“Graded” exercise and proven supplement workhorses provide hope for chronic fatigue.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that does not improve with bed rest. Between one and four million people in the United States—approximately 2.5 percent of the population—have chronic fatigue symptoms. Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by severe fatigue that has lasted six months or more. Additionally, your health professional must have ruled out other possible maladies, including sleep disorder, anemia, or depression. Finally, according to the Mayo Clinic, you must also have four of the following symptoms:
• Fatigue
• Loss of memory or concentration
• Sore throat
• Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
• Unexplained muscle pain
• Pain that moves from one joint to another without swelling or redness
• Headache of a new type, pattern or severity
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise
With chronic fatigue syndrome, severe exhaustion occurs before the other symptoms, although many people report a flu-like illness just before the long-term fatigue sets in. Chronic fatigue syndrome is also sometimes associated with anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.
What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown. To discover possible triggers, researchers are studying the relationship between stress, the immune system, toxins, the central nervous system, and activation of latent virus. Nonetheless, scientists’ theorize and retailers should understand that chronic fatigue syndrome can be caused by one or more of the following:
Infections: A variety of viruses, including Epstein-Barr virus, some types of herpes viruses, and most recently the retrovirus XMRV, have been linked to chronic fatigue syndrome.
Genetics: Some people may be more susceptible because of an inherited risk.
Neuroendocrinology: A complex interaction between neurotransmitters and hormones could be at the root of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Trauma: The physical stress related to surviving traumatic events has also been identified as a possible contributing factor.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: What Does it Feel Like?
Retailers need to understand that chronic fatigue symptoms differ between sufferers. Nonetheless, severe fatigue or chronic tiredness that interferes with work or daily activities is common. Your customers with chronic fatigue syndrome may also talk of pain and achiness and a brain fog that makes it hard to concentrate or remember recent events or details.
Studies suggest that close to 80 percent of people who are living with chronic fatigue syndrome have never been formally diagnosed and are not getting the treatment they need, but data also implies that getting a diagnosis early in the course of the disease—before having it for two years—provides the best chance of improving symptoms through treatment.
That said, believe it or not, one of those treatments may be exercise. Most anyone, especially health food store retailers, understand that exercise is important to anyone who wants to be healthy. However, it poses unique problems for anyone with chronic fatigue syndrome. Many who exercise will tell you that even moderate exertion can make you feel exhausted. Therefore, initially, it could be discouraging. The irony is that even though exercise can make you feel fatigued short term, a lack of exercise can make symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome more severe long term. The key is moderation and pacing. Numerous studies demonstrate that even small amounts of exercise, as little as six minutes daily, can lessen pain and fatigue.
Exercise and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
How can anyone even begin to assert that exercise can help someone with chronic fatigue syndrome? Nonetheless, it is possible as long as long as a “graded” routine is created that starts very slowly and then increases in very small increments. This means creating a plan and not deviating from it—even when having a good day. Less is more in a graded exercise routine. These small incremental changes will allow the body to adapt to the increased activity. And it will!
In fact, according to a 2008 study published in the online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence, light aerobic exercise, such as walking, helps people with chronic fatigue syndrome feel more energetic. There are many people with chronic fatigue syndrome who are reluctant to start an exercise routine because they believe exercise with exacerbate the symptoms. But the opposite is true. Always remember that total rest has a negative impact. Plus, it often can promote a decline in cognitive health, including onset depression.
Retailers can truly have a major impact on customers suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome who are interested in beginning an exercise regimen. There are many compounds that will have a dramatic impact on those with chronic fatigue syndrome that want to feel better through exercise. The following are worth considering and are widely found in health food stores:
CoQ10/Ubiquinol: A fat-soluble coenzyme found in the mitochondria of most cells. It is one of the most frequently used supplement for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome-related fatigue because of its importance in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cellular source of energy. In addition to reducing fatigue, ubiquinol may alleviate muscle weakness and pain. It is also one of the few supplements that may reduce cognitive dysfunction. Its role as a free radical scavenger may lead to improvement in immune responses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
D-ribose: This compound is needed to increase the synthesis of cellular energy in muscles. Muscle energy synthesis has been found to be lower in those with chronic fatigue syndrome. When taken as a supplement, D-ribose has been shown to enhance muscle cell energy and recovery, improve fatigue and other symptoms in individuals with fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome in several studies.
In fact, one group of researchers found that 3 grams of D-ribose twice daily for three weeks in adults over 50 years of age who complained of tiredness for at least a month lessened physical fatigue as demonstrated by statistically significant improvements in tests of cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The subjects also had significant subjective improvements in mental outlook and vitality.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): These include omega-3, omega-6, EPA, DHA, fish oil, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil and borage oil, among others. EFAs are vital for maintaining the structure and function of cell membranes, particularly in the nervous system. They can also act as immune system modulators, enhancing immune system activity where needed, and inhibiting it when there is an up-regulated immune response. A number of studies have found that chronic fatigue syndrome patients benefit from supplementation with EFAs.
The old school of thought for many was that exercise might make chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms worse. Therefore, health professionals encouraged these people to rest. But recent scientific studies have shown that, for many who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, range of motion exercises, resistance training, and aerobic conditioning sessions are safe and necessary.
As an avid exerciser and one who has experienced all the benefits that exercise has to offer, retailers should encourage customers with chronic fatigue syndrome to work with health care professionals who will consider exercise as a viable treatment option. Not only will chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms subside, but your customer’s quality of life will significantly improve as well. VR
References:
2. Reid S., Chalder, T. Cleare, A., et al. (2011). Chronic fatigue syndrome (Online). BMJ Clinical Evidence. www.clinicalevidence.com.
3. Flanigan R, MacCarter D, et al. D-ribose improves fatigue in aging adults. J Altern Complement Med. 2010;16(5):529-530.
Mark Becker is an account manager for Vivion, a raw materials distributor, based in Vernon, CA. He has worked as a natural products sales and marketing executive for 15 years. Becker has written more than 300 articles and has hosted or been a guest on more than 500 radio shows. He obtained a bachelor’s in journalism from Long Beach State University and did his master’s work in communications at Cal State Fullerton. For almost 30 years he has participated in numerous endurance events, including more than 150 triathlons of Olympic distance or longer, 102 marathons and numerous other events including ultramarathons and rough water swims from Alcatraz to the mainland. He has relied on a comprehensive dietary supplement and homeopathic regimen to support his athletic, professional and personal endeavors. Follow Mark Becker on Facebook at Facebook.com/marklbecker and on twitter at Twitter.com/becker_mark. For more information, access www.vivioninc.com or www.EnergyatLast.com.
