Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a chronic disease and the individual shows extreme tiredness pain and sleep disorders that persist for a long time. CFS is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or systemic exertion intolerance disease. It is more common in women and might last for 6 months or more. The causes of CFS are unknown but some of the environmental or genetic factors might trigger the syndrome.

Symptoms: The symptoms vary in individuals.

• Ability to do normal or regular activities
• Difficulty in thinking
• Sleep disorders
• Severe headache
• Dizziness
• Joint pain
• Orthostatic intolerance, etc

Causes and Risk Factors:

Women are more likely to be diagnosed with CFS than men. This condition is rare in children. However, girls are more prone than boys. This condition is commonly seen in adults aged between 30-50 and in children aged between 13-15. CFS is genetic and is inherits the risk of it from one of its parents. Environmental factors of CFS may include - improper diet, stress, infectious organisms, etc. Other conditions that might be the underlying cause of CFS are - Fibromyalgia, Irritable bowel syndrome, Chronic pelvic pain, Chronic prostatitis, Temporomandibular disorders, Post-concussion syndrome, etc. Having any of these conditions could increase the risk of having CFS.

Treatment:

There is no cure for CFS. However, some medications can be prescribed to reduce and prevent the symptoms. Medications like muscle relaxants, Eszopiclone, Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines can be prescribed for sleep problems and pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen can be prescribed for joint pain. Alternative medications like acupuncture, nutritional supplements, relaxation therapy, yoga, etc can also help in providing relief.

Did you know?

Although the diagnosis of CFS is vague, scientists have now identified a blood test that might help in the diagnosis of CFS. The blood test shows changes in the electrical patterns of an individual's cells. When the cell is stressed, the difference in the electrical signal can be easily identified.

Another study showed that injecting lidocaine solution to the back muscles helped ease patients' fatigue. It was noted that, the muscles and other peripheral tissues for involved in chronic fatigue. Lidocaine thus helped in blocking the abnormal signaling of muscle metabolites.
_______________________________________________________________________

Share your expert research ideas on various Chronic Diseases, visit http://chronicdiseases.cmesociety.com/

Brain Protein Promotes the Maintenance of Chronic Pain

A protein called RGS4 (Regulator of G protein signaling 4) plays a prominent role in the maintenance of long-term pain states and may serve as a promising new target for the treatment of chronic pain conditions.

The discovery may help doctors stop acute pain from progressing into chronic pain, a condition in which patients experience not just pain, but a number of debilitating symptoms ranging from sensory deficits to depression and loss of motivation. The transition from acute to chronic (pathological) pain is accompanied by numerous adaptations in immune, glial, and neuronal cells, many of which are still not well understood. As a result, currently available medications for neuropathic or chronic inflammatory pain show limited efficacy and major side effects. 

Commonly administered opioids provide a temporary alleviation of some pain symptoms but carry serious risks like addiction in the context of long-term treatment for chronic pain. Therefore, there is an imminent need for novel approaches towards the treatment of chronic pain and for the development of medications that disrupt pain states instead of simply alleviating symptoms.

RGS4 is a multifunctional protein widely expressed in brain circuits that process pathological pain, mood, and motivation. The genetic inactivation of RGS4 does not affect acute pain or the induction of chronic pain, it promotes recovery from sensory hypersensitivity symptoms in preclinical models of peripheral nerve injury, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, and peripheral inflammation.

Credits: eurekalert.org