Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Health Video

Chronic fatigue syndrome covers a group of poorly understood diseases of the central nervous system leading to fatigue. Learn about chronic fatigue syndrome, including treatments and symptoms, in this health video.

Take Action

Maintain an optimal diet
Get regular exercise
Seek medical attention

About this Author

Dr. Stallworth is board certified in rehabilitation and phsycial medicine. She graduated from Baylor College of Medicine and finished her residency at Baylor. Dr. Stallworth is known for being a superb and compassionate physician that believes in not only health of the body of the mind as well. She currently serves on the board of Centennial Medical Center and is a former board member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She now resides with her family in middle Tennessee.

DR. CATHERINE STALLWORTH: Hi. I am Dr. Cathy Stallworth, and I would like to talk to you about chronic fatigue syndrome. The diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome includes the following: severe chronic fatigue of six months or longer duration (with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis). You must also have at least four of the following: difficulties with memory and concentration, problems with sleep, persistent muscle pain, joint pain (without redness or swelling), headaches, tender lymph nodes, increased malaise following exertion or sore throat. People with chronic fatigue also suffer from other symptoms that are not used in making the diagnosis of chronic fatigue. These symptoms include: irritable bowel syndrome; depression or psychological problems - this can include irritability, mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks - chills; night sweats; visual disturbances that can include blurring, sensitivity to light, eye pain; allergies or sensitivities to foods, odors, chemicals, medications or noise; brain fog (feeling like you're in a mental fog); or difficulty maintaining an upright position because of dizziness, balance problems or fainting. I certainly see very often that patients who come to see me for chronic fatigue syndrome as we start to explore what is going on in their lives, they actually have something going on possibly with one of these other illnesses, and sleep disturbance is a big part of the picture. What can you do if you've been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome? Certainly, optimal diet, and by this I mean, basically a Mediterranean-type diet. A diet that is high in fiber, low in sugar, low in high fructose corn syrup, high in lean proteins, lots of fruits and vegetables. Large muscle exercise can also be helpful in elevating your mood and combatting some of the symptoms of fatigue. If these simple measures are not effective in alleviating your chronic fatigue, you can certainly go to see a physician and consider trying a tricyclic or serotonin reuptake inhibitor-type antidepressant. These have been shown to restore the sleep patterns and help with chronic fatigue. Also, some people have concomitant allergy symptoms. And if you are one of these people who has chronic fatigue as well as chronic allergies, I would strongly advise you to get in to see a physician to have these allergy symptoms addressed.