Sindromul oboselii cronice
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page F REQUENTLY A SKED Q UESTIONS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health http://www.womenshealth.gov 1-800-994-9662 TDD: 1-888-220-5446 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Q: What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)? A: A person with CFS feels completely worn-out and overtired. This extreme tiredness makes it hard to do the daily tasks that most of us do without think- ing — like dressing, bathing, or eating. Sleep or rest does not make the tired- ness go away. It can be made worse by moving, exercising, or even thinking. CFS can happen over time or come on suddenly. People who get CFS over time get more and more tired over weeks or months. People who get CFS suddenly feel fine one day and then feel extremely tired the next. A per- son with CFS may have muscle pain, trouble focusing, or insomnia (not being able to sleep). The extreme tired- ness may come and go. In some cases the extreme tiredness never goes away. The extreme tiredness must go on for at least 6 months before a diagnosis of CFS can be made. CFS is sometimes called chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS). It is also sometimes called myalgic encephalomyelitis (mye-AL-jik en-SEFF-ah-loh-mye-LYE-tiss), or ME. Q: What causes CFS? A: No one knows for sure what causes CFS. Many people with CFS say it started after an infection, such as a cold or stomach bug. It also can fol- low infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. This is the same virus that causes infectious mononucleosis (sometimes called “mono”). Some people with CFS say it started after a time of great stress, such as the loss of a loved one or major surgery. It can be hard to figure out if a person has CFS because extreme tiredness is a common symptom of many illnesses. Also, some medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, can cause extreme tiredness. Q: What are the signs of CFS? A: The signs of CFS can come and go or they can stay with a person. At first, you may feel like you have the flu. As well as extreme tiredness and weakness, main CFS symptoms include: • Feeling very tired for more than a day (24 hours) after physical or men- tal exercise • Forgetting things or having a hard time focusing • Feeling tired even after sleeping • Muscle pain or aches • Pain or aches in joints without swelling or redness • Headaches of a new type, pattern, or strength • Tender lymph nodes in the neck or under the arm • Sore throat
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Transcript of Sindromul oboselii cronice
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F r e q u e n t l y A s k e d q u e s t i o n s
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
Chronic Fatigue SyndromeQ: What is Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome (CFS)?A: ApersonwithCFSfeelscompletely
worn-outandovertired.Thisextremetirednessmakesithardtodothedailytasksthatmostofusdowithoutthink-ing—likedressing,bathing,oreating.Sleeporrestdoesnotmakethetired-nessgoaway.Itcanbemadeworsebymoving,exercising,oreventhinking.
CFScanhappenovertimeorcomeonsuddenly.PeoplewhogetCFSovertimegetmoreandmoretiredoverweeksormonths.PeoplewhogetCFSsuddenlyfeelfineonedayandthenfeelextremelytiredthenext.Aper-sonwithCFSmayhavemusclepain,troublefocusing,orinsomnia(notbeingabletosleep).Theextremetired-nessmaycomeandgo.Insomecasestheextremetirednessnevergoesaway.Theextremetirednessmustgoonforatleast6monthsbeforeadiagnosisofCFScanbemade.
CFSissometimescalledchronicfatigueandimmunedysfunctionsyndrome(CFIDS).Itisalsosometimescalledmyalgicencephalomyelitis(mye-AL-jiken-SEFF-ah-loh-mye-LYE-tiss),orME.
Q: What causes CFS?A: Nooneknowsforsurewhatcauses
CFS.ManypeoplewithCFSsayitstartedafteraninfection,suchasacoldorstomachbug.Italsocanfol-lowinfectionwiththeEpstein-Barrvirus.Thisisthesamevirusthatcausesinfectiousmononucleosis(sometimescalled“mono”).SomepeoplewithCFSsayitstartedafteratimeofgreatstress,suchasthelossofalovedoneormajorsurgery.
ItcanbehardtofigureoutifapersonhasCFSbecauseextremetirednessisacommonsymptomofmanyillnesses.Also,somemedicaltreatments,suchaschemotherapy,cancauseextremetiredness.
