Post by Admin on Aug 9, 2024 11:21:33 GMT
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myalgic_encephalomyelitis/chronic_fatigue_syndrome
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disabling chronic illness. People with ME/CFS experience a profound fatigue that does not go away with rest, sleep issues and problems with memory or concentration. Further common symptoms include dizziness, nausea and pain.[3] The hallmark symptom is a worsening of the illness which starts hours to days after minor physical or mental activity. This "crash" can last hours or days to several months.[10]
The cause of the disease is unknown.[11] ME/CFS often starts after an infection, such as mononucleosis.[12] It can run in families, but no genes that contribute to ME/CFS have been found.[13] ME/CFS is associated with changes in the nervous and immune systems, as well as in energy production.[14] Diagnosis is based on symptoms because no diagnostic test is available.[7]
The illness can improve or worsen over time, but full recovery is uncommon.[12] No therapies or medications are approved to treat the condition, and management is aimed at relieving symptoms.[2]: 29 Pacing of activities can help avoid flare-ups, and counselling may help in coping with the illness.[8] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, ME/CFS affected 2 to 9 out of every 1000 people, depending on the definition.[9] However, many people with long COVID fit ME/CFS diagnostic criteria.[15] ME/CFS occurs more often in women than in men. It most commonly affects adults between ages 40 and 60 but can occur at other ages, including childhood.[16]
ME/CFS has a large social and economic impact, and the disease can be socially isolating.[17] About a quarter of individuals are unable to leave their bed or home.[10]: 3 People with ME/CFS often face stigma in healthcare settings, and care is complicated by controversies around the cause and treatments of the illness.[18] Doctors may be unfamiliar with ME/CFS, as it is often not fully covered in medical school.[15] Historical research funding for ME/CFS has been far below that of diseases with comparable impact.[19]
Classification
ME/CFS has been classified as a neurological disease by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1969, initially under the name benign myalgic encephalomyelitis.[20]: 564 In the WHO's most recent classification, the ICD-11, both chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis are named under post-viral fatigue syndrome.[21]
The classification of ME/CFS as a neurological disease is based on symptoms which indicate a central role of the nervous system.[22] Alternatively, based on abnormalities in immune cells, ME/CFS is sometimes labelled a neuroimmune condition.[23]
Some people with post-acute infection syndrome (PAIS) meet the criteria of ME/CFS. PAISs such as long COVID and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome share many symptoms with ME/CFS and are suspected to have a similar cause. The term post-infectious fatigue syndrome describes severe fatigue after an infection, often with additional signs and symptoms. It was initially considered a subset of chronic fatigue syndrome with a documented triggering infection. There is no agreement on which conditions the term should encompass.[24]
Signs and symptoms
ME/CFS causes debilitating fatigue, sleep problems, and post-exertional malaise (PEM, overall symptoms getting worse after mild activity). In addition, cognitive issues, orthostatic intolerance (dizziness or nausea when upright) or other physical symptoms may be present (see also § Diagnostic criteria). Symptoms significantly reduce the ability to function and typically last for three to six months before a diagnosis can be confirmed.[10]: 13 [2]: 11 The onset of ME/CFS may be gradual or sudden. When it begins suddenly, it often follows an infection.[1]: 158
Core symptoms
People with ME/CFS experience persistent debilitating fatigue. It is made worse by normal physical, mental, emotional, and social activity, and is not a result of ongoing overexertion.[3][2]: 12 Rest provides limited relief from fatigue. Particularly in the initial period of illness, this fatigue is described as "flu-like". Individuals may feel restless and describe their experience as "wired but tired". When starting an activity, muscle strength may drop rapidly, which can lead to difficulty with coordination, clumsiness or sudden weakness.[2]: 12, 57 Mental fatigue may make cognitive efforts difficult. The fatigue experienced in ME/CFS is of a longer duration and greater severity than in other conditions characterized by fatigue.[10]: 5–6
The hallmark feature of ME/CFS is a worsening of symptoms after exertion, known as post-exertional malaise or post-exertional symptom exacerbation.[6] PEM involves increased fatigue and is disabling. It can also include flu-like symptoms, pain, cognitive difficulties, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, and sleep problems.[10]: 6
All types of activities that require energy, whether physical, cognitive, social, or emotional, can trigger PEM.[25]: 49 Examples include attending a school event, a grocery run, or even taking a shower.[3] For some, being in a stimulating environment can be sufficient to trigger PEM.[25]: 49 PEM usually starts 12 to 48 hours after the activity,[26] but can also follow immediately after. PEM can last hours, days, weeks, or months.[10]: 6 Extended periods of PEM, commonly referred to as "crashes" or "flare-ups", can lead to a prolonged relapse.[25]: 50
Unrefreshing sleep is a further core symptom. People wake up exhausted and stiff rather than restored after a night's sleep. This can be caused by a pattern of sleeping during the day and being awake at night, shallow sleep, or broken sleep. However, even a full night's sleep is typically non-restorative. Some individuals experience insomnia, hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness), or vivid nightmares.[25]: 50
