Central Sensitization Environmental Diseases (CSED)
The CSED (Central Sensitization Environmental Diseases), also known as Diseases of Central Sensitization (CSD), referred in scientific literature as Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS), comprise a set of closely related syndromes. Among the better-known today, we have:
Fibromyalgia (FM)
Fibromyalgia is a clinical syndrome characterized by generalized, chronic pain in the muscles and fibrous tissue (ligaments and tendons). It is usually diagnosed by pressure in a series of body points and the consideration of the remaining symptoms. Besides the non-rheumatic, muscle-skeleton pain, the syndrome also comprises diverse other symptoms such as sleep disorders, unexplained fatigue, headaches, temporo-mandibular disfunctions, digestive and excretory disorders, restless legs syndrome, vertigo, balance problems, paresthesias in the limbs (numbness, tingling, rigidity). On the mental and emotional level, it involves cognitive disorders (concentration and memory) and emotional disorders such as anxiety, sadness, and depression, usually derived from the painful, chronic and disabling character of the syndrome itself. It is not a rare disease, since the estimated percentage of people affected in different degrees goes from 2 to 6% of the population. Women are over 90 percent of sufferers.
Fibromyalgia is a clinical syndrome characterized by generalized, chronic pain in the muscles and fibrous tissue (ligaments and tendons). It is usually diagnosed by pressure in a series of body points and the consideration of the remaining symptoms. Besides the non-rheumatic, muscle-skeleton pain, the syndrome also comprises diverse other symptoms such as sleep disorders, unexplained fatigue, headaches, temporo-mandibular disfunctions, digestive and excretory disorders, restless legs syndrome, vertigo, balance problems, paresthesias in the limbs (numbness, tingling, rigidity). On the mental and emotional level, it involves cognitive disorders (concentration and memory) and emotional disorders such as anxiety, sadness, and depression, usually derived from the painful, chronic and disabling character of the syndrome itself. It is not a rare disease, since the estimated percentage of people affected in different degrees goes from 2 to 6% of the population. Women are over 90 percent of sufferers.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
Chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis is characterized by an excessive mental and physical tiredness (post exertion neuro-immune exhaustion) which does not improve with rest, it lasts more than 24 hours after the exertion and it reduces significantly the levels of activity that the person affected had before the syndrome. Fatigue usually comes together with other disorders, also persistent, such as recurrent flu symptoms, low grade fever, throat pain, enlargement of the lymphatic glands in the neck and axillae, diffused skeletal or muscular pains, headaches, physical and mental post-exertion discomfort, unrefreshing sleep and other sleep disorders. Mental fatigue usually includes loss of memory and sustained attention. These complex set of symptoms can lead the affected person to suffer other serious problems such as depression and family, social and work problems. It is known also as a systemic disease due to intolerance to exertion. To diagnose it, the presence of infections, and other preexisting physical diseases, and psychological disorders. It is considered a multi-organ and multi-systemic disorder which affects mainly the neurological and immunological systems, as well as the cellular energy production mechanisms. Chronic fatigue syndrome is more frequently diagnosed in women.
Chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis is characterized by an excessive mental and physical tiredness (post exertion neuro-immune exhaustion) which does not improve with rest, it lasts more than 24 hours after the exertion and it reduces significantly the levels of activity that the person affected had before the syndrome. Fatigue usually comes together with other disorders, also persistent, such as recurrent flu symptoms, low grade fever, throat pain, enlargement of the lymphatic glands in the neck and axillae, diffused skeletal or muscular pains, headaches, physical and mental post-exertion discomfort, unrefreshing sleep and other sleep disorders. Mental fatigue usually includes loss of memory and sustained attention. These complex set of symptoms can lead the affected person to suffer other serious problems such as depression and family, social and work problems. It is known also as a systemic disease due to intolerance to exertion. To diagnose it, the presence of infections, and other preexisting physical diseases, and psychological disorders. It is considered a multi-organ and multi-systemic disorder which affects mainly the neurological and immunological systems, as well as the cellular energy production mechanisms. Chronic fatigue syndrome is more frequently diagnosed in women.
Multiple chemical sensitivity (SQM)
Multiple chemical sensitivity is characterized by a whole series of symptoms triggered when the person is exposed to different environmental substances, and which affect multiple organs and systems. Symptoms can slowly improve or disappear, after a more or less lengthy period, if the affected person manages to avoid exposure to the environmental substances which trigger them. The main systems affected are the central and peripheral nervous systems (headaches, fatigue, cognitive loss, mental confusion, loss of memory and concentration), the senses (pain, burning, eye, ears, nasal passages and skin inflammation or irritation), the respiratory system (mouth, pharynx, nasal passages, lungs), the skin and the cardio-vascular, endocrine, muscle-skeleton, gastro-intestinal (nausea, diarrhea), and reproductive systems. It can also produce intense fatigue, general malaise and osteo-muscular pain. Even though it is also known as idiopathic environmental intolerance, the proximal causes or triggers of the crisis come to be well known by the affected person. Among the most well-known are substances with different degrees of toxicity o even some which, in the concentrations which affect the SQM sufferers, are usually better tolerated by other people, such as certain industrial and cleaning products, paints, gases, smoke, fungus, chemical compounds and natural ingredients used in by food and perfume industries, as well as radiation and electromagnetic fields. In severe levels, daily life becomes extremely difficult for the people affected, a situation which can generate problems of depression, anxiety and other disorders stemming from the suffering, isolation, lack of medical and general understanding and vital despair. The majority of people affected are women.
