464 | id == 464
464 | category_id == 27
464 | category_order == 24
464 | category_name == Fatigue
464 | category_color == #C47AC0
464 | slug == CFH-fatigue
464 | title == Can This Gene Prevent Inflammation-Related Fatigue? (CFH)
464 | meta_description == CFH encodes complement factor H, which prevents excess inflammation through the complement cascade. Do you have risk alleles?
464 | summary == <p><strong><em>CFH </em>encodes complement factor H, which prevents excess inflammation through the complement cascade. Do you have risk alleles? Find out here.</strong></p>
464 | overall_score_text == Your Fatigue Score (based on CFH)
464 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/CFH-Tiredness-CFS.jpg
464 | author_id == 1
464 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
464 | author_title == BSc, BEd
464 | author_order == 36
464 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
464 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
464 | reviewer == None
464 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
464 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
464 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
464 | publish_date == 2020
464 | publish_date == 11
464 | publish_date == 6
464 | avg_rating == 5.0
464 | tags_id == 197
464 | tags_name == CFH Gene
464 | tags_id == 904
464 | tags_name == Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
464 | tags_id == 198
464 | tags_name == Complement System
464 | tags_id == 68
464 | tags_name == Fatigue
464 | tags_id == 24
464 | tags_name == Inflammation
464 | permissions_favorite == False
464 | permissions_rate == False
464 | content_article == <h2><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">encodes complement factor H, a part of the complement cascade. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may play a role in fatigue by failing to prevent excess complement activation and inflammation. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by reducing complement activation.</span></p> <h2><strong><em>CFH</em></strong><strong> and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">encodes complement factor H, a member of the complement system that helps antibodies and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/how-to-increase-and-decrease-white-blood-cells/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">white blood cells</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> bind to, attack, and kill invading bacteria [</span><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/cfh/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0198885915001809?via%3Dihub"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Complement factor H prevents the complement cascade from being activated when there is no active threat. If complement factor H is low or malfunctioning, then the complement cascade may lead to inflammatory disorders or chronic, low-grade inflammation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19297022/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/cfh/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chronic inflammation, meanwhile, has been strongly linked to fatigue disorders. When low grade inflammation persists for a long period of time, cellular energy reserves may become depleted. When cells don&rsquo;t have energy reserves to draw on, we may become fatigued as a result [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5247454/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5932180/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anti-inflammatory lifestyle and diet changes have therefore been promoted as management strategies for fatigue disorders like chronic fatigue syndrome [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835556/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One variant in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene has been associated not only with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), but with feelings of fatigue in people without CFS. People with risk alleles were more likely to report feeling exhausted during periods of anxiety [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7081342/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26116897/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with detrimental </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants may benefit from anti-inflammatory strategies that target the complement system.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes a part of the complement system that prevents excess inflammation in the absence of a threat. Variants of this gene may allow the complement cascade to activate when it shouldn&rsquo;t, causing chronic inflammation and fatigue.</span></span></p> <h2><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>CFH </em></strong><strong>Results for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome</strong></h2> <p>*1435116184373170*</p> <p><strong>CFH </strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs1061170/"><strong>rs1061170</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7081342/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26116897/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Not associated with chronic fatigue syndrome</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Associated with higher rates of chronic fatigue syndrome</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele may reduce complement factor H activity, leading to increased inflammation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19297022/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p>*8121371984331384*</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations for Increasing Energy Levels</strong></h2> <p>*6159629359034557*</p> <h3><strong>Stress Management</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Psychological </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may activate the complement cascade, so people with detrimental CFH variants may benefit more than most from stress-busting activities [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18480187/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and fatigue are closely and reciprocally linked, meaning they often co-occur and can influence each other. Stressful life events can cause not only </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ptsd-causes-treatments/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PTSD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, but also </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-real-heres-test/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chronic fatigue syndrome</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Similarly, occupational exposure to traumatic events of others (e.g., by healthcare workers) causes physical and mental fatigue, and may reduce empathy [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26143479/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24630177/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19812026/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3894419/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28119163/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for stress management has been reported to reduce fatigue from </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/my-cutting-edge-protocol-to-cure-fatigue/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chronic