Q: What are the signs of CFS?A: ThesignsofCFScancomeandgoor
theycanstaywithaperson.Atfirst,youmayfeellikeyouhavethef lu.Aswellasextremetirednessandweakness,mainCFSsymptomsinclude:
• Feelingverytiredformorethanaday(24hours)afterphysicalormen-talexercise
• Forgettingthingsorhavingahardtimefocusing
• Feelingtiredevenaftersleeping
• Musclepainoraches
• Painorachesinjointswithoutswellingorredness
• Headachesofanewtype,pattern,orstrength
• Tenderlymphnodesintheneckorunderthearm
• Sorethroat
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
ThesymptomsabovearethemainsignsofCFS.CFSsymptomsmayalsoinclude:
• Visualdisturbances(blurring,sensi-tivitytolight,eyepain)
• Psychologicalsymptoms(irritability,moodswings,panicattacks,anxiety)
• Chillsandnightsweats
• Lowgradefeverorlowbodytem-perature
• Irritablebowel
• Allergiesandsensitivitiestofoods,odors,chemicals,medications,andnoise/sound
• Numbness,tingling,orburningsen-sationsintheface,hands,orfeet
• Difficultysittingorstandingstraightup,dizziness,balanceproblems,andfainting
SymptomsofCFSvarywidelyfrompersontopersonandmaybeseriousormild.Mostsymptomscannotbeseenbyothers,whichmakesithardforfriends,familymembers,andthepublictounderstandthechallengesapersonwithCFSfaces.IfyouthinkyoumayhaveCFS,talktoyourdoctor.
Q: How common is CFS? Who gets it?
A: ExpertsthinkatleastonemillionAmericanshaveCFS.Fewerthan20percentofthesecaseshavebeendiag-nosed,however.
WomenarefourtimesaslikelyasmentodevelopCFS.Theillnessoccursmostofteninpeopleages40–59.Still,peopleofallagescangetCFS.CFSislesscommoninchildrenthaninadults.StudiessuggestthatCFSoccursmoreofteninadolescentsthaninchildrenundertheageof12.
CFSoccursinallethnicgroupsandraces,andincountriesaroundtheworld.PeopleofallincomelevelscandevelopCFS,althoughthereisevi-dencethatitismorecommoninlower-incomethaninhigher-incomepersons.CFSissometimesseeninmembersofthesamefamily,butthereisnoevi-dencethatitiscontagious.Instead,itmayruninfamiliesbecauseofageneticlink.Furtherresearchisneededtoexplorehowthishappens.
Q: How would my doctor know if I have CFS?
A: Itcanbehardforyourdoctortodiag-noseCFSbecausethereisnolabtestforit.Also,manysignsofCFSarealsosignsofotherillnessesorsideeffectsofmedicaltreatments.Allcasesarediag-nosedbythe1994CentersforDiseaseControl(CDC)definition,whichisalsosometimescalledthe“Fukudacriteria”afterthenameofaleadingresearcherinthefield.ChildrenwithCFScanbediagnosedbyanewpediat-riccasedefinition,whichdiffersfromtheadultdefinition.
IfyouthinkyoumayhaveCFS,seeyourdoctor.Yourdoctorwill:
• Askyouaboutyourphysicalandmentalhealth.
• Doaphysicalexam.
• Orderurineandbloodtests,whichwilltellyourdoctorifsomethingotherthanCFSmightbecausingyoursymptoms.
• Ordermoretests,ifyoururineandbloodtestsdonotshowacauseforyoursymptoms.
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
• ClassifyyouashavingCFSif:
1. Youhavebeenextremelytiredfor6monthsormoreandtestsdonotshowacauseforyoursymptoms
AND
2. Youhave4ormoreofthesymp-tomslistedinthesection“WhatarethesignsofCFS?”inthisFAQ.
Thisprocesscantakealongtime(evenyears),sotrytobepatientwithyourdoctor.Whilethesetestsarebeingdone,talktoyourdoctoraboutwaystohelpeaseyoursymptoms.AlthoughCFSisnotaformofdepression,manypatientsdevelopdepressionasaresultwithdealingwithalong-termillness.
Q: How is CFS treated?A: Rightnow,thereisnocureforCFS.
Buttherearethingsyoucandotofeelbetter.Talktoyourdoctoraboutwaystoeaseyoursymptomsanddealwithyourtiredness.Youmightalsotrythese:
Lifestyle changes:
• Trytostopordolessofthethingsthatseemtotriggeryourtiredness.Foraweekortwowritedownwhatyoudoeachday.Notewhenyoufeelreallytired.Then,lookoverthislisttofindoutwhichactivitiestendtotireyouout.Anoccupationaltherapistcanhelpyoubylookingatyourdailyhabitsandsuggestingchangestohelpyousaveenergy.Yourdoctorcanhelpyoufindanoccupationaltherapistnearwhereyoulive.
• Attheendoftheday,trythink-ingabouthowmuchenergyyou
thinkyouhadthatday,andhowmuchenergyyouactuallyusedthatday.Ifyoukeepthesetwoamountsofenergysimilarovertime,youmayslowlygainmorestrengthandenergy.Thinkaboutwhichactivi-tiesaremostimportanttoyou,andwhichactivitiesyoudonotneedtodoasoften.Makesuretotellotherpeopleinyourlifehowmuchenergyyoucanactuallyuseeachday.Theycanhelpmakesureyoudon’tdotoomuch.Itisimportanttorememberthatenergycanmeanmental,emo-tional,orphysicalenergy.
