What Is ME/CFS?

me

How I would describe myself:

I’m a hard worker who strives for excellence. I’m passionate about my family and friends and am always looking to make new connections. I’m an avid reader who enjoys a good story and can often be found lost in a book.

There is no known cause of ME/CFS, and sbobet login doctors do not know what triggers the illness in some people. It is believed to be a neurological disease. Susceptibility to ME/CFS may be genetic, while in others it seems to be triggered by infection. Herpes viruses, enteroviruses and Q fever have been linked to the onset of ME/CFS. In some cases, the illness develops gradually over months or years. In others, symptoms appear after a severe viral infection.

ME/CFS can be debilitating. Many adults are unable to work full time and up to a quarter are housebound or bedbound on their worst days. Those who are severely affected need around the clock care.

Those who have ME/CFS experience very persistent fatigue that lasts for hours or days, even after rest. This can affect a person’s ability to complete daily tasks and take part in family and social activities. The condition also causes headaches, sore throats and tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpits. It can make some people extra sensitive to light, sound, odors and food.

Although there is no specific test for ME/CFS, doctors can diagnose it based on in-depth evaluation of a patient’s history and symptoms, along with ruling out other conditions that may share similar signs and symptoms. ME/CFS is not a psychiatric disorder and is not caused by lack of exercise, contrary to popular belief.

People who have ME/CFS sometimes feel that their medical provider doesn’t believe them, especially when blood tests and other diagnostics do not show anything out of the ordinary. Despite these challenges, it is important for people to seek a diagnosis.

ME/CFS can impact people of any age, sex and racial or ethnic background. It is more common in women than men, and it can affect children as well as adults. It is thought that about one million Americans have ME/CFS, but up to 90 percent have not been diagnosed. A person’s symptoms can fluctuate from day to day, week to week and month to month. They can range from mild to severe, but the defining symptom is post-exertional malaise, which causes symptoms to get worse after physical or cognitive exertion.