scholarly journals From Body to Mind and Spirit: Qigong Exercise for Bereaved Persons with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Like Illness

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Li ◽  
Jessie S. M. Chan ◽  
Amy Y. M. Chow ◽  
Lai Ping Yuen ◽  
Cecilia L. W. Chan

Bereavement may bring negative impacts on the mind, body, and spiritual well-being of grieving persons. Some bereaved persons with chronic fatigue syndrome- (CFS-) illness experience a dual burden of distress. This study investigated the effects of bereavement on CFS-like illness by comparing bereaved and nonbereaved participants. It also adopted a random group design to investigate the effectiveness of Qigong on improving the well-being of bereaved participants. The Qigong intervention comprised 10 group sessions delivered twice a week for 5 weeks and home-practice for at least three times a week lasting 15–30 minutes each. The participants’ fatigue, anxiety, and depression, quality of life (QoL), and spiritual well-being were measured at baseline and 3 months after treatment. The bereaved participants experienced significantly greater mental fatigue (16.09 versus 14.44,p=0.017) and lower physical QoL (34.02 versus 37.17,p=0.011) than their nonbereaved counterparts. After 3 months, the mental fatigue (−8 versus −4,p=0.010) and physical fatigue (−10 versus −5,p=0.007) experienced by intervention group had declined significantly, and improvements on their spirituality (14 versus −2,p=0.013) and psychological QoL (8.91 versus 0.69,p=0.002) scores exceeded those of the control group.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasrin Bonakdari ◽  
Nadereh Mohammadi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Taghvizadeh Yazdi ◽  
Reza Norouzadeh ◽  
Mohammad Abbasinia ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Nursing is considered a stressful profession, so nurses are at higher risk of physical and mental illness. Mindfulness is an important concept for nursing with practical implications for nurse well-being, development, and quality nursing care sustainability.Objectives: This study identified mindfulness sessions' effect on nurses' chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS) and job satisfaction )JS.(Methods: A randomized clinical trial design was conducted on 80 nurses to intervention and control groups. The intervention in the intervention group was eight mindfulness sessions training, and the control group had no intervention. Nurses' CFS and JS were assessed using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory.Results: After implementing a mindfulness-based stress reduction program, the intervention group nurses reported lower CFS and higher JS than the control group(p<0.005). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate the effectiveness of mindfulness programs on improving nurses' chronic fatigue and JS. Since CFS and job dissatisfaction are two disturbing elements for nurses' optimal performance in professional and personal life, this study can recommend the implementation of mindfulness exercises as a routine, operational and uncomplicated program in nurses.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie S. M. Chan ◽  
Rainbow T. H. Ho ◽  
Chong-wen Wang ◽  
Lai Ping Yuen ◽  
Jonathan S. T. Sham ◽  
...  

Background. Anxiety/depressive symptoms are common in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome- (CFS-) like illness. Qigong as a modality of complementary and alternative therapy has been increasingly applied by patients with chronic illnesses, but little is known about the effect of Qigong on anxiety/depressive symptoms of the patients with CFS-like illness.Purpose. To investigate the effects of Qigong on fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in patients with CFS-illness.Methods. One hundred and thirty-seven participants who met the diagnostic criteria for CFS-like illness were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a waitlist control group. Participants in the intervention group received 10 sessions of Qigong training twice a week for 5 consecutive weeks, followed by home-based practice for 12 weeks. Fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and postintervention.Results. Total fatigue score [F1,135=13.888,P<0.001], physical fatigue score [F1,135=20.852,P<0.001] and depression score [F1,135=9.918,P=0.002] were significantly improved and mental fatigue score [F1,135=3.902,P=0.050] was marginally significantly improved in the Qigong group compared to controls. The anxiety score was not significantly improved in the Qigong group.Conclusion. Qigong may not only reduce the fatigue symptoms, but also has antidepressive effect for patients with CFS-like illness. Trial registrationHKCTR-1200.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangnan Wu ◽  
Chaolu Huder ◽  
Zhenjun Tian

