FATIGUE: Cancer-Related and CFS

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is probably one of the most misunderstood diseases in existence today. Many doctors continue to doubt that CFS is even a real disease. Some doctors think CFS is no more than a psychological disorder, or an extended symptom of another disease. CFS is an insidious disease with no absolute connection or root cause being yet discovered. On top of that, there exist no constant biological determinants to open the way to objective measurements like brain scans or blood tests for conducting an absolute diagnosis of CFS. So clearly and frustratingly for those who suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, have great barriers stacked against them from the very beginning.

by: George Alarcon

Surveys indicate that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome impacts more than four in every 1,000 Americans. According to a U.S. study, women suffered the highest rates of CFS. Individuals ages between 40 to 50, suffered CFS more often than any other age group. CFS affects both sexes of all ages, and across all ethnic and racial groups.

What are some of the most common symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

The most identified and common symptoms of CFS are the following:

--A severe exhaustion lasting over six months and which doesn’t get better even after sleep.

--Periods of forgetfulness, memory loss, confusion, or difficulty concentrating

--Tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpits.

--Joint pain without redness or swelling.

--Unrefreshing sleep, or unable to fall asleep

--Fatigue lasting more than 24 hours after exercise.

--Fatigue that significantly disables a person’s ability to behave and function regularly at work, at home, and in social events.

--When minimal exercise intensifies other CFS symptoms.

--Sensitivity to sunlight.

What Can I Do Right Now to Better Cope with CFS?

Here are a few steps you can begin implementing in your life for coping with CFS:

Tip #1: If you suspect but are not 100% certain that you have CFS, locate a clinic that treats CFS and request a diagnostic test to determine if you have CFS.

Tip 2: Eat a well-balanced diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains. Try to eliminate as much as you can sugar and animal fat in your meals.

Tip #3: Exercise regularly everyday but do not over do it. Stay within your limits. How? If you cannot tolerate a whole hour of walking, jogging, or cycling without adverse consequences such as sleeping more than your usual, do less.

Tip #4: If you find yourself unable to sleep soundly, consider taking a safe natural remedy that treats insomnia.

Tip #5: If you feel depressed, discouraged, and even defeated because of chronic fatigue syndrome, consider taking a safe natural remedy that treats depression.

Tip #6: CFS patients suffer from a weak immune system. That is why they catch a cold or flu so easily. Supplement your diet with something that strengths your immune system.

Tip #7: Whenever you have time, educate yourself about CFS online and offline. Type in “chronic fatigue syndrome” in the search engine window and browse. The more you know about CFS, the better you’ll cope with this disease.

I personally have done battle with this enduring and merciless "beast." I can honestly confess that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an affliction not easily treated. I have learned a great deal through trials and errors what works and what doesn’t. Often I have wasted my hard-earned money on products that did nothing for me.

George Alarcon reveals at http://www.chronic-fatigue-aid.com his personal Chronic Fatigue story, how he fought and learned how to boost his energy level back to normal. He freely offers the suffering CFS patient a remarkably easy two-step formula for successfully fighting CFS. Under “More Help” at his site you’ll learn how to treat insomnia, depression, and a weak immune system

Posted by Editor at 11:00 PM | Permalink

Whilst our lives have become dependent on computers, our bodies haven't quite accepted the idea. Every day computer users complain of blurred vision, tired eyes, gritty eyes and headaches. Many start to wear eye glasses and blame their computers. Others are convinced that their computer has caused their Myopia (nearsightedness) to worsen. High tech employees worry about radiation from the computer screen. Can the computer lead to irreversible eye damage?

By Andrew Fink

The good news is that extensive eye care health research in Israel and in North America has shown conclusively and repeatedly that computers do not cause eye disease. Nor has it been shown that intensive computer work can lead to or effect myopia in high tech workers. (The situation with children is slightly more controversial but this will be discussed in another article) However there is no doubt that computers can lead to many temporary eye problems most of which can be solved by simple changes in work pattern.

The sooner any symptoms begin, for instance within half an hour of commencing work, the more likely it is that there is a specific problem. Developing tired eyes after eight hours of non stop intensive visual activity is normal though. Try running the New York, London or Jerusalem marathons and see if your legs get tired.

The following are some simple tips to prevent eye strain and to enhance your eye health care for many years to come.

Have your eyes and vision checked at least once a year. Any minor vision problem will be aggravated by computer use. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, be sure they are appropriate for computer use and for the distance between you and your computer.

Be sure to rest your eyes regularly, especially if you are new to computers. Remember the 20:20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look in to the distance for 20 seconds. Continuous use of any part of the body, including your eyes, will inevitably lead to fatigue.

Your computer should be at a comfortable distance (about 30-40cm) and the top of the screen should be facing you and slightly below eye level. Adjust your desk or chair so that this is the case. Our eyes are designed to point forwards and downwards when looking at near objects, e.g. when reading. Looking upwards or sideways at your computer will rapidly lead to eye strain.

Hang any material you are copying at the same distance and as close to the screen as possible. Use a manuscript holder. This will prevent constant refocusing to differing distances and directions.

