(Health Korea News / Hwang Doo-na) When you go about your busy daily life, there are days when you feel particularly tired, with your shoulders drooping from lethargy. I try going to bed earlier than usual, but my fatigue doesn’t go away easily. As many modern people experience fatigue, many people do not consider it a big deal. However, even if you do not have an illness, you need to be careful because prolonged fatigue can affect your daily life.
According to the standards of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic fatigue syndrome occurs when ▲unexplained new fatigue appears continuously or repeatedly for more than 6 months, ▲fatigue is not caused by current difficult work, ▲symptoms do not improve with rest, and ▲chronic fatigue occurs. It can be defined as fatigue that substantially reduces occupational, educational, social, or personal activities compared to before symptoms appeared (revised in 1994).
People who complain of chronic fatigue are very common, but patients who actually meet the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome are rare. However, recently, as interest in chronic fatigue syndrome has increased and the number of diagnoses has increased, the prevalence rate is increasing.
The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not yet clearly known. However, presumed causes include infection, immune abnormalities, endocrine and metabolic abnormalities, brain organic changes, and intestinal microbial imbalance, but it is currently believed to be a common result caused by various triggers rather than a single cause.
As the causes are diverse and ambiguous, chronic fatigue syndrome cannot be identified based on symptoms alone. The most common symptoms are severe fatigue, mental problems such as difficulty concentrating, cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. It may also manifest as physical symptoms such as headache, sore throat, cervical and axillary lymphatic tenderness, muscle pain, joint pain, fever, and muscle weakness. Other symptoms may include difficulty breathing, irregular pulse, and a feeling of fainting.
As the cause and symptoms are unclear, there is still no test that can accurately diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome. After first ruling out other suspected diseases through general diagnostic tests, a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome can be considered. In order to identify the specific characteristics of the fatigue symptoms complained of by the patient, a structured evaluation questionnaire such as the ‘Chalder Fatigue Scale’ is used to evaluate the extent to which it interferes with daily life and the severity of the symptoms, and the results are taken into consideration in the diagnosis. You can do it.
As a result, because the definition, cause, and diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome are not yet clearly established, there is no standard treatment method for it. Most treatments currently in use are approached by treating based on the causal hypothesis, alleviating specific symptoms, coping, and treating functional disorders. Therefore, when treating patients suspected of having chronic fatigue syndrome, the goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms, and the principle is to select the most effective treatment for each patient by combining various methods based on existing treatment methods.
First of all, non-pharmacological treatments include sleep, diet and nutrition, and moderate exercise and activity. Make sure to eat balanced and regular meals while maintaining a routine and regular sleep pattern. If the diet is unbalanced, it is recommended to take vitamins and nutritional supplements, and in case of digestive problems, eat small, frequent meals centered on carbohydrates. Too little activity or prolonged rest or rest can worsen depressive symptoms, so it is recommended to gradually increase activity and exercise. However, it is recommended to avoid uncontrolled strenuous exercise as it can worsen fatigue symptoms. Additionally, cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation therapy, stretching, and concentration training may be helpful.
Pharmacological treatment is the use of medications prescribed by a specialist to relieve the symptoms complained of by the patient. If you experience discomfort such as pain or muscle pain, you can take medications such as acetamin acid, aspirin, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Because most patients with chronic fatigue syndrome are accompanied by depression, the use of antidepressants can improve overall symptoms. If you have insomnia, you can take sleeping pills when necessary, but it is best to avoid routine use.
Fatigue is a symptom we often experience in daily life, so we don’t ignore it. Please take care of your body and mind with lifestyle habits that can reduce tension and stress. (Written by Hwang Doo-na, Chief of Family Medicine, Seonam Hospital, Seoul)
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