What is it?

Mitochondrial disease is caused by a problem with one or more of the genes that make up mitochondria. Mitochondria are found in nearly all cells in the body and have many functions, but most importantly they produce energy.

Often these faulty genes are inherited from your parents. Mitochondrial disease can affect any organ in the body and can cause a wide range of symptoms which can make it tricky to diagnose.

Some examples of issues are poor balance/coordination, headaches, double vision, hearing loss, weakness, muscle pain and cramps, difficulty swallowing, constipation, underactive thyroid, liver and kidney problems and enlarged heart.

There is no cure for mitochondrial disease, however there are a lot of things that can help with managing the symptoms.