Multiple chemical sensitivity is characterized by a whole series of symptoms triggered when the person is exposed to different environmental substances, and which affect multiple organs and systems. Symptoms can slowly improve or disappear, after a more or less lengthy period, if the affected person manages to avoid exposure to the environmental substances which trigger them. The main systems affected are the central and peripheral nervous systems (headaches, fatigue, cognitive loss, mental confusion, loss of memory and concentration), the senses (pain, burning, eye, ears, nasal passages and skin inflammation or irritation), the respiratory system (mouth, pharynx, nasal passages, lungs), the skin and the cardio-vascular, endocrine, muscle-skeleton, gastro-intestinal (nausea, diarrhea), and reproductive systems. It can also produce intense fatigue, general malaise and osteo-muscular pain. Even though it is also known as idiopathic environmental intolerance, the proximal causes or triggers of the crisis come to be well known by the affected person. Among the most well-known are substances with different degrees of toxicity o even some which, in the concentrations which affect the SQM sufferers, are usually better tolerated by other people, such as certain industrial and cleaning products, paints, gases, smoke, fungus, chemical compounds and natural ingredients used in by food and perfume industries, as well as radiation and electromagnetic fields. In severe levels, daily life becomes extremely difficult for the people affected, a situation which can generate problems of depression, anxiety and other disorders stemming from the suffering, isolation, lack of medical and general understanding and vital despair. The majority of people affected are women.
Electrohipersensitivity (EHS), also known as electromagnetic hypersensitivity, electromagnetic sensitivity and electrosensitivity
When observed in the forties among radar operators, this syndrome was named medically “radar disease”, and also “intolerance of electromagnetic fields syndrome”. It is characterized by a series of symptoms linked to the exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially artificial ones. These fields include those generated by industrial and domestic devices and wiring, electrical production, transportation and distribution installations, and the radiofrequencies generated by different devices such as mobile telephone masts, mobile phones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, radar, etc. The syndrome affects numerous organs and systems, although the neurologic, immunologic, and endocrine symptoms are predominant. Its symptomatology and intensity vary according the individual and the degree of their affection. Among these symptoms are: irritability, nervousness, stress, anguish, difficulties with attention and concentration, loss of memory, confusion, imbalance, disorientation, spatial memory disorders; dryness of mucous membranes, intense thirst, polyurea, facial reddening with a sensation of burning, smarting of the skin; sensation of pinpricks or puncturing in the scalp, sensation of brick in the head, sensations of electric currents inside the brain; pricks or puncture pains in the auditive nerve, in the brain, the muscles, etc.; low grade fevers; numbing in the limbs or other parts of the body, also during sleep; headaches of growing intensity and extension, also very peculiar and persistent; tachycardias, arrythmias, nasal hemorrhages, vertigo, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus); itching of the skin, especially in the face and scalp; erythema; sensation of sand, itching or pain in the eyes, vision problems, black spots and distortions of the visual field; nauseas, digestive disorders; thermal regulation disorders; intense and fatigue not explained by exertion; muscle aches and pains; sleep disorders, generally sleeplessness during several nights after exposure, in spite of extreme fatigue.
When observed in the forties among radar operators, this syndrome was named medically “radar disease”, and also “intolerance of electromagnetic fields syndrome”. It is characterized by a series of symptoms linked to the exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially artificial ones. These fields include those generated by industrial and domestic devices and wiring, electrical production, transportation and distribution installations, and the radiofrequencies generated by different devices such as mobile telephone masts, mobile phones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, radar, etc. The syndrome affects numerous organs and systems, although the neurologic, immunologic, and endocrine symptoms are predominant. Its symptomatology and intensity vary according the individual and the degree of their affection. Among these symptoms are: irritability, nervousness, stress, anguish, difficulties with attention and concentration, loss of memory, confusion, imbalance, disorientation, spatial memory disorders; dryness of mucous membranes, intense thirst, polyurea, facial reddening with a sensation of burning, smarting of the skin; sensation of pinpricks or puncturing in the scalp, sensation of brick in the head, sensations of electric currents inside the brain; pricks or puncture pains in the auditive nerve, in the brain, the muscles, etc.; low grade fevers; numbing in the limbs or other parts of the body, also during sleep; headaches of growing intensity and extension, also very peculiar and persistent; tachycardias, arrythmias, nasal hemorrhages, vertigo, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus); itching of the skin, especially in the face and scalp; erythema; sensation of sand, itching or pain in the eyes, vision problems, black spots and distortions of the visual field; nauseas, digestive disorders; thermal regulation disorders; intense and fatigue not explained by exertion; muscle aches and pains; sleep disorders, generally sleeplessness during several nights after exposure, in spite of extreme fatigue.
In general, the above noted syndromes are more frequent in women. According to some researchers, this can be due to the more complex balance of the female hormonal system.