Whether it was because of a cold or flu, not sleeping enough the night before, a long plane ride or doing something physically exhausting, most people have felt fatigued now and then.
But there’s a whole other type of fatigue that about half a million people in the United States are dealing with—a fatigue that is constant, severe and affects their everyday functioning.
Otherwise known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Let's look at this mysterious debilitating condition, see what may be behind it and explore ways to help overcome it if you've got it.
Chronic fatigue--more than just yawning
Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by frequent bouts of incapacitating, flat-on-your-back fatigue and extreme exhaustion.
In addition to fatigue, other symptoms can include:
- Loss of memory or concentration
- Sore throat
- Muscle and joint pain
- Headaches
- Feeling exhausted even after a full night's sleep
- Depression
Note that CFS also has several aliases—including CFIDS (chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome); myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME); chronic Epstein-Barr virus (CEBV) and “yuppie flu.”
How will I know?
Diagnosing CFS can be tricky because there’s not a simple lab test that a doctor can do.
By definition, people with CFS have been extremely tired for at least six months with no obvious reason. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established the following criteria for diagnosing CFIDS:
1) Your fatigue is not eliminated by rest and it substantially reduces your ability to function normally.
2) You have suffered from at least four of the following symptoms for the last six months:
- Loss in ability to concentrate or short-term memory function
- Sore throat
- Swollen and tender lymph nodes
- Muscle pain
- Multiple-joint pain without swelling or redness
- Headaches of a new type, pattern or severity
- Sleep disturbances
- Exercise-related fatigue that lasts more than 24 hours
CFS is largely a mystery to the medical community because there's not one distinct cause that has been clearly pinpointed.
So that means treatment is aimed at symptomatic relief--typically antidepressants and sleeping pills.
But considering the potential dangers of these medications and their growing list of side effects, it's no wonder that many people may feel even WORSE under treatment--not better!
However, the ray of hope here is that there are certain factors which have been shown to go hand in hand with CFS that are unmistakable.
In addition, there are other conditions that can "masquerade" as or be mistakenly diagnosed as CFS.
And once you know about these other factors and conditions and do something about them, you can take giant steps toward prevention of this nasty condition or help feel better if you're battling it.
Here are seven things to consider--see how many may be affecting you:
(1) The health of your immune system
CFS is frequently seen along with or immediately following a viral infection. The Epstein-Barr virus and the human herpes virus 6 have been common suspects.
So it only follows that the stronger your immune system is overall, the better able it will be to fight infections and viruses of all kinds.
(2) Gluten intolerance
Gluten intolerance can wear many "hats" and one way it can manifest itself inside of you is to mimic chronic fatigue syndrome.
(3) Dysbiosis and/or Leaky gut
People with CFIDS almost always have dysbiosis (harmful bacterial overgrowth) and many have leaky gut.
In addition, candidiasis (Candida overgrowth) is another common visitor in people with chronic fatigue.
(4) Chronic stress
People who have chronic fatigue syndrome also sometimes experience abnormal blood levels of stress hormones produced in the adrenal glands.
(5) Hypothyroidism
One of the classic symptoms of hypothyroidism (low functioning thyroid) is extreme fatigue.
(6) Vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 is a necessary player in your body's ability to generate energy from the fats and carbohydrates that you ingest.
So when you are low in this nutrient, you can suffer serious fatigue as a result.
(7) Common medications
This one's a biggie.
Chronic fatigue can also be the result of these 9 commonly prescribed medications:
1- Blood pressure drugs like lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) and furosemide (Lasix)
Blood pressure drugs can depress the entire nervous system and deplete your body of the vitamins and nutrients it needs to produce energy--which can be a major trigger of chronic fatigue.
2- Statins
Statins can inhibit muscle growth and the production of energy in your cells, and over time this can manifest as chronic fatigue.
3- Benzodiazepines (anxiety medications)
These drugs work by sedating or hypnotizing patients in order to treat conditions like anxiety, depression, insomnia and severe muscle spasms.
What that means is people taking them may be walking around in a constant state of drowsiness which can worsen as their tolerance for the drugs increases and they have to take higher and higher doses.
4- Proton pump inhibitors like lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec)
PPIs can deplete magnesium stores from your body. And magnesium deficiency can lead to a whole slew of severe illnesses, including extreme weakness and fatigue.
5- Antihistamines like loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec)
These histamine blockers often induce tiredness and drowsiness in people taking them, which over time can worsen and develop into chronic fatigue.
6- Antipsychotics like aripiprazole (Abilify) and risperidone (Risperdal)
These are the harshest of the harsh--drugs that are used to treat serious conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
In addition to being powerful depressants, they can induce extreme fatigue and overall weakness in many patients.
7- Antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft)
Antidepressants work by inhibiting the normal function of your brain neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine. This can also interrupt other bodily hormone levels, which in turn can lead to chronic fatigue.
8- Antibiotics
In addition to obliterating your friendly gut flora (where 70% of your immune system resides), antibiotics also often cause extreme fatigue and tiredness.
9- Diuretics
These are often prescribed instead of, or in addition to, high blood pressure drugs for people with elevated blood pressure.
But in addition to drawing out excess water from the body, they also tend to draw out necessary electrolytes like sodium, potassium and chloride as well, which can lead to severe mineral deficiencies.
And it is these deficiencies that can bring about chronic fatigue, as your body struggles to produce enough energy due to a lack of proper nutrients.
Take control and stop the fatigue before it stops YOU!
If you saw yourself in any of the factors I mentioned above, then it's time to take control of what may be causing fatigue in you.
And do something about it.
