Key points:
- Fibromyalgia is a chronic neurological disease characterized by widespread pain.
- There is no apparent cause, therefore treatment is limited to controlling the symptoms.
- Fibromyalgia patients struggle every day as it not only affects them physically but also psychologically and emotionally.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a neurological disorder that causes widespread pain, which means that it causes constant discomfort throughout the body.
Fibromyalgia symptoms are often triggered by an event such as physical trauma, surgery, or a major psychological event due to stress overload. Although in other cases they appear without apparent cause.
How does it affect the person who suffers from it?
The most common symptoms can vary between each person and, up to date, it has not been possible to know all the effects of the disease.
According to the patients, the most common can be:
- Constant pain throughout the body, including muscles and joints.
- Cognitive problems such as difficulty concentrating.
- Having trouble falling asleep.
- Strong headaches.
- Numbness in the limbs.
- Anxiety and depression.
Who can suffer from it?
This disease is much more common in women as it is found in 20 women for every man. It can commonly appear from the age of 47 and hormones are likely to play a role in the condition.
Also, people with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases may develop it.
Why does fibromyalgia occur?
Medical specialists are still not sure of its causes, however, there are risk factors that can increase the chances of suffering from it.
These risk factors are:
- Personal events that generate physical and emotional stress
- Surgeries
- Chronic infections
- Head injury
- Being a woman
Is there a treatment to fight fibromyalgia?
There is no treatment as it has no cure, however, given the diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe medications to reduce the discomfort generated by it.
Patients with fibromyalgia constantly have feelings of anguish, despair and often feel out of place in society, but by leading a healthy life, talking about the disorder with family and friends, and going to therapy, their quality of life will change radically.
Do not turn your back on your symptoms, if you feel that you or someone you know may suffer from fibromyalgia, contact our Neurological Center at 55 1103 1750 or send us an email to centroneurologico@abchospital.com.
Sources:
www.medicinatv.mx/reportajes/10-datos-sobre-fibromialgia-que-te-ayudaran-a-comprender-la-enfermedad-5376
https://www.mayoclinic.org/es/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354780#:~:text=Muchas%20personas%20con%20fibromialgia%20tambi%C3%A9n,ayudar%20a%20controlar%20los%20s%C3%ADntomas.
