Sometimes referred to as “fibro” and “the invisible disease,” fibromyalgia is a very debilitating that can strike anyone. Approximately three to six percent of the U.S. population suffers from this condition, which causes sufferers chronic pains and aches. The chronic pain and fatigue associated with this disease causes sufferers a general discomfort and a loss of the ability to function normally. The earmarks of fibromyalgia are muscular aches and pains, stiffness of joints, and general fatigue.Most who suffer from fibromyalgia are faced with disturbed sleep, making it almost impossible to get a good night’s rest. This only makes the general aches and pains of the disease that much worse. What are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia causes widespread, chronic pain. No area of the body will remain untouched by the effects of fibro, though the pain is most commonly found in the back, shoulders, neck, and hands. Those who suffer from fibromyalgia have complained of a tingling or burning sensation, and numbness. Many who have been struck with fibro have experienced sensitized skin and nerve pain.Other symptoms of fibro include impaired memory and concentration, anxiety, depression, dizziness, ringing in the ears, terrible headaches, and irritable bowels and bladder. Fibromyalgia most commonly causes sufferers a general, overall fatigue brought on by general pain, muscle ache, and sleeplessness.
What Causes Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a disease that is the focus of much intense scientific study. There are many theories about the causes of fibro, and in many cases it is the result of some trauma that sufferers have experienced. But there is much still unknown about this horrible disease, and modern medicine has still to pinpoint the cause of fibromyalgia. There is no known method of prevention.Scientific research indicates that some people may be genetically predisposed to fibromyalgia, but nothing has been accurately proven.
Is There a Cure For Fibromyalgia? There is no known cure for fibromyalgia. In fact, as there is much still unknown about this disease and as there are no accurate tests for fibromyalgia, it is very hard to be diagnosed with this disease. Many doctors remain largely unfamiliar with the effects of fibro, and many doctors remain steadfast that fibromyalgia is not a true disease or physical ailment.
Green tea offers many health benefits as it has high antioxidant properties. It is also a good choice for fibroyalgia patients to help keep you hydrated without caffeine. Find a tasty tea with Ginseng and you will get the added benefit of energy to help with your fatigue.
Another benefit of green tea appears to be that it helps safeguard your body from autoimmune disorders, according to a Medical College of Georgia oral biologist. Dr. Stephen Hsu. Green tea can give credit to compounds found within the tea leaves called polyphenols, which have the amazing ability to help eliminate DNA-damaging free radicals. Dr. Hsu states he believes that the polyphenols eliminate the inflammatory response.
Seep yourself a healthy cup of green tea and enjoy the benefits!
Green Tea Health Benefits
If everyone knew of all the health benefits of green tea, the sales of green tea would spike immediately. The health benefits of green tea are important and substantial so people should consider making a cup of green tea every day a habit. Health professionals all over the world recommend that people should drink 3 to 4 cups of green tea a day in order to help in protecting the body against various ailments. So, just what are the benefits of this so called miracle brew that it even baffled health professionals from all over the world?
There is some evidence discovered in research studies that show that one of the health benefits of green tea is a reduced incidence of esophageal cancer for green tea drinkers. The reduction in the risk of developing this type of cancer is significant for those who drink green tea. There is other evidence that the health benefits of green tea is a reduced risk of developing other types of cancers for those who drink green tea on a regular basis.
As people grow older many start to take different types of prescription drugs for a variety of conditions. There is some evidence that one of the
health benefits of green tea include the possibility of reducing the amount of these prescription drugs. These drugs can very expensive, and some of these drugs come with side effects. Each person should consult with their doctors about each of these conditions, but they might try drinking green tea on a regular basis to ward off some of these conditions before they appear. They might try drinking some green tea to see if they might reverse some of the conditions that already exist
Because liver is another agent responsible for metabolism, it is greatly affected by green tea. There is strong correlation of bonds between liver function and antioxidants. When the liver does it job, it filters the body from toxins and washes it away through excretion.
Toxins are referred to harmful substances that we gather through daily living like digested food, breathed air, consumed water, alcohol intake and even remnants of cigarette smoking. What green tea provides the body is stimulating and strengthening the immune system making the liver more capable of filtering every single substance that can be dangerous to the body.