fatigue</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> syndrome, fibromyalgia, and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/causes-symptoms-diagnosis-risk-factors-of-multiple-sclerosis/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">multiple sclerosis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in several studies. Similarly, its combination with mindfulness </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/meditation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">meditation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (mindfulness-based stress reduction) may help with fatigue from fibromyalgia and cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7028002/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28984402/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27772557/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6719827/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31927347/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Relaxation therapy with breathing practices and muscle relaxation exercises has also been reported to help with fatigue from conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart failure, and stem cell transplantation. However, CBT was more effective in those studies that compared both treatments [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9054791/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11729022/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22967281/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15338385/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12719750/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20492052/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17057393/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17383494/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15656848/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Psychological stress may increase activation of the complement cascade, leading to inflammation and fatigue. Stress has also been strongly linked to fatigue disorders.</span></p> <h3><strong>Regular Sleep Schedule</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The complement cascade has a </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/what-it-means-to-keep-to-a-circadian-rhythm/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">circadian rhythm</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">; that is, it is more active during some parts of the day than others. To avoid disrupting this rhythm and activating complement at the wrong times, it&rsquo;s important to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7456827/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-sleep/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sleep</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is essential for optimal health. Failing to get enough quality sleep is associated with fatigue among many other health issues. People who perform shift or night work (such as healthcare professionals) are at increased risk of sleep disturbances and fatigue [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11439783/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4434546/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25940538/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6449631/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17505227/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sleep disturbances are frequent in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, multiple sclerosis, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ibd-ulcerative-colitis-crohn-genetics-lifestyle-stress-infections/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IBD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and allergic rhinitis, and can further worsen fatigue associated with these conditions [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23046847/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17573454/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24360534/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32002666/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17165263/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some clinical research suggests that therapy for sleep disturbances may improve fatigue from some of these conditions (such as cancer and multiple sclerosis). In turn, CBH for chronic fatigue syndrome has been inconsistently suggested to improve sleep quality [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3138396/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22914848/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27524207/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Complement activation follows a daily circadian rhythm. Going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day may help prevent excess inflammation and fatigue.</span></p> <h3><strong>Address Food Sensitivities</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you are experiencing inflammation-related fatigue, especially right after meals, you may have a hidden food sensitivity. Food sensitivities are generally caused by compounds from food crossing the intestinal barrier into the bloodstream, and the immune system reacting to these compounds with inflammation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835556/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mental and physical fatigue are common symptoms of sensitivity to food components such as gluten, lactose, FODMAPS, and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/lectins-beneficial-harmful/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lectins</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6586565/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25089542/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3706251/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30309810/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you suspect that your low energy levels may be due to intolerance to certain foods, consider working with an allergist or dietitian to test for food sensitivities. They will prescribe an elimination diet to help identify the cause of intolerance, followed by avoidance of the problematic food.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">People with food sensitivities may have increased complement and inflammation after eating certain foods. Removing these triggers may help improve fatigue.</span></p>
464 | content_snp_table_1435116184373170_key == 1435116184373170
464 | content_snp_table_1435116184373170_blur == True
464 | content_snp_table_1435116184373170_hidden == False
464 | content_learn_more_8121371984331384_key == 8121371984331384
464 | content_learn_more_8121371984331384_blur == True
464 | content_learn_more_8121371984331384_hidden == False
464 | content_learn_more_8121371984331384_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your CFH gene is somewhat associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of fatigue; it’s just one gene related to it. Stress management, a regular sleep schedule, and addressing food sensitivities may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
464 | content_recommendation_6159629359034557_key == 6159629359034557
464 | content_recommendation_6159629359034557_blur == True
464 | content_recommendation_6159629359034557_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs1061170
