Chronic fatigue, or myalgic encephalomyelitis, is a special and difficult type of ailment that is characterized by prolonged weariness that is not directly linked to any other serous medical condition.

Experts assert that it is a viral disease, because most of the reported cases occur after the patient has just gotten from a bout of other viral diseases, like cough, colds and influenza.

A patient suffering from chronic fatigue may experience the difficult symptoms of the disease for a few days. At its worst, chronic fatigue can last up to several weeks, especially it the illness is not appropriately treated.

Experts and researchers have established the usual symptoms that will indicate it's onset among patients. These symptoms include: weight loss, tingling sensations, shortness of breath, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, night sweats, nausea, morning stiffness, jaw pain, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, diarrhea, chronic cough, alcohol intolerance, abdominal pain and bloating.

The patient is also expected to experience sleep disturbance, headaches, sore throat, inability to concentrate, enlarged lymph nodes in the armpits and neck, muscle soreness and great exhaustion following a regular exercise.

Chronic fatigue is divided into two types based on symptoms. The Sudded Onset type occurs abruptly and resembles a usual viral attack, similar to the symptoms of flu and other infection.

Gradual Onset manifests symptoms on a gradual pacing. Thus, patients acquiring this type of the disease don't easily realize that they are already suffering from the viral ailment.

To know more about chronic fatigue requires knowledge about its origin. Among the usual causes pinpointed for the onset of chronic fatigue are: hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, low blood pressure, allergies, virus infection, dysfunction of the body's immune system and iron deficiency anemia.

Hormonal changes in the adrenal glands, pituitary and hypothalamus are also cited for the onset of this disease.

Cure

There are numerous cures for chronic fatigue syndrome, but is advised that patients must consult their doctor before taking in any medication. Among the most common category of medications to treat it, anti-depressants are the most popular.

That is because anti-depressants surely help patients relax more even with their feeling of restlessness due to the onset of the viral disease.

However, there are also many forms of diet that can effectively help curtail the disease.

To start with, a patient can take a water cure diet. This form of diet is the simplest and can be easily executed as long as the patient is disciplined enough and determined.

The water cure diet would see that the patient must take water that is equivalent to half of the body's weight. For example, the body weighs 150 lbs. The patient must then take ounces of water daily that is equivalent to 75 lbs.

It is also recommended that the patient take in at least a quarter of salt for about every quart of water that he drinks. The salt can also be used in food.

There is no restrictions in food intake, but the water cure diet restricts patients from drinking alcoholic and caffeinated beverages because they are diuretics.

Recommended food to include in diets

No special diets other than water cure is recommended for chronic fatigue patients. However, the patients are advised to avoid food groups that are considered toxic to the body.

These food group includes aspartame (a synthetic form of sugar), refined oils, food additives, chlorinated water, margarine and hydrogenated fats, junk foods, alcoholic and softdrinks and chocolates.

Instead, experts advise patients to include the following in their food intake: organic food, sea vegetables, olive oil, lemonade, maple syrup, seaweeds, vegetable juices, unrefined sea salt, and foods that are rich in essential fatty acids.

Knowledge of how the food replenishes the body will greatly help a patient understand more about the usual food and substances that are recommended to help the body cope up and recover from fatigue.

Sticking to the normal, healthy lifestyle would surely boost the function of the body's immune system, making it more resistant to the future onset of the disease.