Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) is a long-term (chronic), fluctuating, neurological condition that causes many symptoms and effects many body systems, more commonly the immune and nervous systems. M.E. affects an estimated 250,000 people in the UK, and around 17 million people worldwide.
People with M.E. can experience debilitating pain, severe fatigue and a range of other symptoms associated with post-exertional malaise - the body and brains inability to recover after expending even small amounts of energy.
With symptoms experienced differently by each person and the condition varying from mild to severe, one in four people with M.E. are so severely ill they are house or bed-bound, too ill to take even a single step.
Action for M.E. works to end the ignorance, injustice and neglect experienced by men, women and children with M.E. We provide a lifeline of support to thousands of people, , campaign to raise awareness and work to encourage more high-quality biomedical research.