Objective To investigate the effects of exogenous VD3 on exercise-induced chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and its mechanism. Methods 80 male mice were randomly divided into 5 groups(n=16). One group was named as quiet control group (C) while the other four were used to build CFS model by forced swimming. Among the four groups, three were selected for feeding VD3 1 h before exercise (bVD), 15 min after starting exercise (mVD) and 1 h after exercise (aVD) respectively, and the group without VD3 feeding was CFS model group (CFS). The behavior and condition of mice was observed during the whole process. After the training was completed totally, the tail suspension test and the forced swimming test were implemented, and then the blood and quadriceps were dissected. Serum testosterone and corticosterone content, as well as the antioxidant system indexes in the quadriceps, including malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), were measured. Routine western blotting experimentation was used to measure signal pathway indicators, containing SIRT1, SIRT3, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2 and MEK1/2. Results Compared with C group, CFS group appeared serious damage caused by fighting, and the concentration of serum testosterone decreased significantly (p<0.01 or p<0.05) while cortisol concentration increased significantly (p<0.01 or p<0.05). Regarding antioxidant stress system indexes, the expression of MDA, T-SOD and GSH-PX significantly increased (p<0.05). The concentration of MEK and SIRT3 decreased significantly (p<0.01 or p<0.05). Compared with CFS group, VD intervention group (bVD, mVD and aVD) showed less damage caused by fighting and significantly lighter body weight (p<0.05), and the concentration of serum testosterone increased significantly (p<0.05) while that of cortisol decreased significantly (p<0.01 or p<0.05). The expression of MDA decreased significantly (p<0.05), on the countrary, T-AOC, T-SOD and GSH-PX increased significantly (p<0.05). The expressions of MEK, p-ERK/ERK, SIRT1 and SIRT3 were significantly upregulated (p<0.01 or p<0.05). Conclusions Exogenous VD3 could alleviate CFS, which probably related to activate the MEKs/ERKs-SIRT1 signal transduction axis and hence regulate the expression of SIRT3.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 961
Author(s):  
Paula Fernandez-Guerra ◽  
Ana C. Gonzalez-Ebsen ◽  
Susanne E. Boonen ◽  
Julie Courraud ◽  
Niels Gregersen ◽  
...  

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a heterogeneous, debilitating, and complex disease. Along with disabling fatigue, ME/CFS presents an array of other core symptoms, including autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction, sustained inflammation, altered energy metabolism, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we evaluated patients' symptomatology and the mitochondrial metabolic parameters in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma from a clinically well-characterised cohort of six ME/CFS patients compared to age- and gender-matched controls. We performed a comprehensive cellular assessment using bioenergetics (extracellular flux analysis) and protein profiles (quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics) together with self-reported symptom measures of fatigue, ANS dysfunction, and overall physical and mental well-being. This ME/CFS cohort presented with severe fatigue, which correlated with the severity of ANS dysfunction and overall physical well-being. PBMCs from ME/CFS patients showed significantly lower mitochondrial coupling efficiency. They exhibited proteome alterations, including altered mitochondrial metabolism, centred on pyruvate dehydrogenase and coenzyme A metabolism, leading to a decreased capacity to provide adequate intracellular ATP levels. Overall, these results indicate that PBMCs from ME/CFS patients have a decreased ability to fulfill their cellular energy demands.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2327
Author(s):  
Sławomir Kujawski ◽  
Joanna Słomko ◽  
Lynette Hodges ◽  
Derek F. H. Pheby ◽  
Modra Murovska ◽  
...  

