Dysautonomia, dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, can significantly impact the gastrointestinal system by disrupting control over gut function, leading to symptoms like nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhoea. Individuals with ME/CFS, frequently report gut issues or have dysautonomia-related comorbidities, such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS).
Gastroparesis – delayed stomach emptying – is a condition, sometimes reported by individuals with ME/CFS, involving dysautonomia and affecting digestion causing a myriad of related symptoms.
It is thought that autonomic nervous system dysfunction can contribute to the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that is frequently reported by individuals with ME/CFS.
The gut and the brain communicate via the gut-brain axis – a two-way communication system involving neural (autonomic and enteric (gut) nervous system), hormonal and immunological pathways that impact on overall health. A disrupted microbiome (community of microorganisms within the body), which has been implicated in ME/CFS, can influence the gut-brain axis.