Cognitive dysfunction in ME/CFS can be as disabling as physical symptoms, leading to difficulties at work or at school, as well as in social interactions.[10]: 7 People with ME/CFS sometimes describe it as "brain fog",[3] and report a slowdown in information processing.[10]: 7 Individuals may have difficulty speaking, struggling to find words and names. They may have trouble concentrating or multitasking, or may have difficulties with short-term memory.[2] Tests often show problems with short-term visual memory, reaction time and reading speed. There may also be problems with attention and verbal memory.[27]
People with ME/CFS often experience orthostatic intolerance, symptoms that start or worsen with standing or sitting. Symptoms, which include nausea, lightheadedness, and cognitive impairment, often improve again after lying down.[12] Weakness and vision changes may also be triggered by the upright posture.[3] Some have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an excessive increase in heart rate after standing up, which can result in fainting.[10]: 7 Additionally, individuals may experience orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure after standing.[28]: 17
Other common symptoms
Pain and hyperalgesia (an abnormally increased sensitivity to pain) are common in ME/CFS. The pain is not accompanied by swelling or redness.[28]: 16 The pain can be present in muscles (myalgia) and joints. Individuals with ME/CFS may have chronic pain behind the eyes and in the neck, as well as neuropathic pain (related to disorders of the nervous system).[10]: 8 Headaches and migraines that were not present before the illness can occur as well. However, chronic daily headaches may indicate an alternative diagnosis.[28]: 16
Additional common symptoms include irritable bowel syndrome or other problems with digestion, chills and night sweats, shortness of breath or an irregular heartbeat. Some experience sore lymph nodes and a sore throat. People may also develop allergies or become sensitive to foods, lights, noise, smells or chemicals.[3]
Illness severity
ME/CFS often leads to serious disability, but the degree varies considerably.[11] ME/CFS is generally classified into four categories of illness severity:[2]: 8 [28]: 10
People with mild ME/CFS can usually still work and care for themselves, but they will need their free time to recover from these activities rather than engage in social and leisure activities.
Moderate severity impedes activities of daily living (self-care activities, such as making a meal). People are usually unable to work and require frequent rest.
People with severe ME/CFS are homebound and can do only limited activities of daily living, for instance brushing their teeth. They may be wheelchair-dependent and spend the majority of their time in bed.
With very severe ME/CFS, people are mostly bedbound and cannot care for themselves.
rest in link.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myalgic_encephalomyelitis/chronic_fatigue_syndrome
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disabling chronic illness. People with ME/CFS experience a profound fatigue that does not go away with rest, sleep issues and problems with memory or concentration. Further common symptoms include dizziness, nausea and pain.[3] The hallmark symptom is a worsening of the illness which starts hours to days after minor physical or mental activity. This "crash" can last hours or days to several months.[10]
The cause of the disease is unknown.[11] ME/CFS often starts after an infection, such as mononucleosis.[12] It can run in families, but no genes that contribute to ME/CFS have been found.[13] ME/CFS is associated with changes in the nervous and immune systems, as well as in energy production.[14] Diagnosis is based on symptoms because no diagnostic test is available.[7]
The illness can improve or worsen over time, but full recovery is uncommon.[12] No therapies or medications are approved to treat the condition, and management is aimed at relieving symptoms.[2]: 29 Pacing of activities can help avoid flare-ups, and counselling may help in coping with the illness.[8] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, ME/CFS affected 2 to 9 out of every 1000 people, depending on the definition.[9] However, many people with long COVID fit ME/CFS diagnostic criteria.[15] ME/CFS occurs more often in women than in men. It most commonly affects adults between ages 40 and 60 but can occur at other ages, including childhood.[16]
ME/CFS has a large social and economic impact, and the disease can be socially isolating.[17] About a quarter of individuals are unable to leave their bed or home.[10]: 3 People with ME/CFS often face stigma in healthcare settings, and care is complicated by controversies around the cause and treatments of the illness.[18] Doctors may be unfamiliar with ME/CFS, as it is often not fully covered in medical school.[15] Historical research funding for ME/CFS has been far below that of diseases with comparable impact.[19]
Classification
ME/CFS has been classified as a neurological disease by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1969, initially under the name benign myalgic encephalomyelitis.[20]: 564 In the WHO's most recent classification, the ICD-11, both chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis are named under post-viral fatigue syndrome.[21]
The classification of ME/CFS as a neurological disease is based on symptoms which indicate a central role of the nervous system.[22] Alternatively, based on abnormalities in immune cells, ME/CFS is sometimes labelled a neuroimmune condition.[23]