Minimise glare from your computer screen due to reflections from lights or windows. This can be done by adjusting the direction of your screen or by attaching a glare reduction filter. Your pupil changes in size according to the brightness of the screen and excessive movement of the pupil caused by multiple reflections can cause headaches. Bright sunlight from a window behind your screen will have a similar effect. Glare also causes you to screw up your eyes, which if prolonged, will lead to headaches. However make sure your desk and key board are sufficiently illuminated.

Occasional use of artificial tear eye drops (as recommended by your eye doctor) can help dry eyes symptoms. We tend to blink less when concentrating intently, and when looking straight ahead much of the eye is exposed leading to increased tear evaporation and dry eyes. Remember to blink more.

Keep your computer screen clean. Dust and fingerprints can reduce clarity.

Poor quality computer screens can lead to eye strain. Low resolution, low pixel numbers and high contrast colors can put an extra strain on the eyes when reading from a screen. The Refresh Rate of a computer is a measure of how often the display unit refreshes or redraws the picture per second. In the past rates of 60Hz were acceptable, but flickering of the screen was evident at this rate causing headaches. It is now recommended that the rate should not be less than 70Hz and most new monitors are 75-85 Hz.

Sensible use of your computer will reduce headaches and eye discomfort, and increase productivity.

Dr Andrew Fink MD

Dr Andrew Fink MD FRCOphth is a practising Eye Surgeon in Tel Aviv, Israel. He specialises in Laser Vision Correction, and Cataract Surgery. He is medical adviser to Healthylens.com, an on line discount contact lens service. (http://www.healthylens.com)

Posted by Editor at 1:19 PM | Permalink

Did you know that spending long hours at your computer can put your health at serious risk? Most people does not even consider that possibility, but it does. Working at a desk is extremely hard on your body, and I would like to share this with you so maybe you can avoid some of the most common health risks. One of the most common one is: Chronic Fatigue.

by: Hege Crowton

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Tired and troubled? Experiencing severe fatigue that lasts for months and go back over and over?

Feeling tired is common, and depression is a condition that everyone goes through from time to time. However, the chronic fatigue syndrome is not similar to the simple emotional ups and downs that we experience sometimes.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is medically known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, post-viral fatigue syndrome. It targets the central nervous system. People who have this disorder usually complain of severe fatigue that is aggravated even by simple exertion. The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not yet known, but some researches show that this might be incurable. Some cases disappear over time and some people use medications to relieve them of this disorder.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is medically defined as a severe chronic fatigue thats lasts six months or over but other medical conditions should have been ruled out before a diagnosis of CFS can be made. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may be precipitated by an illness. It may be a cold, or a stomach upset, or may even begin after major stress. The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are headache, muscle pain, inability to concentrate, tenderness in the lymph nodes, and fatigue that will not go away or may recur over the next several months. Patients also suffer from headache, non refreshing sleep, sore throat, myalgia or muscle pain, and body malaise for over a day.

In the past, people call CFS “yuppie flu” because it usually occurred on well-educated, well-off middle-ages women. Doctors also noticed that this disorder often occurred in people from mostly English speaking countries all over the world. Women have a two to four times increased risk of getting the chronic fatigue syndrome than men.

The CDC or Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that over 500,000 people in the US have been diagnosed to have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Diagnosis of CHF is difficult because it has similar symptoms as the other illnesses. The physician will first evaluate your condition and ask questions to rule out other diseases that may have the same symptom. When everything has been eliminated, it is only then that the physician will come to a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

It is important that patients who are suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome learns how to manage their moods and know what to do whenever the disorder hits. Health providers suggest that people suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome should try to always try to get adequate rest. Patient should also try to get a regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and trying to pace yourself whenever stress gets too much that you find it difficult to handle.

Patients will also benefit from medications to treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The doctors usually prescribe a lower dose of anti-depressant because it might increase the level of fatigue of the patient or the frequency it occurs. But it also helps to reduce the pain of people with the disorder.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may be mistaken with other illnesses which have the same presentation. These are fibromyalgia syndrome, neurasthenia, and chronic mononucleosis.

Other conditions that may also result in fatigue include thyroid problems especially hypothyroidism, eating disorders, autoimmune diseases, hormonal disorders, infections, narcolepsy, alcohol dependence, substance abuse, drug reactions, psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorders.

It is important to consult with a physician to evaluate the symptoms the patient is having and to make sure that the patient does not have any other organic or systemic diseases that might cause excessive long-standing fatigue. Some people also find it comforting to seek the help of other people like rehabilitation experts to fully understand the patient's condition. Some also talk to other patients who are undergoing the same condition.

There are other risks as you sit in front of that computer but it would be to much to write about in this article, so if you would like to learn more about other risks such as:

* Eye strain
* RSI (Repetitive Stress Syndrome)
* Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
* Constant Head Aches
* Dizziness
* Breathing Problems
* Difficulty Concentrating

You can learn all about this in the book: “The Painless PC”, which can be found at:

www.HealthCrow.com

About The Author

Hege Crowton

Lille Hege is establishing her self as an expert copywriter. She is known for doing in-depth research before writing her articles. Many of her articles are posted on www.EzineCrow.com and she also does a lot of writing for www.Crowsites.com

She also strongly recommends that you visit: www.NicheInBox.com

Since joining this program her business has exploded.

Copyright 2005 AdsenseCrow.com

Posted by Editor at 1:04 PM | Permalink