Research Brief
A study just published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology shows measurable abnormalities of blood-pressure control in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome.
Researchers monitored heart rate and blood pressure in kids 12-18 who had chronic fatigue syndrome and in healthy controls, both while they were laying down still and also while they were in conditions simulating mild orthostatic stress (low blood pressure upon standing which causes dizziness.)
They found that, in both states, the sick kids had less fluctuation in their systolic blood pressure (the top number) than the healthy kids. Researchers say this suggests abnormalities in the parasympathetic nervous system.
Previous research has shown similar abnormalities in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome. Some doctors believe that tilt table tests, which can induce orthostatic stress and thus reveal blood-pressure abnormalities, can accurately diagnose the illness; however, this method remains controversial.
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I had many of the classic precursors of chronic fatigue (mono, later a lymphoma, overachiever, very stressful period before onset, etc.) but my tilt table test, though not too far from the threshold, was negative.