Baldiness

CFS Awareness Day

by Bald Man on May 12th, 2006

Today, is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Awareness Day. I mention it, because hair loss is frequently experienced by those who suffer from CFS and it’s related ailment, fibromyalgia (FMS). Adelle, co-editor of CFS-Squared, has asked me to help get the word out.
What is CFS? Adelle points to this article for a concise summary:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a complex disorder and is characterized by extreme fatigue that does not improve with rest. Unfortunately, the exact cause of this condition is not known. However, it is commonly thought that the symptoms may be due to an immune system disorder or by some type of virus.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not like the normal fatigue, which occurs due to everyday life. The early sign of this illness is severe fatigue that comes on suddenly, and may be short termed or last for a prolonged period of time (over six months). With this condition you may feel too tired to participate in normal activities, such as work, or sports activities that you have always enjoyed.

Unlike general fatigue the profound weakness felt with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome does not go away with a few good nights of sleep. It instead slowly robs your body of energy over a period of months and sometimes years. It is estimated that approximately 500,000 people in the United States are affected by this condition. This disease most often occurs in adults between the ages of 25-45, and women are twice as likely as men to acquire this condition. In some cases however, this condition does occur in teenagers who have had the mononucleosis virus previously.

Interestingly, hair loss doesn’t appear to be caused by CFS directly. Rather, those who suffer from CFS often experience other conditions that tend to cause or accelerate hair loss. From an FAQ on CFS/FMS assembled by Marilyn J. Kerr, RN:

Help! I seem to be losing my hair. Is that a symptom of FMS?

Hair loss can be caused by many illness, syndromes, and/or diseases. Factors that are involved in hair loss include heredity, hormones, aging, poor circulation, acute illness, surgery, radiation exposure, skin disease, sudden weight loss, high fever, iron deficiency, diabetes, thyroid disease, some drugs used in chemotherapy, stress, poor diet, and vitamin deficiencies. Neither FMS nor CFS actually causes the hair loss (as far as is known medically), but we generally have one or more of the above possible factors for hair loss.

For more information on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia:

• CFS-Squared - co-edited by Adelle & Grace Tilton, mother and daughter who both suffer from CFS.

  The CFIDS Association of America

  National Fibromyalgia Association

Share This

Related Stories

I’m A Kid Foundation
Hair Loss and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
March Is Scams Awareness Month
Dozens Go Bald For St. Baldrick’s
You Could Be Mr. Movember

POSTED IN: Bald Organizations, Bald Women, Facts & Figures