Some people with post-acute infection syndrome (PAIS) meet the criteria of ME/CFS. PAISs such as long COVID and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome share many symptoms with ME/CFS and are suspected to have a similar cause. The term post-infectious fatigue syndrome describes severe fatigue after an infection, often with additional signs and symptoms. It was initially considered a subset of chronic fatigue syndrome with a documented triggering infection. There is no agreement on which conditions the term should encompass.[24]
Signs and symptoms
ME/CFS causes debilitating fatigue, sleep problems, and post-exertional malaise (PEM, overall symptoms getting worse after mild activity). In addition, cognitive issues, orthostatic intolerance (dizziness or nausea when upright) or other physical symptoms may be present (see also § Diagnostic criteria). Symptoms significantly reduce the ability to function and typically last for three to six months before a diagnosis can be confirmed.[10]: 13 [2]: 11 The onset of ME/CFS may be gradual or sudden. When it begins suddenly, it often follows an infection.[1]: 158
Core symptoms
People with ME/CFS experience persistent debilitating fatigue. It is made worse by normal physical, mental, emotional, and social activity, and is not a result of ongoing overexertion.[3][2]: 12 Rest provides limited relief from fatigue. Particularly in the initial period of illness, this fatigue is described as "flu-like". Individuals may feel restless and describe their experience as "wired but tired". When starting an activity, muscle strength may drop rapidly, which can lead to difficulty with coordination, clumsiness or sudden weakness.[2]: 12, 57 Mental fatigue may make cognitive efforts difficult. The fatigue experienced in ME/CFS is of a longer duration and greater severity than in other conditions characterized by fatigue.[10]: 5–6
The hallmark feature of ME/CFS is a worsening of symptoms after exertion, known as post-exertional malaise or post-exertional symptom exacerbation.[6] PEM involves increased fatigue and is disabling. It can also include flu-like symptoms, pain, cognitive difficulties, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, and sleep problems.[10]: 6
All types of activities that require energy, whether physical, cognitive, social, or emotional, can trigger PEM.[25]: 49 Examples include attending a school event, a grocery run, or even taking a shower.[3] For some, being in a stimulating environment can be sufficient to trigger PEM.[25]: 49 PEM usually starts 12 to 48 hours after the activity,[26] but can also follow immediately after. PEM can last hours, days, weeks, or months.[10]: 6 Extended periods of PEM, commonly referred to as "crashes" or "flare-ups", can lead to a prolonged relapse.[25]: 50
Unrefreshing sleep is a further core symptom. People wake up exhausted and stiff rather than restored after a night's sleep. This can be caused by a pattern of sleeping during the day and being awake at night, shallow sleep, or broken sleep. However, even a full night's sleep is typically non-restorative. Some individuals experience insomnia, hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness), or vivid nightmares.[25]: 50
Cognitive dysfunction in ME/CFS can be as disabling as physical symptoms, leading to difficulties at work or at school, as well as in social interactions.[10]: 7 People with ME/CFS sometimes describe it as "brain fog",[3] and report a slowdown in information processing.[10]: 7 Individuals may have difficulty speaking, struggling to find words and names. They may have trouble concentrating or multitasking, or may have difficulties with short-term memory.[2] Tests often show problems with short-term visual memory, reaction time and reading speed. There may also be problems with attention and verbal memory.[27]
People with ME/CFS often experience orthostatic intolerance, symptoms that start or worsen with standing or sitting. Symptoms, which include nausea, lightheadedness, and cognitive impairment, often improve again after lying down.[12] Weakness and vision changes may also be triggered by the upright posture.[3] Some have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an excessive increase in heart rate after standing up, which can result in fainting.[10]: 7 Additionally, individuals may experience orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure after standing.[28]: 17
Other common symptoms
Pain and hyperalgesia (an abnormally increased sensitivity to pain) are common in ME/CFS. The pain is not accompanied by swelling or redness.[28]: 16 The pain can be present in muscles (myalgia) and joints. Individuals with ME/CFS may have chronic pain behind the eyes and in the neck, as well as neuropathic pain (related to disorders of the nervous system).[10]: 8 Headaches and migraines that were not present before the illness can occur as well. However, chronic daily headaches may indicate an alternative diagnosis.[28]: 16
Additional common symptoms include irritable bowel syndrome or other problems with digestion, chills and night sweats, shortness of breath or an irregular heartbeat. Some experience sore lymph nodes and a sore throat. People may also develop allergies or become sensitive to foods, lights, noise, smells or chemicals.[3]
Illness severity
ME/CFS often leads to serious disability, but the degree varies considerably.[11] ME/CFS is generally classified into four categories of illness severity:[2]: 8 [28]: 10
People with mild ME/CFS can usually still work and care for themselves, but they will need their free time to recover from these activities rather than engage in social and leisure activities.
Moderate severity impedes activities of daily living (self-care activities, such as making a meal). People are usually unable to work and require frequent rest.
People with severe ME/CFS are homebound and can do only limited activities of daily living, for instance brushing their teeth. They may be wheelchair-dependent and spend the majority of their time in bed.
With very severe ME/CFS, people are mostly bedbound and cannot care for themselves.
rest in link.