Many of my male patients complain of being tired, stressed and feeling like they are burning the candle at both ends! I like to call this “too busy syndrome,” fatigue caused by busy schedules and little free time to just hang out and relax.
However, there is a difference between “overworked tiredness” and the debilitating exhaustion associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Let me share with you some facts about CFS, particularly how it affects men and what you can do to prevent and treat it.
What is chronic fatigue syndrome
Statistics show that between 100,000 and 250,000 Americans suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, and some researchers believe that the levels are actually higher than that.
There is a misconception that chronic fatigue syndrome is more common in women than in men. For this reason, CFS may not have been diagnosed in men. Also, men do not visit the doctor as often as women. The fact is, while women are 3 times more likely to have CFS, men are too.
Both men and women with CFS share many of the same symptoms and levels of functioning/disability. CFS can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms can be different from person to person.
The reason CFS is difficult to diagnose is because the symptoms can resemble other health problems such as the flu, mononucleosis, fibromyalgia, or even depression. However, researchers have identified these common complaints that occur in 85-100% of CFS patients:
o Persistent, life-altering fatigue, unrelated to exertion, that is not relieved by rest.
o Four or more of the following symptoms that have been present for 6 months:
o Impaired short-term memory
o Impaired mental function/poor concentration, mental confusion, depression
or sore throat
o Swollen lymph nodes
o Low-grade fever
o Muscle/joint pain without redness/swelling
o Unusual headaches (for you)
o Sensitivity to smells, noise, light, medications, food
o Sleep disturbances, too much, inability to sleep
o Impaired immune function: Candida infections, allergies.
What causes chronic fatigue syndrome?
Researchers aren’t quite sure what causes chronic fatigue syndrome. There are some who favor viral causes of several different possible viruses, including herpes simplex, the virus that commonly causes cold sores. Epstein-Barr, the virus that causes mononucleosis is another possible cause.
There are others who think CFS is an autoimmune disorder, as seen in lupus, allergy sufferers, or rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system goes into overdrive to fight invading organisms and ends up attacking itself.
Other researchers believe that CFS may be caused by other physical conditions, such as mercury dental fillings, a low thyroid, low blood sugar, insomnia, or even a nutritional deficiency. Whatever the various possible causes, there appears to be an association between CFS and the stress that can trigger the condition.
CFS and Guy issues
Unlike women with CFS, managing the disease can pose unique problems for men. First of all, most men do not express their feelings easily, even when they feel sick, and they visit doctors less often, which makes them suffer in silence.
Second, men’s perception of their worth is typically tied to their career, earning potential, and/or their ability to care for themselves or a family. When a man begins to have chronic symptoms, he may feel less masculine, be afraid, or try to ignore his symptoms. In some cases, men may try even harder to maintain a private and public expectation, which only adds to their fatigue.
What you can do
When male patients come to me with complaints that look like CFS, I prefer a more self-managed, natural approach that uses nutrition (diet and vitamins), along with lifestyle adjustments, to treat their symptoms. Below are some strategies I use in managing CFS:
oh Vitamin therapy: Men need higher doses of all the B vitamins that can increase energy levels. Vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene are antioxidants that also help fight viruses. Vitamin D helps boost the immune system.
oh mineral therapy: Calcium, magnesium and manganese. These three minerals are crucial in energy production.
oh Diet therapy: A well balanced diet with 6-8 fruits, vegetables, high protein, high fiber, complex carbohydrates. Limit refined sugars, caffeine, and fats. Add acidophilus to support the immune system, drink 48-64 oz of water daily.
oh Lifestyle therapy: Minimize emotional/physical stressors. Get enough sleep, supplements like melatonin can help. Get regular, moderate exercise that you can maintain, such as walking, bicycling, or swimming. Yoga and Tai-Chi can help you de-stress.
oh Advice: Men need to talk about their feelings, how the chronic illness is affecting their personal relationships and professional life. Individual or group therapy can help restore a man’s loss of self-esteem and give him a sense of support and camaraderie among other men during the illness.
Although diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome in men can be difficult, treating it doesn’t have to be. If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, don’t hesitate to call your doctor. Together you can decide on the best treatment to control CFS symptoms. Many of the nutritional suggestions listed here can also help prevent CFS, as maintaining a healthy immune system is the key to staying healthy!
