‘Faces’ help locals see what chronic fatigue looks like

Maybe you're more than "just tired."

Tired?  Maybe it’s just a part of life.  Then again, maybe not.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome, is a complex-and misunderstood-illness, characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved with bed rest.

The condition also results in a myriad of other debilitating symptoms.

Exhaustion, poor stamina, sleep difficulties and problems with concentration and short-term memory are all signs of CFS.  The condition can also be accompanied by flu-like symptoms, joint and muscle pain, tender lymph nodes, sore throat and headache, making it even more difficult to recognize.

Though largely understated , research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other international researchers shows a growing body of evidence that CFS is a real, physical disorder.

The problem is that so many Americans-even sufferers of the illness-do not know that.

As part of a national public awareness campaign for the condition, the CFIDS Association of America has created a traveling photo exhibit, titled “The Faces of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.”  The exhibit will be displayed in Center Court at Westfield North County in Escondido from Monday, October 26 to Sunday, November 1.

The presentation will feature the stories and portraits of CFS patients, family members and health care professionals and is free and open to the public.  Shot by fashion and celebrity photographer George Lang, the exhibit is part of the first-ever national campaign for the illness.

Putting a face on CFS, the exhibit will feature 10 real people (eight CFS patients and two CFS experts) whose lives have been affected by the illness.

According to a press release by the CFIDS Association of America, more than four million Americans suffer from CFS, but less than 20 percent have actually been diagnosed.

That’s where the exhibit steps in, serving as a platform to educate the public about the diagnosis and treatment of the medical condition.

“Get informed.  Get diagnosed.  Get help.”

The theme of the campaign urges the tired masses to recognize the symptoms of CFS-all too often overlooked and dismissed-and seek medical care if they think they or a family member may be silently suffering.

“Educating the public and health care professionals about CFS is critical to achieving better diagnosis rates, better care and a more compassionate social landscape for patients,” said Kimberly McCleary, president and CEO of the CFIDS Association of America.  “This campaign provides credible, evidence-based information on an illness that is still widely misunderstood.”

The CFIDS Association of America is a nonprofit organization that funds research into the cause and treatment of CFS.

Westfield North County is located at 272 East Via Rancho Parkway in Escondido.  The mall is open from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Jennifer Reed is SDNN’s Health and Wellness editor.  Reach her at jennifer.reed(at)sdnn.com.

Tags: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CFIDS Association of America, CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, George Lang, immune dysfunction syndrome, Kimberly McCleary, SDNN, The Faces of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Westfield North County

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