Based on previous medical research, around 2 to 6 percent of people around the globe are affected by this grueling health condition known as fibromyalgia. Furthermore, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal concludes that up to 85 percent of people suffering from fibromyalgia are women, particularly in their 40s. Needless to say, men are still at fair risk of developing the said condition. So, what is it? What are the subjective and objective cues that should signal a visit to your local physician? What treatment options are available? And are there any preventive measures you should adopt immediately? This article will answer the above questions in the hopes of helping people seek medical attention as quickly as possible and impose measures to avert the condition’s development.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a health condition characterized by generalized discomfort and stiffness of the joints and muscles. It may also induce abnormal sleep patterns and subsequent chronic fatigue during the day. Years back, people who sought treatment for the condition were wrongfully advised that it was all being imagined and that it had no medical implication whatsoever. But after decades of extensive study, existence of the disease has indeed been proven.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms:
For people suffering from this musculoskeletal condition, the symptoms are somewhat inversely connected in that moderate to severe pain causes difficulty in sleep and sleep deprivation amplifies pain levels. The good thing is that if you correct one symptom, you also reduce its pair. This magnifies the significance of adequate rest and consulting with sleep specialists for effective treatment. Experts have long striven to verify the link between sleep deprivation and joint and muscle pain. Minute information is known yet a few key pieces of data indicate that sleep and pain are directly connected.
Fibromyalgia Treatment:
Usually, treatment offered to people with the condition include sleep aides that improve the quality of sleep, which greatly reduces pain levels. However, long-term effectiveness of sleep aides remain questionable. Further studies are imperative to fully understand the capacity of sleep aides in terms of providing long-term relief.
Pinpointing the cause is important to set preventive measures. For fibromyalgia however, it becomes tricky since the causes are yet to be identified. There are named factors that put a person at higher risk. This includes multiple stress injuries, vehicular injuries, or other traumatic incidents in the past. In some instances, the condition appears to be hereditary, but experts are still figuring out if this is because of genetics or the environment the family is immersed in. Rheumatoid arthritis also increases your chances of getting fibromyalgia.
Based on studies, the condition could also be accompanied by mild to severe levels of depression or anxiety disorder. Migraine and abnormal bowel activity are also found on several cases of the disease. Several other conditions can cause generalized pain and drastic decline in energy levels yet fibromyalgia is different as it usually affects cognitive and psychological functions as well.
To lower your risk of developing the condition, get adequate rest everyday and use proper body mechanics when performing any heavy physical work. This equalizes the pressure on your bones and muscles thus preventing accelerated wear and tear and possible damage.