Many times when fibromyalgia are exhausted not sleeping, and taking pain pills or melatonin they can experience what is know as sleep paralysis. This article is slanted toward every day people, but you might gain some benefit. I have found that by resting during the day, and not relying on pain medication when you are totally exhausted can help stop the frightening dreams that make sleeping harrowing night or day.
Is sleep paralysis a problem for you? If you are wondering whether something can be done about it then the answer is yes. Just go through the following article and get to know the facts.
If you sometimes find that you are paralyzed during sleep and you cannot move then you are suffering from sleep paralysis. Everyone experiences sleep paralysis at some stage in their life. In other people however these episodes happen more often and can be quite scary. Sleep paralysis will manifest itself under varied conditions and it can be dealt with it.
The underlying factor of sleep paralysis is that of partial consciousness. The attacks occur when dreaming you are suddenly woken from your sleep and your brain responds much faster than your body. You then experience the sensation that the dream you were having is real. When you try and respond to this then your body cannot even move a single muscle.
This is because the process of coming out of sleep was never meant to be a sudden event but a gradual one. If something suddenly wakes you up whilst you are having a dream then paralysis is likely to set in. Being paralyzed during sleep is the body’s way of protecting you. The body is trying to prevent you from reacting to something that is not there.
Most people to panic and try to even scream and they find that they cannot even make a single sound. What disturbs me the most though is that these so called hallucinations seem so real at the time they occur. Having experienced one too many times I decided to learn more about it.
I have encountered many suggested solutions and techniques to this problem. Some methods are as simple as avoidance techniques of known causes, to meditation and yoga. If you are experiencing episodes where by you become paralyzed during sleep solutions are always there. It is quite possible to sleep and rest peacefully at night.
When you have a fibromyalgia diagnosis, you are very likely to have neurological problems associated with other fibromyalgia symptoms. Your fibromyalgia symptoms can be wide spread across many body locations, but they do seem to follow a similar pattern in many patients. As you will read below in a study out of Seattle that neurologic symptoms do appear to correlate with the signs and symptoms found in many fibromyalgia patients.
Pain in not the only symptoms of Fibromyalgia, you may find that you suffer from other neurological symptoms such as:
Bladder problems
Blurred vision that glasses don’t help
Clumsiness
Cold hands and feet
Dizziness or Fainting
Facial Numbness
Frequent Headaches
Irritable bowel syndrome
Muscle weakness
Nausea and/or vomiting spells
Numbness and tingling in your hands and feet
Sore Throat or Hoarseness
Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome
Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome is a hypersensitivity to chemicals, odors, loud noise, light, temperature changes, and affects around 2/3rds of fibromyalgia patients. Chemical sensitivity symptoms can include headaches, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, and fainting. Chemical sensitivity symptoms can mimic fibromyalgia symptoms as well. Many fibromyalgia patients have found relief from their neurological symptoms by examining the link between their reaction to certain chemicals and conditions. Keep in mind that fibromyalgia syndrome already impacts your life, narrowing your chemical reactions may make a big impact on your health, but you still need to live. Shutting yourself away from the world is not the answer. If you do find that chemical sensitivity is affecting you in ways that are causing neurological problems it is wise to contact your health care provider to determine an appropriate plan of action, so that you may live your life as fully as possible.
Neurologic Symptoms Associated With Fibromyalgia Syndrome
In a controlled study group of one hundred and sixty-six fibromyalgia patients, and sixty-six pain free control patients conducted by Dr. Nathaniel F. Watson from the University of Washington Medicine Sleep Institute in Harborview Seattle, showed significantly more neurologic symptoms than were seen in the overall control group.
Fibromyalgia Neurologic Symptoms that were studies showed:
70% of fibromyalgia patients displayed photo phobia or light sensitivity 63% of the group showed signs of poor balance 50% displayed some weakness and tingling in their arms or legs.
Upon further research the study found that there were considerable correlations between the neurologic symptoms, and the neurologic signs.
Example: Poor balance correlated in the test study with defined weakness in the arms or legs. These findings lead to the recommendation by Watson who ran the study to advice; “careful neurological examinations in all fibromyalgia patients, particularly those with neurological complaints.”
The usually and often misunderstood symptoms of fibromyalgia have lead to many myths and misconceptions. Fibromyalgia is real condition and the pain and fatigue you are experiencing is very real as well.
