Misunderstood illness leaves millions exhausted, with most cases undiagnosed
FOX 10 Phoenix••health
Key Points:
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), affects approximately 3.3 million people in the U.S., causing severe, long-lasting fatigue that impairs daily activities and often follows infections like COVID or mononucleosis.
- The syndrome is characterized by new, severe fatigue lasting at least six months, post-exertional malaise, and unrefreshing sleep, with additional symptoms such as brain fog and lightheadedness; diagnosis is clinical, as no definitive blood tests currently exist.
- CFS is linked to immune dysfunction, predominantly affects women, and may be triggered by infections, physiological stressors, hormonal changes, or trauma, with research suggesting a genetic component related to immune
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