In the News
Keep up to date with the latest news articles from around the world.
Articles represent the views of their authors and not ME/CFS SA. Always seek advice from a registered health practitioner before changing your care plan.
06 October, 2024
How Long COVID Could Lift The Fog On Neurocognitive Disorders
Neurocognitive symptoms, including an impaired ability to process and memorize information, are among the most common and debilitating manifestations of long COVID, a disease experienced by as many as 400 million people worldwide, by one recent estimate (Z. Al-Aly et al. Nature Med. 30, 2148–2164; 2024). These symptoms, which can develop alongside those resulting from diseases of the lungs, heart and other organs, affect patients’ everyday functioning for months or even years following COVID-19. Matthew Fitzgerald, a 28-year-old former engineer at Tesla, described his long-COVID-related impairment during a clinic visit: “I’m a shell of myself. My physical issues aren’t half as bad as my brain problems. You can say brain fog, but that doesn’t come close to doing it justice.”
05 October, 2024
Muscle Relaxants Not As Effective For Chronic Pain – Yale Review
The long-term use of muscle relaxants may benefit patients with painful spasms or cramps and neck pain, according to a systematic review of clinical studies, but they do not appear to be beneficial for low back pain, fibromyalgia, or headaches and can have adverse effects such as sedation and dry mouth.
05 October, 2024
For One Runner With Chronic Illness, Upcoming Marathon Is A Chance To Show What's Possible
Runners from all over the country are eagerly awaiting the iconic Twin Cities Marathon this Sunday, especially after the event was cancelled last year from unprecedented heat. Running 26.2 miles is an incredible feat for anyone, but for some struggling with chronic health conditions, it can seem impossible.
04 October, 2024
Service Members Often Fail To Receive Suitable Follow-up Care For Fibromyalgia
A new study has found that nearly half of military service members diagnosed with fibromyalgia fail to receive follow-up care and those that did generally received highly variable care as according to treatment guidelines.
04 October, 2024
How viral persistence and immune dysfunction drive long COVID
New research reveals how lingering viral activity and immune disruption contribute to long COVID, highlighting novel therapeutic strategies that could change the course of treatment for millions.
03 October, 2024
Variations In Fibromyalgia Severity Linked To Geographic Region
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to investigate the presence of differences in disease severity in Italian patients with fibromyalgia from different macro-regions.
03 October, 2024
The Role Of The Microbiota And Potential For Dietary Intervention In Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A review that summarizes the role of the gut microbiota in CFS and the potential for dietary intervention to alleviate its debilitating symptoms. Future research is needed to unravel the mechanisms underlying the health benefit of probiotics. In addition, randomized control trials assessing long-term safety and benefits on clinical endpoints are required before the medical community will accept the addition of probiotics as supplements for CFS.
02 October, 2024
It’s Dysautonomia Awareness Month – But We Need To Talk About EDS And ME/CFS
Every October, it’s Dysautonomia Awareness Month: shedding light on a group of conditions that involve dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). One of the most discussed conditions under the dysautonomia umbrella is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a disorder that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life, often leaving them with debilitating fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty standing upright. POTS supposedly can exist on its own, but it is frequently linked to other conditions – notably the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), and consequently many long Covid patients.
02 October, 2024
The Times View On The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Inquest: Respect ME
If a coroner judges that the inquest they have presided over illustrates a wider problem liable to be repeated in future cases they can issue a prevention of future deaths report. This is intended to disseminate to relevant bodies such as government departments, the police or the health service information that will help prevent fatal errors by increasing awareness and establishing best practice. In addition to helping others, such a report can provide solace to those who have lost loved ones and want to know that some good has resulted from personal tragedy — that others might be saved by lessons painfully learnt.
02 October, 2024
Exeter: Inquest For Woman Died Of 'Chronic Fatigue' At RD&E
There are no current plans to address a nationwide deficiency in the provision of specialist hospital units and beds for patients with severe chronic fatigue syndrome, a senior doctor told an inquest. Dr Anthony Hemsley said he believed NHS England was not carrying out “any active work on this at the current time” to address the issue following the death of Maeve Boothby-O’Neill, 27.