4 Simple Changes to Regain Your Life from Fibromyalgia
What You Need To Know: Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
According to the American College of Rheumatology, Fibromyalgia
affects 3 to 6 million Americans. Other sources say the total
number affected could be 8 million people. It primarily occurs
in women of childbearing age, but children, the elderly, and men
can also be affected. (Approximately 80 percent to 90 percent of
affected people are women.)
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by fatigue and
widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons. At
first, it was not considered an illness at all. Doctors could
not find any thing wrong with patients so they believed it to be
psychosomatic.
Slowly that dismissive view is changing. Published research at
Johns Hopkins, University of Pennsylvania and other top research
facilities points to immune dysfunction and cardiac
abnormalities in these illnesses. It is difficult to believe
that some doctors still regard people with Fibromyalgia and
chronic fatigue syndrome as nothing more than 'extremely worried
well people'.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS or chronic fatigue and immune
dysfunction syndrome, CFIDS) is a chronic, often debilitating
disorder of unknown cause characterized by fatigue, pain and
cognitive disorders. Often severe cognitive complaints
differentiate the syndrome from similar disorders and usually
occur in a later stage of the disease.
There is no evidence to sustain the thought that CFS or
Fibromyalgia is a contagious disease. Contagious diseases
typically occur in well-defined clusters, either as outbreaks or
epidemics.
What Causes Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Asking what causes Fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome can
be a tricky question, depending on whom you ask. Doctors and
researchers believe there is not a single cause of Fibromyalgia
or chronic fatigue syndrome. At this point doctors are just not
sure what causes these illnesses.
While the cause of Fibromyalgia is unknown, researchers have
several hypotheses about causes or what triggers the illness.
Some scientists believe that the syndrome may be caused by an
injury or trauma. This injury may affect the central nervous
system.
Fibromyalgia may be associated with changes in muscle
metabolism, such as decreased blood flow, causing fatigue and
decreased strength. Others believe an infectious agent such as a
virus in susceptible people may trigger the syndrome, but no
such agent has been identified.
Research proposes that CFS may be caused by an immunologic
dysfunction or altered capacity of certain immune functions. One
thing is certain at this time: there are no immune disorders in
CFS or Fibromyalgia patients traditionally affiliated with
disease.
That suggests a different approach is needed to reach the state
of health you want.
4 Simple Changes to Shift Your Life From Fibromyalgia or CFS
Many studies have indicated that a healthy lifestyle including
diet, exercise, relaxation techniques and sufficient sleep offer
the most effective approaches for reducing fatigue and pain from
CFS and Fibromyalgia.
1. Nutrition/Diet
A common thread in many cases seems to be a tendency to feel
better when refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, fried foods, red
meat, and highly processed foods, are kept to a sound personal
minimum in the diet.
Try supplementing your current diet with greater quantities of
raw or lightly cooked fruits and vegetables. Try substituting
meats that are high in fat with fish or lean poultry. Drink
plenty of water and take a good vitamin supplement to ensure
that you are getting proper nutrition.
2. Quality Sleep: Seven Ways to Become Sleeping Beauty
This is perhaps the most important component of treating CFS/FM.
The following tips will help you achieve more restful sleep. Try
to follow as many of them as possible to obtain the best level
of sleep you can: