Often called “yuppie flu” and “shirker syndrome,” by skeptics, I wanted to find out what the illness was actually about. Here is a quick definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) symptoms from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

  • CFS is marked by extreme fatigue that has lasted at least six months; is not the result of ongoing effort; is not substantially relieved by rest; and causes a substantial reduction in daily activities.
  • In addition to fatigue, CFS includes eight characteristic symptoms:
    • postexertional malaise (relapse of symptoms after physical or mental exertion);
    • unrefreshing sleep;
    • ????????substantial impairment in memory/concentration;
    • muscle pain;
    • pain in multiple joints;
    • headaches of a new type, pattern or severity;
    • sore throat; and
    • tender neck or armpit lymph nodes.
  • Symptoms and their consequences can be severe. CFS can be as disabling as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, congestive heart failure and similar chronic conditions. Symptom severity varies from patient to patient and may vary over time for an individual patient.

Dr. William Reeves, the lead expert on Chromic Fatigue Syndrome at the disease control agency, said: “People with C.F.S. are as sick and as functionally impaired as someone with AIDS, with breast cancer, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”

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  1. Congestive Heart Failure Patient | 20 March 2009, 20:18

    Your post regarding congestive heart failure patient sound interesting,but i think i need to search for more resources about this .