You ask the question, “Why am I so tired?” You’d like an answer, even if it means that there is something wrong with your health.

Today, scientists have uncovered a biological breakthrough that offers fresh hope for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) sufferers. Yippee!

A recent study revealed that the muscle cells of patients suffering from ME (also in some circles known as CFS or ME/CFS) were abnormal. This likely could be the cause of why they are so overwhelmingly tired and cannot cope with prolonged, physical activity.

An analysis of muscle biopsies suggested that the cells had undergone substantial changes making them less able to cope with exertion.

(Audio podcast 9 minutes 9 seconds)

The finding shows that whatever the initial trigger for ME, the condition leads to a cascade of physical changes right down to the cellular level.

Despite a growing body of evidence that ME has real physical symptoms, some patients still report facing stigma due to popular misconceptions that the condition is “all in the mind”.

Professor Julia Newton, dean for clinical medicine at Newcastle University who led the study, said that the latest science was changing the way people view ME.

“You change people’s perception of this terrible symptom,” she said. “…in some cases the patients reported feeling vindicated by the findings which reveal basic biological differences between patients with ME and healthy volunteers.”

Professor Newton presented her findings in London recently at a meeting marking the launch of a UK ME collaboration aimed at generating more high quality research into the disease. This is really good news.

In her study, scientists took muscle biopsies from ten patients and from ten healthy but sedentary volunteers. The muscle cells were grown into small pieces of muscle in culture, and subjected to “exercise” in the form of electrical impulses.

The cells from ME patients produced on average 20 times as much acid when exercised, suggesting an underlying cause for the aching muscles that patients often experience as soon as they begin to exercise.

The cells also showed other abnormalities, such as reproducing more slowly.

“We have found very real abnormalities,” said Professor Newton.

WHAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TOThis scientific team hopes to further use the muscle samples as in-vitro test beds for potential medications. It would be so great to have some type of drug that helped alleviate the symptoms. Even so, scientists remain in a pitched battle to understand what causes ME/CFS in the first place.

ME (the disease) affects more than 600.000 people in Britain with a quarter of those people unable to perform even basic life activities or look after themselves. In the USA, CFS patient figures are already at the 1,000,000 mark, but some of those are not as sick as the ones with ME. (Note: current treatments for ME from the NHS include talking therapy and exercise. In the USA, treatments vary and resources can be found all over the country. However, rarely is exercise suggested for CFS nor is it considered a psychiatric illness.)

So let’s get back to your question, “Why am I so Tired?” This new data could be an answer for you and surely something your doctor can sink his or her teeth into. I urge you to check out ME and CFS more thoroughly for your research.

Thanks, Cinda Crawford

Host of the Health Matters Show