If you are living with fibromyalgia, every day can feel like an impossible mountain to climb. This chronic condition is characterized by intense, persistent fatigue and chronic aching, deep pain. People often experience a range of other symptoms as well, including headaches, poor sleep, brain fog, and mood problems.
Who Gets Fibromyalgia?
It’s possible for anyone to get fibromyalgia, including children. However, it’s most common I women who are 30 to 60 years old. Women are nine times more likely to develop it than men.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Being a middle-aged woman is one risk factor for fibromyalgia. Some people also have a family history of the condition. Having lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and being obese are other physical risk factors. Having experienced a traumatic event, like a car accident is a factor as well.
What Triggers Fibromyalgia?
It’s not fully understood why someone gets fibromyalgia, although we do know it’s common after physical trauma, surgery, or an infection. However, sometimes there is no single event that causes it.
Fibromyalgia also comes in flares and can become worse with certain triggers. Common triggers include:
- Leaky gut
- Hormone imbalance
- Emotional trauma
- Chronic stress
- Poor diet
- Food allergies
- Lack of sleep
- Weather changes
- Traveling
- Medication changes
- Illness
- Injury
- Environmental toxins
Not everyone has the same triggers, so it helps to identify and take note of any situations that contribute to flare-ups.
Fibromyalgia Management
Flare-ups can’t be controlled with a pill, which is why prevention is so important. This involves eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, sleeping enough at night, and reducing stress
Diagnosis and Treatment
There is no one test that detects fibromyalgia, and a diagnosis typically happens via a process of elimination. Additionally, there is not an effective treatment for the condition. Instead, functional medicine aims to look at what in your body could be causing your symptoms and making lifestyle changes, detoxing, and using supplements as needed to restore your health. To learn more how functional medicine can help with fibromyalgia, read Tri-Cities Functional Medicine’s blog by clicking below.
Read More About How Does Someone Get Fibromyalgia?