March Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month

March is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month. This disease is also known as CFS, and can be a very debilitating disorder for those who have it. It is characterized by severe physical fatigue tht is persistent and unrelated to any other illness or condition. It is not relieved by rest, and must last for at least six months to receive the CFS diagnosis. So far, no one knows exactly what causes CFS, but there is some indication it’s a post-viral condition, as many people develop symptoms after being exposed to a virus or having a viral illness.

While fatigue is a common symptom of a lot of conditions, CFS is pretty rare. It involves many different parts of the body and can include such symptoms as joint pain, muscle aches, cognitive difficulties, swollen glands, hypersensitivity to sounds and smells, digestive problems, and poor immune system function. Usually, the persistent fatigue needs to be accompanied by at least two other symptoms for six months or more for a doctor to reluctantly give a CFS diagnosis. Most doctors are still reticent about classifying this as a real disease, though for those who have it, it couldn’t be more real.

CFS is thought to occur in about four out of every 1,000 adults in the United states, usually affecting people in their 40′s and 50′s and affecting more women than men. It is rare in children and teenagers. It’s also notoriously difficult to recover from, with full recovery happening only five to ten percent of the time.

March is Chronic Fatigue Awareness Month.  If you suspect you have CFS see your doctor.  You can also help help raise money and awareness for CFS.

Article by Amy Passmore of www.DIYFundraising.com.  Visit www.DIYFundraising.com for fundraising ideas for small nonprofit organizations.