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Chronic exhaustion
contents
- The chronic fatigue syndrome
- Cause - The Pfeiffer's glandular fever
- Confusion with fibromyalgia
- Suspicion: Viral causes
- Suspicion: Non-viral causes
- Other causes
- Tips for lighter complaints
- Preventive measures
- Unfortunately, no healing therapy for chronic fatigue
- Total overload in this day and age
- Holistic - Naturopathy
Chronic fatigue is often associated with an odyssey at the doctor's visit. Who suffers, he really suffers. Every day is a challenge and means a great effort, which is usually felt to be insurmountable. Chronic fatigue is defined as follows: It lasts for at least six months and can not be positively influenced by rest and protection.
In chronic fatigue known aids such as coffee lose their full effect and sufferers sometimes fall asleep when completing everyday tasks. (Image: pressmaster / fotolia.com) The chronic fatigue syndrome
The causes of the chronic fatigue syndrome are still uncertain. In particular, viral causes, as well as fungi and environmental toxins and much more are associated with chronic fatigue. The diagnosis is very difficult. There are no specific examination methods or laboratory tests to help diagnose chronic fatigue or CFS. Only when the patients suffer from exhaustion for more than six months and no cause (for example, burnout or depression) can be found is there a suspicion of a chronic fatigue syndrome.
The guiding symptom, as the name implies, is chronic fatigue. In addition, sometimes slight elevation of temperature, painful swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, throat inflammation (pharyngitis), headache, myalgia (muscle pain) and sleep disorders. Women are more affected than men, especially in the third and fourth decade of life.
Cause - The Pfeiffer's glandular fever
Chronic fatigue may be the result of Pfeiffer's glandular fever. The acute phase of the disease, caused by the Epstein Barr virus, which is accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, lymphadenopathy, general malaise and fatigue, is over and sufferers are very tired and exhausted. Everyday life is hard to beat and sleeping does not provide any relief. This can be so massive that the patient suddenly falls asleep while sitting or standing, out of nowhere.
The connection between the glandular fever and chronic fatigue is suspected, but is not scientifically proven to date. The fact is that the pathogen, the Epstein Barr virus, which belongs to the herpesviruses, settles down after the disease in the body and remains there. He does not have to do any damage there, he does not have to wake up, but he can do that. This usually happens when the immune system is somewhat weakened, for example during stressful times.
The diagnosis of a chronic fatigue syndrome often proves difficult and those affected usually have a longer path of suffering behind them before CFS is detected in them. (Image: shidlovski / fotolia.com) Confusion with fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia, a predominantly female condition in which the symptoms include muscular pain, stiffness, headaches, and sleep disorders, is also associated with chronic fatigue. Using a detailed history and specific examinations, CFS can be differentiated from fibromyalgia.
Suspicion: Viral causes
Most chronic fatigue is preceded by an infection in the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract. This is why people often talk about post-infectious or post-viral complaints.
Not only the Epstein Barr virus is seen in the context of chronic fatigue syndrome. Other herpes viruses, coxsackie viruses, varicella zoster viruses, rubella viruses, measles virus and cytomegaloviruses - all of these pathogens are suspected to cause chronic fatigue.
Suspicion: Non-viral causes
In the context of chronic fatigue non-viral causes such as Candida albicans, chlamydia and Yersinia are discussed.
Other causes
Chronic fatigue can occur after illnesses such as a flu or an infectious disease. Other causes include iron deficiency, hypothyroidism, stress, low blood pressure (hypotension), permanent overwork, depressive states, cancers, environmental stress and mold. Multiple sclerosis can also manifest itself as chronic fatigue.
Tips for lighter complaints
If chronic fatigue occurs as a result of an infection, rest is definitely required. Maybe those affected did not recover properly. Often there is a lack of vitamins and / or minerals that the body has used up during the illness and that need to be reintroduced. These are, for example, vitamin C, vitamin B12, zinc, iron, and much more. However, no self-medication should be done here. A doctor or alternative practitioner can advise you.
If low blood pressure is the cause of chronic fatigue, regular brush massages, Kneipp's pouring, exercise in the fresh air, rosemary baths, and sufficient amounts of still water in the form of still water can help.
