Is Fibromyalgia Real?

Not long ago people called those with fibromyalgia hypochondriacs. Many people, including medical practitioners, did not recognize fibromyalgia as a real condition. You may even have had friends or family ask you, "Is fibromyalgia real?" History of Fibromyalgia Throughout most of the twentieth century, if a person complained of chronic pain all over their bodies, doctors diagnosed them as having fibrositis. Doctors thought this condition was an inflammatory disease of the muscles. In the 1970s, a group of researchers disagreed with this conclusion, however, and linked the chronic muscle pain with tender points and sleep abnormalities. In 1976, fibrositis was renamed fibromyalgia to better define the group of symptoms. The word fibromyalgia comes from the Latin word "fibro," which refers to the connective tissues of ligaments and tendons; from the Greek "myo" which indicates muscle and "algia," which means pain. Together these three words describe the main symptom of fibromyalgia, which is painful muscles, tendons and ligaments. Although the name for the disease is relatively new, the condition now called fibromyalgia has existed and been referenced throughout history. It is probable, for example, that Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), founder of the Red Cross, and Alfred Be hard Nobel (1833-1896) had fibromyalgia. Who Does Fibromyalgia Affect? Currently researchers estimate that five percent of the world's population has fibromyalgia with millions more undiagnosed. In the United States, one out of every fifty Americans has fibromyalgia. Interestingly, more people have fibromyalgia than those with lupus, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease combined! It affects people from every culture and class but strangely affects more women than men. As many as ninety percent of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women. Most are between the ages of 25 and 45 although young children and older adults have been diagnosed. The Proof Fibromyalgia Exists Although there isn't a test you can take to determine if you have fibromyalgia, doctors will give this diagnosis if you have had widespread pain for more than three months and exhibit pain in at least 11 of 18 specified tender points. Medical research has proven that fibromyalgia is real, however. People with fibromyalgia have measurable differences of chemicals and substances in their bodies. These particular substances are associated with hypersensitivity to pain. Substance P stands for pain. It consists of 11 amino acids. Substance P is a neurotransmitter that your body releases in the spinal cord resulting in greater pain perception. Substance P is higher than normal in fibromyalgics. Serotonin is found in blood platelets, mast cells, the brain and gastrointestinal cells. It regulates the brain’s ability to control pain and modulates mood, motivation, sleep and behavior. Fibromyalgics have a decreased level of serotonin. Fibromyalgics have four times higher than normal levels of nerve growth factor. This substance stimulates the production of substance P. Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels. It can increase muscle pain and even cause muscle cells to die. Fibromyalgics have a higher than normal level of this substance. Fibromyalgics have a decreased level of human growth hormone, a substance that is secreted during the deepest stages of sleep. Human growth hormone helps the body rebuild itself. Final Analysis You may still encounter skeptics who wonder, "Is fibromyalgia real?" but now you have some facts that you can share with them. Don't let their ignorance keep you from learning all you can about your condition.