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is regarded as the hallmark symptom in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The aim of the current study is to explore differences in CFS patients with and without PEM in indicators of aortic stiffness, autonomic nervous system function, and severity of fatigue. One-hundred and one patients met the Fukuda criteria. A Chronic Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ) and Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) were used to assess the level of mental and physical fatigue. Aortic systolic blood pressure (sBPaortic) and the autonomic nervous system were measured with the arteriograph and Task Force Monitor, respectively. Eighty-two patients suffered prolonged PEM according to the Fukuda criteria, while 19 did not. Patients with PEM had higher FIS scores (p = 0.02), lower central systolic blood pressure (p = 0.02) and higher mental fatigue (p = 0.03). For a one-point increase in the mental fatigue component of the CFQ scale, the risk of PEM increases by 34%. For an sBPaortic increase of 1 mmHg, the risk of PEM decreases by 5%. For a one unit increase in sympathovagal balance, the risk of PEM increases by 330%. Higher mental fatigue and sympathetic activity in rest are related to an increased risk of PEM, while higher central systolic blood pressure is related to a reduced risk of PEM. However, none of the between group differences were significant after FDR correction, and therefore conclusions should be treated with caution and replicated in further studies.


2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1185-1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
SIMON HATCHER ◽  
ALLAN HOUSE

Background. The role of stress in the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome is unclear. Our objectives in this study were first, to determine the relation between the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome and stressful life events and difficulties. Secondly, we examined the role of a particular type of problem, dilemmas, in the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome.Method. We used a case–control design with 64 consecutive referrals from an Infectious Diseases/Liaison Psychiatry Fatigue clinic and 64 age- and sex-matched controls from a general practice population control group in Leeds. We had two main outcome measures; the odds ratios of the risk of developing chronic fatigue syndrome after experiencing a severe life event, severe difficulties or both in the year and 3 months preceding onset; and the proportion of subjects in each group who experienced a dilemma prior to onset.Results. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were more likely to experience severe events and difficulties in the 3 months (OR=9, 95% CI 3·2 to 25·1) and year (OR=4·3, 95% CI 1·8 to 10·2) prior to onset of their illness than population controls. In the 3 months prior to onset 19 of the 64 patients (30%) experienced a dilemma compared to none of the controls.Conclusions. Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with stressful events and difficulties prior to onset. Those events and difficulties characterized as being dilemmas seem to be particularly important.


2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 595-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefaan Van Damme ◽  
Geert Crombez ◽  
Boudewijn Van Houdenhove ◽  
An Mariman ◽  
Walter Michielsen

1995 ◽  
Vol 237 (5) ◽  
pp. 499-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
CAROLINE M. A. SWANINK ◽  
JAN H. M. M. VERCOULEN ◽  
GIJS BLEIJENBERG ◽  
JAN F. M. FENNIS ◽  
JOEP M. D. GALAMA ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (28) ◽  
pp. 4387-4395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyson B. Moadel ◽  
Chirag Shah ◽  
Judith Wylie-Rosett ◽  
Melanie S. Harris ◽  
Sapana R. Patel ◽  
...  

Purpose This study examines the impact of yoga, including physical poses, breathing, and meditation exercises, on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, distressed mood, and spiritual well-being among a multiethnic sample of breast cancer patients. Patients and Methods One hundred twenty-eight patients (42% African American, 31% Hispanic) recruited from an urban cancer center were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio) to a 12-week yoga intervention (n = 84) or a 12-week waitlist control group (n = 44). Changes in QOL (eg, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy) from before random assignment (T1) to the 3-month follow-up (T3) were examined; predictors of adherence were also assessed. Nearly half of all patients were receiving medical treatment. Results Regression analyses indicated that the control group had a greater decrease in social well-being compared with the intervention group after controlling for baseline social well-being and covariates (P < .0001). Secondary analyses of 71 patients not receiving chemotherapy during the intervention period indicated favorable outcomes for the intervention group compared with the control group in overall QOL (P < .008), emotional well-being (P < .015), social well-being (P < .004), spiritual well-being (P < .009), and distressed mood (P < .031). Sixty-nine percent of intervention participants attended classes (mean number of classes attended by active class participants = 7.00 ± 3.80), with lower adherence associated with increased fatigue (P < .001), radiotherapy (P < .0001), younger age (P < .008), and no antiestrogen therapy (P < .02). Conclusion Despite limited adherence, this intent-to-treat analysis suggests that yoga is associated with beneficial effects on social functioning among a medically diverse sample of breast cancer survivors. Among patients not receiving chemotherapy, yoga appears to enhance emotional well-being and mood and may serve to buffer deterioration in both overall and specific domains of QOL.


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