Chronic fatigue

What is chronic fatigue?

Chronic fatigue is a complex medical condition characterized by extreme and persistent tiredness, fatigue, or exhaustion that is not improved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions. Some key things to know:

• Chronic fatigue involves fatigue lasting 6 months or longer that is more severe and disabling than normal tiredness.


• The specific cause is often difficult to pinpoint. Potential factors can include viral infections, immune system problems, hormone imbalances, and more.


• There are two main types: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and idiopathic chronic fatigue. CFS has more formal diagnosis criteria like sore throat, headaches, joint pain.

Now you may wonder - how common is this issue? Well statistics show that at least 1 to 2.5 million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue or CFS. So if you have unexplained, long-term fatigue, you're definitely not alone!

The good news is that while there's no cure yet, symptom management and lifestyle changes can help. Getting enough sleep, pacing activities, reducing stress, gentle exercise like yoga, and supplements are often beneficial.

Now back to chronic fatigue itself - what are the most common symptoms people may experience? Hallmark symptoms include:

• Severe exhaustion not relieved by sleep


• Worsening of symptoms after physical/mental activity


• Brain fog, difficulty concentrating


• Muscle and joint pain


• Sore throat, headaches

The takeaway? If constant exhaustion is interfering with your life, see your doctor and ask about chronic fatigue. Getting to the root cause with thorough testing is key. There are many relief options available too - you don't have to suffer!