Greater than 1 million People have myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Whereas researchers tie it to issues involving the brain, immune system, and power metabolism, the causes of the sickness and a treatment stay undiscovered. Dana J. Brimmer, PhD, a visiting scientist on the CDC, explains what medical doctors do know.
Q: What is that this illness?
Brimmer: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a severe, long-term sickness that may radically alter sufferers’ lives and final for years. Folks with ME/CFS usually have [symptoms that include moderate, severe, and substantial] pain, [debilitating] fatigue, and sleep issues.
Whereas there is no such thing as a treatment, a analysis will help sufferers and households by giving them a greater understanding of ME/CFS and data about managing signs. As well as, [the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)] now provides medical doctors the steerage they should consider and handle the situation.
What are the signs?
In accordance with the [NAS], ME/CFS has 5 most important signs:
- A big drop in means to carry out an individual’s common actions that lasts for greater than 6 months and is accompanied by fatigue
- Signs that worsen after doing bodily or psychological actions that might have been “common” earlier than they grew to become ailing (often known as post-exertional malaise, or PEM)
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Problem pondering, processing info, or concentrating
- Signs that worsen when an individual stands up however enhance when mendacity down (often known as orthostatic intolerance)
Many sufferers with ME/CFS say that PEM is the symptom that interferes with their lives essentially the most. PEM is just not all the time predictable, so it’s laborious to plan actions. For instance, an individual with ME/CFS might be able to go to the grocery retailer with out issues on some days. However on others, the journey might confine them to mattress relaxation for a number of days after. Folks with ME/CFS may additionally have ache, a sore throat, or flu-like signs.
What if an individual suspects ME/CFS?
Discuss to a physician. Solely a health care supplier could make a analysis. Since signs range, some sufferers discover it useful to maintain monitor of signs and produce a listing to the primary appointment. Folks can discover details about ME/CFS on the web sites of the CDC and the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH).
How can I assist somebody with ME/CFS?
ME/CFS impacts sufferers, households, and associates. Crucial assist you’ll be able to present is to know that the sickness is actual and has long-term penalties. The severity of ME/CFS varies by particular person — for instance, some individuals can nonetheless work, however others are very sick and homebound.
The sickness may also range for a single affected person — generally she could seem “tremendous,” whereas different occasions, she could also be too ailing to do regular actions. Attempt to perceive these ups and downs, and ask what you are able to do to assist.
By the Numbers
2x: Variety of ladies who’ve ME/CFS as in comparison with males, though individuals of each sexes can have the situation.
30s and 40s: Ages when the situation most frequently seems. But it surely can also have an effect on younger children, teens, and older adults.
$17 billion to $24 billion: Quantity in annual medical payments and misplaced earnings on account of ME/CFS within the U.S.
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