Medications:
• Over-the-counterpainrelieverssuchasAdvil,Motrin,orAlevecanhelpwithbodyaches,headaches,andmuscleandjointpain.
• Nondrowsyantihistamines(an-tee-HISS-tah-meens)canhelpwithallergysymptoms,suchasrunnynoseanditchyeyes.
• Prescriptionmedicationslikedox-epin(DOCKS-ih-pin)oramitripty-line(am-ih-TRIP-tah-leen)canhelpimprovesleep.
SomepeoplesaytheirCFSsymptomsgetbetterwithcomplementaryoralternativetreatments,suchasmassage,acupuncture,chiropracticcare,yoga,stretching,orself-hypnosis.Keepinmindthatmanyalternativetreatments,dietarysupplements,andherbalrem-ediesclaimtocureCFS,buttheymightdomoreharmthangood.Talktoyourdoctorbeforeseeingsomeoneelsefortreatmentorbeforetryingalternativetherapies.
Also,keepinmindthatyourdoctormayneedtolearnmoreaboutCFStobetterhelpyou.Ifyoufeelyourdoctor
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F r e q u e n t l y A s k e d q u e s t i o n s
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
doesn’tknowalotaboutCFSorhasdoubtsaboutitbeinga“real”illness,seeanotherdoctorforasecondopin-ion.Contactalocaluniversitymedicalschoolorresearchcenterforhelpfind-ingadoctorwhotreatspeoplewithCFS.
Q: What can I do to cope with CFS?
A: It’snormaltofeelcranky,sad,angry,orupsetwhenyouhaveanillnesslikeCFS.Somethingsthatmighthelpyoutofeelbetterinclude:
• Seethe"Formoreinformation"sec-tionattheendofthisFAQforalistoforganizationsthatcanhelpyoucopewithCFS.
• Considertalktherapytohelpyoulearnhowtodealwithyourfeelings.
• JoinaCFSsupportgroup.Sometimesithelpstotalkwithpeo-plewhoaregoingthroughthesamething.Seethe"Formoreinforma-tion"sectionattheendofthisFAQforalistoforganizationsthatcanhelpyoufindCFSsupportgroups.
Q: What if I can't work because of CFS?
A: Ifyoucan’tworkbecauseofCFS,getintouchwiththeSocialSecurityAdministrationforhelpwithdisabil-itybenefits.Itcanbehardtogetthesebenefitsonyourown.Workingwithalawyerwhospecializesindisabilityben-efitscouldmakethisprocesseasier.
Social Security Administration PhoneNumber:(800)772-1213(tollfree)InternetAddress:http://www.ssa.gov
Q: What is the latest research on CFS?
A: BoththeNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIH)andtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)fundCFSstudies.Today,wehaveamuchbetterunderstandingofCFS,butresearchersarestillsearchingforthecause(s).TheyalsoarelookingforwaystopreventCFSandforthebestwaystoeaseCFSsymptoms.Intime,researchfindingswillbeusedtodevelopacureforCFS.n
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For more informationFormoreinformationonchronicfatiguesyndrome,callwomenshealth.govat1-800-994-9662orcontactthefollowingorganizations:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 24-Hour Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Voice Information SystemInternetAddress:http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC)PhoneNumber:(202)690-7650InternetAddress:http://www.hhs.gov/adv-comcfs
Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association of AmericaPhoneNumber:(704)365-2343InternetAddress:http://www.cfids.org
National CFIDS FoundationPhoneNumber:(781)449-3535InternetAddress:http://www.ncf-net.org
The Trans-NIH Working Group on Chronic Fatigue SyndromePhoneNumber:(301)402-1770InternetAddress:http://orwh.od.nih.gov/cfs.html
International Association for CFS/MEPhoneNumber:(847)258-7248InternetAddress:http://www.iacfsme.org/
National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia AssociationPhoneNumber:(816)737-1343InternetAddress:http://www.ncfsfa.org/
AllmaterialcontainedinthisFAQisfreeofcopyrightrestrictions,andmaybecopied,reproduced,orduplicatedwithoutpermissionoftheOfficeonWomen'sHealthintheDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices.Citationofthesourceisappreciated.
ThisFAQwasreviewedby:LeonardA.Jason,Ph.D.
ContentlastupdatedSeptember22,2009.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov
1-800-994-9662
TDD: 1-888-220-5446
