What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
2020-01-13
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1Chronic fatigue syndrome is one of the most troubling mysteries in modern medicine.
2Many years after first recognizing the disorder, researchers still do not know what causes it.
3Now the United States' National Institutes of Health is using volunteers in a unique study.
4The goal is to learn more about the condition, which affects an estimated 2.5 million Americans.
5For years, Zach Ault, a father of three, enjoyed being physically active.
6He was even training for a half-marathon.
7He would go on long runs in hopes of competing in the race.
8But in 2017, he took time off to recover from an infection.
9After recovering, he tried to continue his runs but could not complete them.
10An invisible disease began causing Ault problems.
11He was not able to spend time with his children.
12He had to cut back his job.
13Even sleeping as much as 16 hours a day made no difference in his condition.
14"His body had literally hijacked him and it wasn't going to allow him to push through," said Anne Ault, his wife.
15After months of testing, doctors announced their diagnosis of Ault's condition.
16Chronic fatigue syndrome makes an individual feel extremely tired.
17This fatigue lasts more than six months and becomes worse after any kind of physical exertion.
18Patients may have difficulty standing upright.
19They also may have trouble thinking, often described as a "brain fog."
20Many cases go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
21There are no approved treatments, or even tests to help with diagnosis.
22There is no way to predict who will recover and who will have a severe case that lasts for years.
23Doctors at the National Institutes of Health are looking for more clues.
24They are interested in people who came down with the disorder after an infection, of any kind, within five years.
25About 500 patients have asked about taking part in the NIH study.
26It starts with a hospitalization for blood and genetic tests, brain imaging scans, as well as other things.
27 Researchers will examine the results before deciding who to invite back for a longer visit.
28Zach Ault is one of the subjects in the study.
29Reporters from The Associated Press filmed Ault beginning a test on an exercise bicycle.
30"Go as far as you can, work as hard as you can," NIH physical therapist Bart Drinkard told Ault.
31While Ault pedals the bike, scientists measure how his leg muscles use oxygen.
32Afterward, doctors fit a special cap on Ault's head to measure electrical activity in his brain.
33They then send him to spend the night in an air-tight chamber.
34Pipes remove air from the room for additional study.
35Scientists measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to tell how much energy Ault is using, minute by minute.
36"We can calculate every molecule. It's the cleanest air we have in the hospital," said Kong Chen, a metabolism specialist at NIH.
37"We're figuring out how his body adjusts to an exercise load, or a stress load."
38The study does not offer any treatments to people with chronic fatigue syndrome.
39But Ault says it did help him learn about the disease.
40And it gave him ideas about how to save up his energy.
41"It's hard not knowing if I'm going to recover, if or when," he said.
42Until research has an answer, he says he will "hope for the best but live for right now."
43I'm John Russell.
1Chronic fatigue syndrome is one of the most troubling mysteries in modern medicine. Many years after first recognizing the disorder, researchers still do not know what causes it. 2Now the United States' National Institutes of Health is using volunteers in a unique study. The goal is to learn more about the condition, which affects an estimated 2.5 million Americans. 3Zach Ault's story 4For years, Zach Ault, a father of three, enjoyed being physically active. He was even training for a half-marathon. He would go on long runs in hopes of competing in the race. 5But in 2017, he took time off to recover from an infection. After recovering, he tried to continue his runs but could not complete them. 6An invisible disease began causing Ault problems. He was not able to spend time with his children. He had to cut back his job. Even sleeping as much as 16 hours a day made no difference in his condition. 7"His body had literally hijacked him and it wasn't going to allow him to push through," said Anne Ault, his wife. 8After months of testing, doctors announced their diagnosis of Ault's condition. 9Chronic fatigue is a difficult issue 10Chronic fatigue syndrome makes an individual feel extremely tired. This fatigue lasts more than six months and becomes worse after any kind of physical exertion. 11Patients may have difficulty standing upright. They also may have trouble thinking, often described as a "brain fog." 12Many cases go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. There are no approved treatments, or even tests to help with diagnosis. There is no way to predict who will recover and who will have a severe case that lasts for years. 13Doctors at the National Institutes of Health are looking for more clues. They are interested in people who came down with the disorder after an infection, of any kind, within five years. 14About 500 patients have asked about taking part in the NIH study. It starts with a hospitalization for blood and genetic tests, brain imaging scans, as well as other things. Researchers will examine the results before deciding who to invite back for a longer visit. 15Zach Ault is one of the subjects in the study. Reporters from The Associated Press filmed Ault beginning a test on an exercise bicycle. "Go as far as you can, work as hard as you can," NIH physical therapist Bart Drinkard told Ault. 16While Ault pedals the bike, scientists measure how his leg muscles use oxygen. Afterward, doctors fit a special cap on Ault's head to measure electrical activity in his brain. They then send him to spend the night in an air-tight chamber. Pipes remove air from the room for additional study. Scientists measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to tell how much energy Ault is using, minute by minute. 17"We can calculate every molecule. It's the cleanest air we have in the hospital," said Kong Chen, a metabolism specialist at NIH. "We're figuring out how his body adjusts to an exercise load, or a stress load." 18The study does not offer any treatments to people with chronic fatigue syndrome. But Ault says it did help him learn about the disease. And it gave him ideas about how to save up his energy. 19"It's hard not knowing if I'm going to recover, if or when," he said. 20Until research has an answer, he says he will "hope for the best but live for right now." 21I'm John Russell. 22Mike Stobbe reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 23______________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25unique - n. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else 26invisible - adj. unable to be seen; hidden 27allow - v. to permit or let 28diagnosis - n. the act of identifying a disease, illness, or problem by examining someone or something 29exertion - n. physical or mental effort 30bicycle - n. a vehicle with two wheels that is powered by two pedals 31therapist - n. a treatment aide or specialist 32pedal - n. an instrument pressed by the foot when riding a bicycle or playing a musical instrument 33metabolism - n. biology: the chemical processes by which a plant or an animal uses food or water to grow, heal amd make energy 34consequence - n. an effect, product or result 35We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.