Everything You Need To Know About Fibromyalgia

Lack of awareness on various diseases makes it hard for those ailing to seek the appropriate treatment. It is unfortunate that due to this, some people end up losing their lives due to diseases that could have been cured had they been addressed early.

As with other crippling illnesses, there are quite a number of people with Fibromyalgia who do not know that they are suffering from it or even how to manage it.
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This article provides a brief overview of this condition.

​What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia refers to a syndrome that is related to chronic arthritis. The affected individual experiences a combination of symptoms that might characterize widespread tenderness and muscle pain. This condition does not qualify as a joint disease since it does not include damage or inflammation to the tissues, muscles, or joints. Nevertheless, it has a close link to arthritis. 

Different people experience different symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Some complain of excessive fatigue while others only experience widespread pain.

​Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Although it is not easy to detect Fibromyalgia without carrying out the necessary tests, the following are some of the common symptoms:

• Fatigue: people with this arthritis-related syndrome experience a period of overwhelming tiredness. This is the acute kind of fatigue that does not go away even after sleeping.
• Pain: Fibromyalgia is associated with consistent as well as widespread pain that differs in scale. For example, pain on the neck and the back might be worse than in other areas of the body. Such pain may be dull, stabbing, or sharp in nature, and at times might radiate from certain areas of the body.
• Hypersensitivity: Individuals with Fibromyalgia tend to be hypersensitive especially to bright lights, tastes and smells.  
• Sleep problems: Insomnia is a common problem noted in people with Fibromyalgia. The opposite is noted among others who have deep sleep but do not wake up refreshed.

​Causes of Fibromyalgia

At the moment, there are no known causes of Fibromyalgia. Nevertheless, several theories exist. Here are some of the present beliefs in regards to the causes of Fibromyalgia:

Problems in transmission of pain: The central nervous system is tasked with the responsibility of transmitting pain signals within the human body. In the event that the chemicals used in the signals’ transmission are altered the affected individual experiences a period of high levels of pain.

Imbalances in chemicals: When an individual has lower levels of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline in the central nervous system, they are likely to suffer from sleep, appetite, and mood problems. 

Sleep problems: Other researchers have shown that the failure to have deep sleep can be a primary cause of Fibromyalgia as opposed to just a symptom.

Fibromyalgia is a serious problem that can have adverse impacts on your health and affect your daily activities. It is advisable to look out for the symptoms of this condition. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it is recommended that you seek help for Fibromyalgia from a qualified physician.