The Biology of Post-Infectious Chronic Illness

Read "ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature" – co-authored by Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff & W. Ian Lipkin. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/... Fatigue is the body’s hard-wired response to a viral infection. In today’s episode, Haylie Pomroy shares insights with Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff to examine the history of ME/CFS research, the causes and triggers of ME/CFS and other post-infectious chronic illnesses, and the abnormalities observed in the brain and autonomic nervous system among patients with ME/CFS and long COVID. Dr. Komaroff also addresses how patients have often been dismissed within the healthcare system, explains the physical and psychological processes involved in these conditions, and discusses how he and other clinicians are now moving to the forefront of diagnosis and treatment. Key points: 00:01 Introduction 02:06 Growing interest in ME/CFS research 04:42 Why patients are dismissed by clinicians 06:01 Why “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis” is the better term 07:24 The early stages of ME/CFS research 09:37 Abnormalities in the brain and autonomic nervous system 10:36 Educating and reeducating doctors and physicians 13:02 What causes ME/CFS 17:07 What triggers ME/CFS 19:29 A combination of genetic and environmental vulnerability 21:43 Why some viruses doesn’t go away after 14 days 22:54 How ME/CFS and long COVID reactivate EBV 24:44 Honoring an illness’s complexity 26:40 Getting into the forefront of diagnostics and treatments. 29:01 Strengthening the body against symptoms 31:29 Exacerbation is an inflammatory response 35:23 Online resources and information Register for the Integrative Medicine Luncheon featuring Dr. Payam Hakimi. https://nova.zoom.us/meeting/register... Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff is a distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He has held significant leadership roles, including Director of the Division of General Medicine and Primary Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Komaroff is known for his research on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and human herpesvirus infections. He has published over 270 research articles and book chapters and served on numerous advisory committees for major health organizations. LinkedIn:   / anthony-l-komaroff-64133346   Facebook:   / anthonyl.komaroff   Solve ME: https://solvecfs.org Open Medicine Foundation: https://www.omf.ngo National Institutes of Health (NIH): https://www.nih.gov/mecfs/about-mecfs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/about/inde... Haylie Pomroy, Founder and CEO of The Haylie Pomroy Group, is a leading health strategist specializing in metabolism, weight loss, and integrative wellness. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked with top medical institutions and high-profile clients, developing targeted programs and supplements rooted in the "Food is Medicine" philosophy. Inspired by her own autoimmune journey, she combines expertise in nutrition, biochemistry, and patient advocacy to help others reclaim their health. She is a New York Times bestselling author of The Fast Metabolism Diet. Website: https://hayliepomroy.com Instagram:   / hayliepomroy   Facebook:   / hayliepomroy   YouTube:    / @hayliepomroy   LinkedIn:   / hayliepomroy   X: https://x.com/hayliepomroy Enjoy our show? Please leave us a 5-star review on the following platforms. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/154isuc... Sign up today for our newsletter. https://nova.us4.list-manage.com/subs... Website: https://www.nova.edu/nim/ Facebook:   / instituteforneuroimmunemedicine   Instagram:   / nsu_inim   Twitter:   / nsu_inim   #MECFS #LongCOVID #PostInfectiousIllness