Article Index

How is the body affected by CFS?

Most of the rest of the lecture is a specific review of the pathological (abnormal/harmful) changes in the different physiological systems in patients with CFS. These include:

a.    The autonomic nervous system, which controls vital functions in the body, including temperature, blood-pressure, certain hormonal functions, heart-beat, etc.;

b.    The immune system, which is responsible for fighting-off and controlling viruses, bacteria and other pathological microorganisms;

c.    Energy metabolism and the mitochondria (which are organelles in every cell that control energy metabolism.)

d.    Genetic studies, which illustrate differences in the genetic background of many CFS patients, and more recently in the active process of  “gene expression” in the illness;

e.    Links that have been shown between the illness and infectious agents.