Chronic Fatigue affects more than one million people in the United States and several million globally. It’s generally found in women in their 40’s and 50’s. However, it attacks people of all ages, genders, socioeconomic status, and race. No one yet knows what causes it. However, the symptoms are quite similar across the board.
Chronic Fatigue is characterized by one main and quite severe symptom – debilitating fatigue. Without a diagnosis, you might have Chronic Fatigue if you’ve suffered serious fatigue for more than six months. Chronic Fatigue isn’t normal tiredness. It’s the kind of fatigue that keeps you in bed, literally unable to get up and do much of anything. that supports the body’s natural healing processes.
According to our functional medicine Los Angeles practitioners, other symptoms that are common for everyone with Chronic Fatigue include:
- Sore throat.
- Headaches. Generally, the headaches will change in pattern and severity. They’ll be new headaches that you haven’t had before.
- Swollen and sore lymph nodes.
- Sore muscles.
- Joint pain without swelling or redness.
- Sleep that is not refreshing. This means you sleep all night and wake up feeling completely exhausted
- Fatigue or malaise after activity. This is an extremely common symptom. You head out for a walk with a friend and then cannot get out of bed for three days. Chronic Fatigue is worsened by mental and physical activity.
- Memory loss – generally short-term memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
In addition to these common symptoms for all Chronic Fatigue sufferers, there are some less common symptoms. They include:
- Digestive disorders causing bloating, diarrhea, pain and nausea
- Difficulty regulating your body’s temperature. Alternating between chills and sweating
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, and a chronic cough are also all common symptoms.
- Visual difficulties, including blurring, sensitivity to light and dry eyes.
- If you have allergies, they may worsen, or you may develop new allergies to foods, medicine, outdoor elements, or chemicals.
- Dizziness and balance problems.
- Emotional trouble
It’s no doubt that if you’re feeling exhausted for days, weeks in a row; you’re going to have emotional issues. Some common emotions that go hand in hand with Chronic Fatigue include depression, irritability, and anxiety.
It’s also not uncommon to experience weight loss or weight gain from Chronic Fatigue.
It’s not known whether these secondary symptoms are caused by Chronic Fatigue directly or indirectly. It could be that Chronic Fatigue weakens your immune system thus causing other issues.
If you suffer from Chronic Fatigue, it’s important to know that while there isn’t a cure, there are treatments that can help you regain control over your life. You can learn to manage Chronic Fatigue and treat the symptoms.
By addressing these and other potential underlying issues, functional medicine Santa Monica aims to restore balance and improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from CFS. This approach often includes personalized interventions such as tailored nutrition plans, targeted supplementation, stress management techniques, and lifestyle modifications designed to support the body’s natural healing processes.
If you are experiencing persistent, unexplained fatigue that significantly impacts your daily life, consider consulting with a functional medicine Studio City practitioner. Our experts in Functional Medicine Los Angeles will work with you to develop a personalized plan aimed at identifying and addressing the root causes of your fatigue, guiding you toward improved health and vitality. Contact us today.