INTERNATIONAL CHRONIC IMMUNOLOGICAL AND NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES DAY (CIND)

Come together for IMMUNOLOGICAL AND NEUROLOGICAL health on May 12^th 2016.

May 12th has been designated as International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND) since 1992.

The CIND illnesses include Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).

May 12th was chosen as it is the birthday of Florence Nightingale. She was believed to have suffered from ME/CFS.

What do fibromyalgia,  Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have in common?

The answer is that they are classified as Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CINDs). And since 1992, every May 12th has been recognized as International Awareness Day for CINDs. Today, in conjunction with Fibromyalgia Awareness Month, it’s time to recognize everyone living with a CIND.

While fibromyalgia and ME/CFS are both CINDs, each is a little different.

Check out some quick facts about each condition:

Fibromyalgia:

Affects 5 million Americans over the age of 18, and the majority are women.

The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown

Common symptoms include insomnia, headaches, pain and tingling in the hands and feet

ME/CFS2

Affects between 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans

The large majority of people living with ME/CFS have not been diagnosed

There are five main symptoms of ME/CFS, as opposed to the more general symptoms of fibromyalgia:

·         Profound fatigue that impairs carrying out normal daily activities

·         Un-refreshing sleep

·         Cognitive impairment

·         Symptoms that worsen when a person stands up

·         Symptoms that worsen after exerting any type (emotional, physical) effort.

Does not have active medical condition to explain the chronic fatigue, nor any psychosis, melancholic depression, substance abuse, dementia, or anorexia nervosa/bulimia.

·         CFS: Who are the patients?

·         Age: mid 30’s (5-65)

·         Sex: 65% female

·         Socioeconomic: Middle-class, but more common among African-American/Latino minority populations on population –based surveys.

·         Education: 50% college graduates in office-based

·         Severity: 50% intermittently bedridden/shut-in

·         Duration: 14 years (4-36years) in patients.

Severe fatigue that persists or relapses for >6months, of new or definite onset, not substantially alleviated by rest, resulting in substantial reduction in activities:

And 4 or more of the following symptoms are currently present for >6 months.

•             Impaired memory/concentration

•             Sore throat

•             Multi-joint pain

•             Un-refreshing sleep

•             Neck/axillary adenopathy.

•             Muscle pain

•             New headaches

•             Post-exertion malaise

Sudden onset:

In 78% of our patients, the CNS started suddenly, usually with a “flu”, “virus” and “bad cold”.

·         Sore throat

·         Cough

·         Rhinorrhea

·         Swollen glands

·         Myalgia

·         Fever

·         Headache

·         Diarrhea

Post-exertion malaise 

After even modest exertion:

·         Fatigue gets much worse - 81%

·         All muscles become weak- 47%

·         New/worse difficulty concentrating- 50%

·         New/worse sore throat- 33%

·         New/worse adenopathy - 28%

·         New/worse fevers- 23%

·         Never had before CFS- 71%

REMEMBER TO SHINE …!!!

BE PAINFREE..!!!

THANKS FOR CARING ENOUGH TO HELP….!!!

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