Memory Foam Mattresses Can Aid with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by a chronic lack of energy, but can also include any of these symptoms: non-refreshing sleep, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, achy joints, impairment of concentration and short-term memory, and post-exertion malaise. Many people recover from CFS within a few years, as long as it is properly diagnosed. However, for other people, it can be a lifelong affliction.

(PRWEB) December 30, 2005 -- Chronic fatigue syndrome has been getting more and more attention lately, partially because of new research about its causes and treatments. For years, people complaining of chronic fatigue have been disregarded as being lazy, or simply written off as hypochondriacs. New research is showing that there are certain physical conditions, particularly in relation to blood flow in the brain, that seem to be consistent among CFS sufferers. The bottom line is that CFS is real, and there are ways it can be treated. Helpful steps can be as simple as upgrading to newer bedding materials like memory foam, or adjusting one's eating patterns near bedtime.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by a chronic lack of energy, but can also include any of these symptoms: non-refreshing sleep, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, achy joints, impairment of concentration and short-term memory, and post-exertion malaise. Many people recover from CFS within a few years, as long as it is properly diagnosed. However, for other people, it can be a lifelong affliction.

There are numerous new treatments for CFS, though none of them are clinically proven. Anecdotal evidence suggests that steps like maintaining a carefully controlled diet and well-structured exercise routine can help to reduce the symptoms of CFS. It is important to note that anyone who suspects they may be suffering from CFS should always consult their doctor before attempting to treat symptoms themselves.

One of the most difficult aspects of Chronic fatigue syndrome is the accompanying insomnia and unrefreshing sleep. Like with other symptoms of CFS, the insomnia associated with the condition is somewhat of a mystery, but is at least partially related to muscle and joint soreness. As CFS sufferers sleep, their bodies rest on certain pressure points, just like anyone else sleeping on a traditional mattress. As the individual shifts in her/his sleep, they may come to rest on tender areas, causing them to wake momentarily out of deep sleep. These pressure points are what created the drive for new bedding materials like memory foam, used to produce memory foam mattresses, which can reduce or even eliminate these sleep disturbing discomforts.

Human beings need deep (REM stage) sleep, but when sleep is continually interrupted, the brain never has time to enter that essential stage. The result is that someone with chronic fatigue syndrome may get a "full" 8 hours of sleep, but never enter deep sleep, and so never be fully rested. Many people have turned to memory foam to help them escape these pressure points and sleep better, but the stakes are even higher for those with CFS. When an individual with CFS loses a night of sleep, that loss can worsen other symptoms and contribute to an ongoing cycle of exhaustion.

Because the root causes of chronic fatigue syndrome are not fully known, each individual symptom usually must be treated separately. Because sleep is so essential to living, a CFS patient can greatly increase well being by solving this single symptom of the condition. Something as simple as a consistent bedtime can make a dramatic difference to how well one sleeps. Chronic fatigue sufferers should also avoid alcohol and nicotine before bed, and try not to eat a large meal within 2 hours of going to sleep.

Equally important is a comfortable sleep system. Chronic fatigue sufferers should either make sure that their inner-spring mattress is in like-new condition, or should seek out alternative materials like memory foam to help reduce pressure points and the resulting fragmentation of sleep. There are an ever increasing number of options for people interested in memory foam sleep systems, from full mattresses to overlays designed to upgrade an existing mattress. Learn more about CFS at www.healco.com.

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