Free Medical Blog

Many medical and psychiatric disorders go along with symptoms of fatigue or reduced activity. So it is very important to make a good clinical examination before thinking of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Maybe the most relevant clinical diagnoses that exclude CFS are

• Sleep apnea! This is rather common for patients with severe obesity! Any other sleep disorder can cause fatigue the next morning.
• Hypothyroidism (reduced function of the thyroid gland)
• Chronic heart problems (low output, cardiomyopathia)
• Side effects of medication (some medication for high blood pressure, sleeping pills, pills for muscle relaxation and many more!)
• chronic alcohol abuse / addiction to drugs. Even some months after severe alcohol exposure symptoms of fatigue or reduced interest can interfere with the quality of life
• Some chronic infections (e.g. Hepatis B or C) or malignancies (including Hodgkin's lymphoma) can also cause fatigue
• Use of and abstinence from caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate).
• For women with large menstruations: Iron insufficiency.

Many psychiatric disorders and/or the medical treatment can cause symptoms of fatigue! Fatigue (and reduced sleep) is a common symptom of depression and dysthymia or bipolar disorders. Any subtype of schizophrenia or delusional disorder can cause fatigue, and so can, of course, severe eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia nervosa.

A good medical and psychiatric examination is necessary to exclude these disorders.

Source: web 4 health.info