Targeted Disease Management

Chronic Fatigue

Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and is often made worse by physical or mental activity. Patients with CFS often function at a substantially lower level of activity than they were capable of before the onset of the illness. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex disease that involves the disruption of multiple systems in the body, and requires a range of therapies to effectively manage the full spectrum of the disease. An imbalance in the activity of the autonomic nervous system is believed to be an important factor in contributing to fatigue and other symptoms of CFS.

Criteria for a Chronic Fatigue diagnosis:

1. Have severe fatigue lasting at least 6 months or longer that is not relieved by rest and not due to medical or psychiatric conditions associated with fatigue as excluded by clinical diagnosis; and
2. Concurrently have four or more of the following symptoms:
   • self-reported impairment in short-term memory or concentration severe enough to cause substantial reduction in previous levels of occupational, educational, social, or personal activities
   • sore throat that is frequent or recurring
   • tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes
   • muscle pain
   • multi-joint pain without swelling or redness
   • headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity
   • non-refreshing sleep
   • post-exertional malaise

Multifaceted treatment which addresses the entire spectrum of this disease has resulted in, remarkable positive results. Treatment of CFS needs to be individualized and the components of the disease must be targeted in a way that best fits the patient. In the presence of disease or injury, requirements for nutritional components are altered. Patients with CFS may have an increased nutritional demand for glutamate/glutamine, tryptophan, choline, and arginine for the synthesis of GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid), serotonin, acetylcholine, and nitric oxide. Physician Therapeutics' medical food products can help manage the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by addressing the increased nutritional requirements associated with the various stages of CFS.