Here are some very effective strategies to help fight what may be causing occasional or chronic fatigue for you:
Intestinal flora balance and immune strength
When it comes to having a strong, resilient gut wall and pampering your immune system, in addition to having a healthy diet of real foods that nourish your friendly flora (especially vegetables and fruits), supplementation with a quality probiotic product can be extremely helpful.
And Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula is your ticket here.
Super Shield's 13 strains of potent, top-shelf probiotic bacteria strains are up to the challenge, ready to line your intestinal wall, help beef up your supply of beneficial bacteria, keep harmful bacteria in check, and also help keep your BMs more regular too!
Gluten got your goat?
If you suspect gluten may be a challenge for you the easiest way to tell is to eliminate it from your diet. You'll see a difference soon enough.
And if you have a KNOWN gluten challenge, well, it's time to do what you need to do.
Now if eliminating gluten from your life seems like a daunting task, no worries. Because Great Taste No Gluten will guide you all the way.
Great Taste No Gluten teaches you the many "faces" of gluten intolerance and gives you easy guides on eliminating gluten from your life for good.
Plus you'll get a collection of scrumptious recipes that will make you love every delicious gluten free bite of your new eating lifestyle!
And as an added bonus, Great Taste No Gluten also guides you in how to construct meals that are not only gluten free but are also easier for your body to digest.
So that can lead to fewer tummy troubles and more regular BMs!
De-stress
If you find you’re frequently or constantly stressed, it’s time to do something about it.
One of the best ways to de-stress is to get regular exercise—plus exercise also boosts your energy level too, so it’s a win-win!
There are a lot of great stress-relieving measures and programs out there too. Pick the ones that are right for you and bring that stress level down.
Get tested for thyroid problems
The key here is to get thoroughly tested.
You see, when assessing someone for thyroid problems, many doctors will typically do just one test--a TSH test.
But know this: The TSH does NOT always detect a thyroid challenge. That means many people with undiagnosed thyroid problems continue to suffer!
A better approach is to have a thorough battery of tests including:
Vitamin B12 a very common deficiency--especially with vegetarians, people who use antacids, people who have had gastric surgery and the elderly.
Your doctor can do a simple test to see if you're low in B12. If you are and changes to your diet aren't enough, supplementation may be wise. But beware—because B12’s absorption in the GI tract may be inconsistent—especially if you are low in stomach acid or your system can’t produce the intrinsic factor needed for proper B12 absorption.
But Hydroxaden 2.5 can help with these challenges.
Hydroxaden 2.5 is a convenient vitamin B12 spray that gives you the 2.5 mg of B12 (in the form of hydroxocobalamin) suggested by many nutrition experts. Just five quick sprays under your tongue each day is all it takes.
And since it’s absorbed through the mucus membranes in your mouth, stomach acid and intrinsic factor deficiencies are not an issue.
Medication mayhem
Last but not least, if you're on any of the fatigue-inducing medications I listed above, I encourage you to talk to your doctor about safer or natural alternatives.
And get this--if you change your diet to make it healthier and more easily digested like I explain in the Great Taste No Pain system chances are good you may eventually help improve the underlying problem and hence not need those medications anymore (and can talk to your doctor about weaning off of them!).
Or at least maybe you and your doctor can discuss reducing your dose or using milder alternatives that don’t make you so fatigued!
All it takes is just a few simple modifications to what foods you pair together, and of course incorporating more of the good stuff (meats, vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains) into your meals.
Chronic fatigue continues to be a health nightmare and remains very much a mystery.
But once you look at what may be causing or contributing to any level of fatigue in YOU, then you can make a tremendous difference in how you feel!
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
PS: Always be sure to let your doctor or healthcare provider know what supplements you are taking.
The key here is to get thoroughly tested.
You see, when assessing someone for thyroid problems, many doctors will typically do just one test--a TSH test.
But know this: The TSH does NOT always detect a thyroid challenge. That means many people with undiagnosed thyroid problems continue to suffer!
A better approach is to have a thorough battery of tests including:
- TSH
- Total T4
- Free T4, T3
- Thyroid peroxidase antibody
- Thyroid binding globulin
- TRH challenge test
Vitamin B12 a very common deficiency--especially with vegetarians, people who use antacids, people who have had gastric surgery and the elderly.
Your doctor can do a simple test to see if you're low in B12. If you are and changes to your diet aren't enough, supplementation may be wise. But beware—because B12’s absorption in the GI tract may be inconsistent—especially if you are low in stomach acid or your system can’t produce the intrinsic factor needed for proper B12 absorption.
But Hydroxaden 2.5 can help with these challenges.
Hydroxaden 2.5 is a convenient vitamin B12 spray that gives you the 2.5 mg of B12 (in the form of hydroxocobalamin) suggested by many nutrition experts. Just five quick sprays under your tongue each day is all it takes.
And since it’s absorbed through the mucus membranes in your mouth, stomach acid and intrinsic factor deficiencies are not an issue.
Medication mayhem
Last but not least, if you're on any of the fatigue-inducing medications I listed above, I encourage you to talk to your doctor about safer or natural alternatives.
And get this--if you change your diet to make it healthier and more easily digested like I explain in the Great Taste No Pain system chances are good you may eventually help improve the underlying problem and hence not need those medications anymore (and can talk to your doctor about weaning off of them!).
Or at least maybe you and your doctor can discuss reducing your dose or using milder alternatives that don’t make you so fatigued!
All it takes is just a few simple modifications to what foods you pair together, and of course incorporating more of the good stuff (meats, vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains) into your meals.
Chronic fatigue continues to be a health nightmare and remains very much a mystery.
But once you look at what may be causing or contributing to any level of fatigue in YOU, then you can make a tremendous difference in how you feel!
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
PS: Always be sure to let your doctor or healthcare provider know what supplements you are taking.
No comments:
Post a Comment
To order call 1-888-724-4366