Cellular Hypoxia and Neuro-Immune Fatigue [Paperback]

David S. Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2007

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have severe and sometimes disabling symptoms, yet the affected patient looks well. In this book a mechanism is presented arguing that these illnesses are defined by decreased cellular energy production. This is not a book that describes the signs and symptoms of the illnesses; it is a book that explores mechanisms that lie beneath the complex symptom patterns. Dr. David Bell is a well recognized expert in chronic fatigue syndrome. He is the author of several books and was chairman of the Department of Health and Human Services Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 100 pages
• Publisher: WingSpan Press (July 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595941797
• ISBN-13: 978-1595941794
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #640,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spot-on, and a page-turner, September 24, 2007

By 

kerrjac - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cellular Hypoxia and Neuro-Immune Fatigue (Paperback)

One of the signs of a great mind is the ability to analyze a new area of science in order to make it easier to grasp. It's not a question of dumbing down the material or over-simplifying it. It's a question of choosing how to categorize things, looking at both the forest and the trees, and knowing which details to focus on.

Dr. Bell has accomplished this task in his new book, "Cellular Hypoxia and Neuro-Immune Fatigue". In this book, Bell is able to cogently summarize the different strings of research on chronic fatigue syndrome and related disorders, while providing strong ideas for the future of medical research. He is able to go through the literature with the proficiency of a skilled athlete, who makes difficult tasks look graceful. It's been a long time since I've read a non-fiction book that was truly a page-turner.

As Bell points out, the research on CFS is scattered. It is as if chronic fatigue syndrome is simultaneously everywhere in the body and nowhere in the body. Over the past few years, chronic fatigue syndrome has been the short-lived focus of diverse areas of research: experts in cardiology, autoimmunity, gastrointerology, endocrinology, infection, psychiatry, and other fields have all attempted to add to the puzzle, and often with little avail. Such experts will often draw conclusions that range from sheer bafflement at the illness to disbelief of the patient. The symptom presentation alone would suggest that the condition may be caused by damage to many different systems of the body. And at times studies will support this. Yet these studies are often not directly applicable to clinical practice; and it is clear that few of them get at the root cause of the illness.

In spite of this maze, Bell understands the importance of brevity. In a world where science is constantly changing, there is push-and-pull between specialized and generalized knowledge. In this book, Bell always goes straight to the point. At times, you get the impression that writing this book was an exercise in restraint; as if Bell was asking himself "What details are simply most essential?" instead of "What have I left out?"

In erring on the side of less rather than more, this book provides a sensible conceptualization of the illness, and I get the impression that it is more likely to find itself under the arm of physicians and researchers. It almost seems like it was written specifically to sneak its way into already busy and crowded minds. At the same time, Bell writes in a warm and inviting tone. He raises many ideas and questions; but he also focuses the reader on the tangible questions that can and need to be answered first.

The book's central argument is almost deceptively simple: Look at the cellular processes, and nitric oxide, and the conversion of energy, and the potential way that the immune system and the neurological system can affect these areas. Dysfunctions in these areas are likely to involve multiple organs and physical systems; consequently, research or treatment that only focuses on one organ or system is likely to be insufficient.

Bell's approach in writing this book should be tempered with the enormous task of dedicated writers in this field. There's a lot to cover: Since physicians often don't recognize the signs of ME/CFS, there's a need to adequately describe the symptom presentation. Since standard treatment often does little to fully relieve the symptoms, books on ME/CFS often provide miscellaneous ideas for treatment. Since academic research has not fully taken on the problem, remedies often consist of herbs, Eastern treatments, and oftentimes recommendations that lack empirical validation. Since most physicians lack a basic understanding, writers have often provide patients with warm and encouraging words of support. Bell has confined himself to only discussing the latest scientific ideas behind ME/CFS.

In sketching his overall argument, Bell highlights the major areas of research into ME/CFS, but he also draws out information from other fields. He draws connections bewteen facets of ME/CFS and multiple sclerosis, hypothyroidism, autoimmunity, and even septic shock. Despite the book's brevity, fully realized, its implications are likely to extend far beyond understanding ME/CFS.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a puzzling phenomena - it is currently on the horizon of science, as researchers are just beginning to connect many of the dots, but it remains just beyond our grasp. To try to understand it is to directly confront the unknown; as expected, medical experts' reactions are almost always in the extreme. However, a curious reader can extract many important lessons about the principles of science here: Its rigidity and flexibility; the clash between common sense and scientific skepticism; the methods by which scientific results are applied to decision-making; the benefits and limitations of current methods of empirical measurement.

Perhaps most importantly, Bell draws an arrow towards what he thinks is the future of this field: The study of cellular and metabolic processes. Current research into the genetics of ME/CFS is already beginning to lay the groundwork for this area. Hopefully, after reading this book, medical experts will further continue to pursue this direction.

46 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pieces of the Puzzle Coming Together, August 15, 2007

By 

Little Dorrit "ldorrit" (WA state) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cellular Hypoxia and Neuro-Immune Fatigue (Paperback)

Thank you, Dr. Bell, not only for this your latest publication, but for all the years you've been a champion for all of us with ME/CFS/FM.

I've had ME/CFS/FM for more than 26 years and have always tried to be current with research on this terrible illness. But in the past few years the amount of information coming from doctors/researchers/organizations has been to say the least overwhelming.

Dr. Bell has taken a measure of all of the recently emerging research/theses/ideas about this and similar neuro-immune illnesses and processed them into what is the most understandable form I've yet encountered. He has kept it technical enough for health care professionals to be interested/informed, yet simple enough for patients to comprehend.

I've just purchased another copy to send to my doctor, I want him to be ready when the next inevitable step, successful treatment arrives. For the first time in many years I'm hopeful after reading this monograph, thanks again, Dr. Bell.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, October 26, 2007

By 

C. Yri (Oslo, Norway) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cellular Hypoxia and Neuro-Immune Fatigue (Paperback)

This book is easy to read and understand and breaks down the complicated biological processes that take place in the ME patient. Being a ME patient myself, I have found it essential to understand these processes and I identify with everything that is described here. Especially important has this been as the majority of medical opinions, in traditional arrogance, will point the ME patient towards the psychological explanation. Thanks David, for a great book, and for the sense of humour you deliver it with ;-)