem without extensive dental repair. Veneers
can be placed over these imperfections by your dentist...
Mineral Supplement: Minerals in Your Diet!
The food is the raw material for the body. Minerals are one of the important components of human nutrition. Minerals are grouped under two categories macro (the ones which we need in large amounts) and trace (the ones ne need in small amounts).
...
Prescription eyeglass specialty lenses
There are many different lenses that have been specially created for certain purposes and needs. An aspheric lens is one of the lightest weights of all lenses. They are available in bifocal or single vision prescription eyeglasses. The Allyl Resin...
Self-esteem: The Enamel of Success
We all experience pride in ourselves when we earn a good grade on an exam or reach a personal goal. In fact, the ability to take pleasure in our achievements is a big reason why we continue to pursue our dreams and take risks. This pride and...
Sex or Gender
Alan Pease, author of a book titled "Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps", believes that women are spatially-challenged compared to men. The British firm, Admiral Insurance, conducted a study of half a million claims. They found that...
Should You Consider Medical Tourism?
Medical tourism to Eastern Europe is very popular because of the
huge savings that people experience when they use the very
inexpensive but high quality medical procedures that are
available in Eastern Europe. If you would like, or need,...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chronic Fatigue System - How Does it Affect Sleep?
Chronic Fatigue System - How does it affect sleep?
Or to turn it around - How does improving your sleep lessen the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)?
Our aim here is to understand the connection between the two as it may be possible to confuse the symptoms of CFS and sleep deprivation. There are however definite differences.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
Constant and persistent fatigue lasting 6 months or more
Feeling feverish
Sore throat
Muscle aches and pains
Tender or swollen lymph nodes
Joint pain
More headaches than usual
Abnormal lethargy after exercise
Poor concentration
Depression
Poor quality sleep
Although not everyone who suffers with CFS will display all of the above, two or more of these symptoms would definitely bear further investigation.
CFS often follows a bout of flu or other respitory disease. It occurs more frequently in middle age and twice as often in women as men.
CFS is a debilitating illness which is hard to diagnose due to the symptoms being non specific. Also the symptoms described by the sufferers often cannot be verified. For instance, patients often describe feeling feverish although their temperature is normal. Recent studies indicate CFS may in fact be an immune disorder.
There are medical practitioners who still believe it to be a disease of "malingerers". In fact some of those suffering with CFS often wonder sometimes if they are imagining their symptoms. But CFS is very real and can lead to broken marriages and wrecked careers.
It is very important for those who suspect they have CFS to seek medical attention straight away. If you feel your doctor is not taking you seriously, get a second and
even a third opinion. It helps if you have been seeing the same doctor for some time, as they know you and can recognize that you are not a "hypochondriac" or a time waster looking for sympathy.
CFS is certainly not new, although the association of symptoms under the name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome only took place in the 1990s. Previously it was largely overlooked or thought to be something else, for example low blood sugar, Lyme disease, allergies, fybromyalgia, yeast infections etc.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment
These vary from antidepressants, steroids, immune system medications and anti-histamines to the more holistic treatments like evening primrose oil, diet therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, removal of dental fillings (mercury poisoning) and gentle exercise programs.
Although lack of a definite treatment for CFS leaves a lot to be desired, the above treatments, whether all or a combination, can prove fairly effective. The broad answer seems to be to treat the symptoms as they occur.
Therefore the quality of sleep of patients must have a direct effect on the severity of the disease. If depression is the main problem, treatment of that can significantly improve the quality of sleep, thus relieving somewhat the persistent fatigue.
A combination of better quality sleep with gentle exercise, optimal diet and cognitive behavioural therapy would go a long way to improving the lives of patients with CFS.
About the Author
Want to know how to have better sleep? Find out how. Check out http://www.insomnia-connection.com your resource for detailed information on better sleep and curing stress. The author, Wendy Owen, has had a lifetime interest in general and alternative health as well as being an ex insomniac!
|
|
|
|
|
|