Kneipp's castings can help with chronic fatigue when it's related to low blood pressure. (Image: Kzenon / fotolia.com) If there is a permanent overload, those affected should get help to restructure their everyday lives: who can take work off? Which daily burdens can be reduced or completely eliminated? When are rest breaks possible? Every person needs rest periods, even if, for example, they only pause for five minutes every one to two hours. But this regular "pause" should then become a daily ritual. A holiday can help, but it does not always have to last one or two weeks. A day trip or a weekend in the spa or a hotel in the countryside can already provide relief.
Preventive measures
To protect yourself from fatigue and fatigue, a balanced, vitamin-rich diet is important. These include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and little animal. Furthermore, it is important to ensure adequate sleep and to move outdoors every day. This does not necessarily have to be sport. Already regular walks in the fresh air contribute to a healthy immune system.
Also important is a balance between stress and relaxation. Relaxation techniques such as autogenic training, yoga, or progressive muscle relaxation help here. Even small breaks that interrupt everyday life on a daily basis help to keep the stress away.
Unfortunately, no healing therapy for chronic fatigue
Unfortunately, no curative therapy is known for the presence of chronic fatigue. Since the causes of this are still not clearly understood, both a diagnosis and the targeted treatment is difficult.
In light forms relieve heat and sleep. A calorie-rich diet, such as cocoa, pudding or the like, does the one good - others, on the other hand, better recover in a fasting clinic. In any case, time is a big factor. Every patient should have the time to recover that he needs. There are no norm values here.
Patients with severe forms of chronic fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome are usually confined to the bed. The victims are no longer able to get up. Even going to the toilet or dressing means great effort. Physicians suspect that the pronounced, bad form of CFS is not just a cause, but that several factors must coincide. For example, a virus and additionally yeast or molds and / or environmental toxins.
People with a chronic fatigue syndrome feel overwhelmed by the fast pace of everyday life and can usually no longer practice their profession. (Image: Kaspars Grinvalds / fotolia.com) Total overload in this day and age
What is certain is that those affected can no longer cope with the fast rhythm of life. A total overload occurs. The many attractions and demands of everyday life and society are causing them problems. They can not keep up with the speed of life. The concentration is getting worse, stimulants, such as tea and coffee no longer help.
Holistic - Naturopathy
Precisely because chronic fatigue or CFS are complex events and can have very different causes, a holistic concept for treating or alleviating the symptoms is ideally suited. In naturopathy therapists always strive to treat the patients holistically, so to bring body and psyche in line.
The body, whose immune system is out of joint, needs antibodies such as enzymes. These are obtained, for example, from papaya and pineapple. Enzymes are so-called catalysts in the body, which are used for the most diverse tasks. Among other things, they help to cope faster with inflammation. Colostrum (Vormilch) also has a strengthening effect on the immune system. This has a modulating and no stimulating effect, which can have a positive effect on a weakened organism.
In addition, lymph, spleen and thymus should be supported with appropriate preparations. Here, anthroposophic medicine has many suitable means at hand. Especially with chronic fatigue this must be done very gently and carefully. Accompanying help acupuncture and foot reflexology.
In addition, sufferers often need B vitamins, preferably the entire B complex, as this is extremely important for the nervous system. For defense, vitamin C and zinc are important. All this should not just be taken care of and taken in the supermarket, but discussed with experienced therapists. Iron is just as important. Vitamin and iron levels can be clarified in a large blood picture.
Rose root extracts can enhance physical and mental performance and thus help against chronic fatigue syndrome. (Image: emer / fotolia.com) Rose root is a plant that can stand well to those affected. It can improve mental and physical efficiency. What can also strengthen the body a bit more, is the Taiga root, also called Eleutherococcus.
In homeopathy, Aurum metallicum (gold) is used to make the sun shine in life. The opponent of Aurum is Argentum nitricum (silver). Aurum is taken in the morning and argentum in the evening. This creates balance between day and night.
With any kind of fatigue, a detailed history is essential to get closer to the causes. Serious illnesses must be excluded before the naturopathic treatment. (sw, fp, updated on 15.05.2018)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)