The Crippling Effects of Post-Exertional Malaise.

• Position: CHRONIC FATIGUE

One of the major symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is post-exertional malaise (PEM), the worsening of symptoms after physical or mental activities. Using their own words and experiences, people with ME/CFS described how debilitating PEM can be in a study in Frontiers in Neurology.

"Post-exertional malaise following normal activities is unique to ME/CFS and we do not understand the biology underlying this severe and harmful feature of the disease," says Walter Koroshetz, director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. "In-depth conversations with people who experienced post-exertional malaise and listening to them describe their individual experiences can provide a perspective not achieved through surveys. This study provides a window into just how much post-exertional malaise can affect a person's quality of life."

ME/CFS is a debilitating, chronic disease that may affect between 836,000 and 2,500,000 people in the U.S. In addition to PEM, people with ME/CFS often will experience pain, cognitive difficulties, and severe fatigue that does not improve with rest. The disease can affect all parts of the body, including the immune, metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. There is no treatment for ME/CFS.

Qualitative analysis from the focus groups reveals...