A survey on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in China's top ten cities reveals that office workers are the hardest hit by CFS outbreaks. More concerning is that over 80% of respondents hold misconceptions about CFS. Some equate CFS with sub-health, believing rest alone can restore vitality; others mistake it for the common cold, self-medicating with over-the-counter cold remedies,ultimately delaying proper treatment. Experts caution that without regular health maintenance and timely, targeted medication, CFS may trigger more severe cardiovascular diseases or even lead to "karoshi" (death from overwork).
Persistent fatigue despite adequate rest
Experts emphasize that chronic fatigue syndrome is a newly identified, highly dangerous modern disease. It is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent or recurrent mental and physical exhaustion, poor sleep quality (such as insomnia and vivid dreams), memory impairment, hair loss and graying, cognitive decline, and various physical symptoms (including backaches, dizziness, headaches, etc.).
Chronic fatigue is a chronic illness primarily defined by fatigue, but this fatigue is not ordinary tiredness—it is severe, extreme exhaustion that persists even after adequate rest. Beyond fatigue, symptoms include insomnia with vivid dreams, memory loss, hair loss and graying, and back and neck pain.If these symptoms persist for three months to half a year or longer, it may indicate chronic fatigue syndrome, requiring medical consultation.
Potential risks include cerebral hemorrhage and sudden death
Chronic fatigue significantly diminishes vitality, severely impacting work and study performance. Over time, harmful substances that inhibit physiological activity accumulate in tissues and organs, leading to weakened immunity and endocrine disorders. This can ultimately trigger cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and cerebral hemorrhage, resulting in sudden death.
Many equate chronic fatigue with suboptimal health, assuming it's not a disease and can be resolved through rest and exercise. However, chronic fatigue is a newly identified, highly dangerous modern disease. Relying solely on rest, exercise, or consuming energy-boosting foods and supplements cannot fundamentally solve the problem. Targeted drug therapy is essential.
The initial symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome resemble those of the common cold, such as low-grade fever, dizziness, sore throat, and muscle aches. However, current routine hospital tests cannot detect the cause of chronic fatigue, so it is often mistakenly treated as a cold, delaying proper treatment.
Self-medicating with cold remedies delays proper treatment
Experts caution that persistent symptoms like these, stemming from prolonged overtime and work fatigue, may indicate CFS. It is crucial to consult specialists for treatment rather than self-medicating with over-the-counter cold remedies. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome disproportionately affects office workers.
Although the Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Law, effective May 1 this year, does not explicitly classify chronic fatigue syndrome as an occupational disease, many experts still caution office workers to be mindful of work-related conditions such as neck-shoulder-wrist syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.
While the international medical community has yet to reach a unified consensus on the causes of CFS, it is widely believed that excessive work beyond normal hours and overwhelming life and work pressures are the primary contributors to CFS.
Medical statistics indicate that three main groups constitute the bulk of CFS sufferers:
First, individuals facing intense competitive pressures and significant psychological burdens over extended periods, such as business operators, leaders in enterprises and institutions, and private business owners.