{"id":15247,"date":"2025-06-08T10:20:30Z","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T08:20:30Z","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-uk\/does-a-sick-intestine-make-you-tired\/"},"modified":"2025-07-15T14:43:26Z","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:43:26Z","slug":"chronic-fatigue-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-uk\/blog\/chronic-fatigue-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) – Diagnosis & Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Are you often tired and exhausted<\/strong>, even after the smallest task? You may be suffering from a disease that is still a riddle to scientists: Chronic fatigue syndrome<\/strong>. This disease has many other symptoms that can severely reduce your quality of life. Much time often goes by until a diagnosis is made and, up to now there is no cure. Scientists suspect that the problem may originate within the intestines and current studies give the affected a ray of hope.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why am I always tired?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Approximately 500,000 people in Germany and 80,000 to 100,000 in Austria suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome<\/strong>, although the number of unreported cases is probably much higher. The disease, known in professional circles as myalgic encephalomyelitis\/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME\/CFS), occurs in all age groups, even in children and adolescents. Women are affected significantly more often than men, at a ratio of approximately 3:1.<\/p>

Although the World Health Organisation classified myalgic encephalomyelitis\/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME\/CFS)<\/strong> as a neuroimmunological disease as early as 1969, it is still often incorrectly downplayed and dismissed as “not a disease per se”. The disease, known in professional circles as myalgic encephalomyelitis\/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME\/CFS), occurs in all age groups, even in children and adolescents. Women are affected significantly more often than men, at a ratio of approximately 3:1.<\/p>

Although the World Health Organisation already classified it as a neurological disease<\/strong> back in 1969, many don\u2019t take this disease seriously and it is often not recognised as a \u201cproper disease\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Feeling exhausted? Is your gut to blame?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cThe disease can be compared to an empty battery. Simple tasks such as teeth brushing or cooking can leave a person exhausted. Afterwards, they need to rest<\/em>\u201c, explains Mag. Dr Monika Riederer, a lecturer at the Institute for Biomedical Analytics at the JOANNEUM University for Applied Sciences, Graz. This intolerance towards stress<\/strong><\/a> and exercise<\/strong> is one of the most telling signs of chronic fatigue syndrome. This disease is also accompanied by many other symptoms, as Dr Riederer explains: \u201cME\/CFS includes a plethora of anomalies. They affect the immune and nervous systems<\/strong> as wells as the hormonal system, the cardiovascular system and our bodies\u2019 entire metabolism.<\/em>\u201d The affected suffer from a severe sense of weakness, muscle pain, flu-like symptoms, fitful sleep and general poor health. These symptoms are exacerbated after the merest of physical or mental exertions \u2013 specialists call this \u201cpost-exertional malaise\u201d. \u201cOutsiders may think these symptoms aren\u2019t so bad. However, patients suffer to such an extent that 25% can\u2019t leave their homes<\/strong> and more than 60% are unable to work<\/strong>\u201c, clarifies Dr Riederer about the severe consequences of chronic fatigue syndrome.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Diagnosis: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The pathogenesis \u2013 i.e. the development of the disease \u2013 is still largely unexplained<\/strong>. \u201cWe know that ME\/CFS often begins after a severe acute infection. Possible causes may include autoimmune diseases, a hyperactive immune system, metabolism disorders (so-called hypometabolic syndrome) and disorders of the autonomous nervous system. Even viral infections, e.g. Epstein Barr Virus, could trigger the diseas<\/em>e\u201d, explains the expert. Since many causes are still unknown, and since the symptoms could also apply to several other diseases, the road to the right diagnosis is often long and gruelling for the affected. Currently, there are no validated lab or instrumental tests to make an accurate diagnosis. That is why a close analysis of the patient history and the symptoms is essential. Firstly, other diseases that cause similar states of exhaustion have to be excluded. These include diseases such as multiple sclerosis, tumours, thyroid disorders and anaemia<\/strong>. The attending physician uses a so-called criteria catalogue for the diagnosis. Here, the type and duration of the complaints are determined to correctly diagnose ME\/CFS .<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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