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A New Free Report - What Is Fibromyalgia?
This fascinating new report from UK-based publishing house Health Research Today answers some of the most-asked questions about this baffling disease :
- What's the medical definition of Fibromyalgia?
- What are the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
- What are tender points and what are trigger points? What's the difference?
- What are the known causes of Fibromyalgia?
Fill in this form and we will send you the report immediately, which you are welcome to send on to friends or family!
What Is Fibromyalgia?
This article is an extract from the ebook Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
Perhaps even more confounding than the onset of fibromyalgia symptoms is why one is struck, seemingly out of the blue, with the often debilitating illness. Unfortunately, the medical community has yet to pinpoint fibromyalgia’s cause, although researchers are working tirelessly to uncover both a cause and a cure.
Medically considered a syndrome, fibromyalgia is fairly new with the first diagnoses occurring during the 1980s. More than two decades after the syndrome first immerged, there is no definitive answer to fibromyalgia’s cause. For those who suffer with fibromyalgia, not knowing what causes the syndrome that has changed their lives is a huge source of frustration. While you may not know the root cause of your fibromyalgia, you can at least begin to understand what researchers and doctors believe. Understanding the theories will, at the very least, give you some sense of control over your illness.
There are numerous theories in the medical community about fibromyalgia’s exact cause(s). What most doctors and researchers do agree on, however, is fibromyalgia is the result of some sort of physiological problem. What that physiological problem is, to the great frustration of those with fibromyalgia, has yet to be determined.
According to the Fibromyalgia Research Association, fibromyalgia is a disorder that is characterized by an abnormality in the sensory processing of the central nervous system. In simpler terms, people who suffer from fibromyalgia have increased sensitivity. A bump against a door, for example, may cause extreme pain for someone with fibromyalgia while it’s barely noticeable by someone who doesn’t have the syndrome. An abnormality in the sensory processing may well be one of fibromyalgia’s causes.
However, there are numerous other hypotheses as to the root of fibromyalgia’s cause, including:
Specific triggers. Many believe fibromyalgia is caused by a traumatic event such as a car accident. For example, regardless of whether you were seriously injured, the accident may simply have triggered an underlying physiological problem. Other triggers may include having a bout of the flu, a muscle injury, or suffering from another chronic illness such as lupus.
Lack of enough serotonin. Another theory as to fibromyalgia’s cause is a lack of enough of the chemical serotonin in their bodies. Two of the predominant symptoms of many fibromyalgia sufferers is widespread pain and either sleeping too much or the inability to sleep. Serotonin is partially responsible for sleep regulation and controlling of pain, and many fibromyalgia sufferers, after having blood work done, have been shown to have lower than normal levels of serotonin.
Sleep problems. Some in the medical community believe fibromyalgia’s cause is directly linked to sleep disturbances. Proper sleep is critical to producing growth hormones. If you’re not getting enough deep sleep, your body won’t produce enough of the growth hormones.
Hormonal imbalance. Another potential fibromyalgia cause is a hormonal imbalance, where the pituitary gland and hypothalamus don’t release enough of corisol and the growth hormone. Such an imbalance has had such side effects as mood swings, fatigue, pain, and difficulty concentrating, all on the list of common fibromyalgia symptoms.
Lack of Substance P. Fibromyalgia’s cause may well be linked to a lack of the chemical substance P. The lack of this chemical has been known to cause pain, depression, and anxiety, all documented symptoms of fibromyalgia. Studies have shown that those with fibromyalgia have three times the amount of Substance P in their spinal fluid than those without fibromyalgia.
Stress. Dealing with chronic stress may be one of fibromyalgia’s causes. Stress may result from such events as abusive relationships, alcoholism, or drug abuse. Furthermore, stress may simply be the result of a traumatic event, like a car accident. Whether or not stress is a direct cause of fibromyalgia has not yet been proven, but it’s a popular theory among some researchers.
Genes. Researchers have been studying whether fibromyalgia’s cause may be genetic. While to date genetics has not been labelled a cause of fibromyalgia, studies have determined that some people are predisposed to the syndrome.
Regardless of fibromyalgia’s cause or causes, those who have been handed the diagnosis of fibromyalgia must find ways to combat their symptoms, so they can lead happy, productive lives. As research evolves, however, scientists and the medical community are coming ever closer to pinpointing the exact cause or causes of fibromyalgia, giving hope to those who have the illness that a cure cannot be far behind.
© Health Research Today
Read the rest of this article in Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