Finding proper treatments and learning to cope with fibromyalgia can be difficult, but not being fully informed, and believing untruths, can lead to unnecessary emotional pain as well.
Fibromyalgia Myths
Let’s take a look at seven common myths that surround fibromyalgia syndrome, and dig down deeper to uncover the truths.
#1) Myth: Fibromyalgia is not a real condition, and most doctors believe this to be true.
The Truth: Most doctors do believe that Fibromyalgia syndrome is real. However, can be difficult to assess, and this myth cropped up due to the misunderstanding between doctors who are not familiar with fibromyalgia, patients who are desperate for answers to a very painful condition, and the medical community which is trying to set standards for patient care.
The other complexity involves the disparity of symptoms that each patient can present, which can make a diagnosis more difficult. The American College of Rheumatology helped develop a set of criteria to help doctors diagnose fibromyalgia.
These guidelines are followed by doctors familiar with fibromyalgia syndrome collection of symptoms which include:
Fibromyalgia Syndrome:
Widespread, prevalent body pain that is above and below the waist
Pain For Three months or more
Have at least 11 out of 18 Tender points found in noted locations of the body
Can include: Extreme fatigue, Difficulty sleeping, disturbed sleep, inability to exercise due to exacerbation of symptoms
Your symptoms are real, and many doctors believe your symptoms are real, and will try to provide the best care possible.
#2) Myths: Fibromyalgia can damage your joints.
The Truth: The pain you are associating with fibromyalgia can be an aching discomfort, and it can also be very brutal at times, but it is not doing damaging your bones, joints or muscles. As well, you should understand that the severity of the pain you are experiencing does not reflect a deterioration or progression of the disease, or condition.
#3) Myths: Doctors diagnose patients with Fibromyalgia when they can’t find anything else wrong with them.
Truth: Doctors diagnose Fibromyalgia based on the symptoms you present on exam. They will not pin a fibromyalgia label on you when your symptoms don’t fit a certain criteria for any other disease or conditions.
Getting a fibromyalgia diagnosis can take time, as there is no single blood test, no x-ray or CT scan that will confirm your diagnosis. It becomes a medial puzzle of running tests, and ruling out other symptoms to determine the cause of your symptoms, and it can be frustrating to both you and your doctor as well.
#4) Myths: If there is no cure or treatments for fibromyalgia then going to the doctor is a waste of time and money
The Truth: There is no one size fits all treatment that fits all patients, but the Food and Drug Administration has approved one drug for treating fibromyalgia, and other treatments are the pipeline.
Learning to live with your condition can include: medications, changes to your lifestyle, alternative treatment, complementary treatments, changes to your diet, and staying active with low impact exercise.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease where symptoms can diminish, and become more sever, but it is not life threatening, but it very likely a lifelong chronic condition.
#5) Myths: If Fibromyalgia causes pain, and then there must be something more wrong with me. I have lots of other unexplainable symptoms.
The Truth: No one knows why there is such a wide array of symptoms that can be found Fibromyalgia patient beside pain.
Fatigue, depression, mood disorders, headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, memory problems “fibro fog” , sleep problems, cold fingers and toes, numbness fingers and toes, restless leg syndrome, tingling in fingers and toes. Abdominal problems: Weight gain, abdomen pain, IBS, bladder control problems, and nausea.
#6) Myths: Fibromyalgia is so debilitating that you can’t live a productive life.
The Truth: It is true that learning to live with this chronic disease takes time, and patience. You may find the your pain never completely goes away, but there are millions of people living in chronic pain from other disorders, and they put one foot in front of the other every day.
There are many approaches to living, and strategies that may mean altering your life style, but by setting goals, surrounding yourself with supportive people, and learning to pace your day you can get by, and you will.
#7) Myths: If you look fine, then there’s nothing wrong with you.
The Truth: It can be easy to feel angry with your family, friend, and co-workers who do not understand this condition, and withdraw. However you need to be honest, and explain your symptoms so that they have a clear understanding of the physical and emotional toll you are under.
Joining a support group can be very helpful, and just having an outlet to share your feelings, your frustrations, and to discuss what treatment options that are works for others can be very beneficial. Finding people who really understand what a really bad day is who are suffering and going through similar circumstances can make coping and managing your condition much more tolerable.
Do not underestimate the power of friendship and compassion, it is very powerful medicine, and that is not a myth that is the truth!
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