Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) is the cardinal symptom of ME, and is also known as neuroimmune exhaustion. The mechanism behind PEM is unclear, but researchers have theorized that it may result from sensory or cognitive overexertion. Regardless of how it develops, ME is characterized by a substantial loss in cognitive and physical functioning. In severe cases, patients may be bed-bound for weeks at a time.
The medical community does not have any reliable test to confirm a diagnosis of ME. This means that diagnosis can take years. Many people with ME struggle for years to get the correct diagnosis. In fact, approximately 90 percent of those with ME are not diagnosed or given the wrong diagnosis, and some are even told they are not sick. The disease can be difficult to diagnose because of a lack of awareness and education about the disease. Because of these issues, treatments for ME are often highly customized and individualized.
Despite consistent biological abnormalities, ME remains a complex condition. It can take years to be diagnosed. Because the disease has no single, objective test, most people with ME spend years in search of the right diagnosis. The fact that most sufferers fail to get the correct diagnosis is a major reason for the long period of suffering that ME sufferers experience. Unfortunately, the majority of individuals with ME are not properly diagnosed. They are misdiagnosed, and their symptoms remain undetected for years.
Although the term “chronic fatigue syndrome” is still widely used in the medical community, the disease has been occurring in epidemic form since the 1930s. Some medical professionals believe that the term is a shortened form of “chronic fatigue syndrome.” However, there are several other names for the disease. For example, there are sporadic forms of this illness, which are considered to be the same. Therefore, doctors should use the proper diagnosis for the patient.
Although ME is an important part of the medical world, some experts believe that it is a separate condition. Moreover, the disease’s clinical manifestations and its biological characteristics are consistent with that of the chronic fatigue syndrome. As a result, it is often difficult to distinguish between different types of symptoms. Some doctors even claim that it is an illness, but this is not true. Nevertheless, it is a distinct disease. Some people have the condition in the short form, while others have it in the long form.
The term ME was first used in the 1930s, and it is still widely used today. In many countries, it is used instead of chronic fatigue syndrome. In the United States, however, the disease has been referred to under several names, but the disease is often misdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness or knowledge about it. Despite the lack of a standardized diagnosis, the symptoms of ME may be a good indicator of a disease with a psychological component.