Have Scientists Found the Cure for Chronic Fatigue?

Too much work, not enough time to sleep. Don't have the time to exercise, you find everything boring or exhausting. Your memory seems to fail you, and you catch cold too easily.

Do you sometimes wonder why you are so tired all the time? Do you watch people and think, "I wish I have as much energy to be more active." Everyday you are lethargic, even though you know you are a perfectly normal person.

Chronic fatigue is characterized by "mental and physical exhaustion, memory lapses, muscle pain, insomnia, digestive distress and other health problems." Do you experience any of these? If so, you are probably infected with a retrovirus called xenotropic murine-leukemia-virus-related virus or XMRV. Back in October 2009, the magazine Science has reported the possible connection between the XMRV and the symptoms of chronic fatigue.

In the study of 101 people suffering from chronic exhaustion, two-thirds were diagnosed with XMRV. The scientists also tested 218 normal people and detected XMRV in their blood -- but only 4 percent of them are infected. Surprisingly, this retrovirus is also diagnosed in men with malignant prostate cancer, according to a different study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The retrovirus XMRV originated from mice, and some types of retroviruses actually cause diseases in many furry animals. The XMRV targets a person's immune system and makes one vulnerable to diseases, much like HIV.

There are always great ways to boost your energy if you feel you are experiencing lethargy or chronic fatigue. I believe the motivation to move itself is one of the excellent ways to beat tiredness. You can:

1. Get up and around the house, do some chores or work in the yard or garden.
2. Find some interesting friends and discuss your passion and hobbies.
3. Exercise vigorously and get some sun.
4. If a warm cup of coffee in the morning doesn't get your system running, try an alternating hot and cold shower.
5. Get a good night's sleep or a much-needed nap.

Chronic fatigue does not have a cure, but the discovery of XMRV may lead scientists to a solution. Even though the retrovirus itself is not yet determined to be the cause of persistent exhaustion among 1 to 4 million people in the U.S., it is a promising start to find the cure. In fact, more testing is underway for anti-retroviral drugs that will hopefully benefit those who are affected.