Health Tip: Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is an illness of unknown cause that can make a person feel excessively tired for prolonged periods.
While there is no cure, medication and lifestyle changes can help keep symptoms under control. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these suggestions:
* Keep a log of activities that trigger extreme fatigue, and try to avoid those things.
* Try to get some light exercise. But always talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.
* Take an over-the-counter pain reliever for the aches, muscle and joint pain, and headaches that can accompany the syndrome.
* Try a non-drowsy antihistamine to help with allergy-like symptoms.
* Talk to your doctor about whether an antidepressant can help you feel and sleep better.
* Join a support group.
Health Tip: Keep a Health Journal
A health journal is meant to be a complete record of a person's medications, illnesses, symptoms, surgeries or procedures.
A health journal helps you and your doctor keep track of what makes you sick or what causes symptoms, and you can use it to become a healthier person.
Here are suggestions for what to include in your health journal, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:
* Any illness or injury you've sustained.
* Any hospitalizations or surgeries.
* Any symptoms or allergies that you've had.
* OTC medications, prescription medications, supplements and vitamins that you take, including the dosage and how often you take them.
* Any diseases, conditions or illnesses that run in your family.
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