Natural Health Supplements and Fibromyalgia
Disability
Fibromyalgia disability is a chronic
disorder affecting millions of people around the world. It is
often classed as a type of inflammatory arthritis, but patients
with fibromyalgia usually have generalized aches and pains. They
sleep poorly, complain from stiffness after waking, and are
tired all day. Those suffering from fibromyalgia disability
often have recurrent headaches, memory and concentration
problems, dizziness, numbness and tingling, itching, fluid
retention, abdominal or pelvic pain and diarrhea, among other
symptoms.
Fibromyalgia disability is marked by overall musculoskeletal
pain and tenderness. Tenderness often occurs in clusters, or
multiple tender points in precise, localized areas, more notably
in the spine, shoulders, neck and hips. Other symptoms include:
• Fatigue
• Persistent headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Tingling, numbness, itching in the limbs
• Fluid retention
Researchers are not sure what causes
fibromyalgia disability, a condition once thought to be
triggered by inflammation in the body or by depression and
stress. One leading theory explores the link between
fibromyalgia and sleep abnormalities. Patients often note that
not getting enough sleep makes their fibromyalgia symptoms worse
the next day. Researchers speculate that people with
abnormalities that occur in their brain during deep sleep may be
more prone to fibromyalgia.
As the levels of certain cytokines (a class of
immune system hormones) are usually elevated in people with
fibromyalgia, one theory is that fibromyalgia disability may be
the result of a malfunctioning immune system, caused by sleep
disturbances. This explanation is not yet proven, and several
other good theories exist. Fibromyalgia often runs in families,
suggesting a genetic component. It may lie dormant until
triggered by an infection, injury, stress or sleep disturbances.
Current research is primarily focused on the
relationship between hormones and fibromyalgia. Many researchers
feel that abnormalities in the secretion of certain neural
hormones may affect sleep patterns, pain sensation, immunity,
emotions, and the constricting and dilating of blood vessels.
Those who suffer from fibromyalgia disability
range in age, although it most often affects people between the
ages of twenty and fifty-five. Women are ten times more likely
than men to develop the condition. There is also a significant
link between people who suffer from lyme disease and rheumatoid
arthritis and those who develop fibromyalgia disability.
Relieving the pain and other symptoms of
fibromyalgia can be a difficult and time-consuming process. It
may take some time to establish the changes that suit each
individual. After all, every body is different. As with all
medical conditions, if you are concerned about your health, make
sure you seek qualified professional medical advice immediately.
Diet seems to be key
Almost all health
professionals agree that the most important elements for
treating fibromyalgia disability involve diet, exercise and
rest. In fact, diet is beginning to be seen as crucial, because
the right diet will strengthen the immune system, prevent
opportunistic pathogens and help maintain an energized and
positive outlook
Recent research by scientists from the Arthritis
Research Campaign's Epidemiology Unit and the Institute of
Public Health at the University of Cambridge in England reported
some very interesting findings. These go a long way to
explaining why diet is so important, particularly one that is
rich in fresh fruit and vegetables. The research was conducted
with twenty-five thousand participants aged forty five to
seventy four, who were asked to complete a questionnaire
regarding their daily diet.
The researchers found the following:
♣ Brightly colored fruits and vegetables may
help lower the risk of developing certain forms of arthritis,
including fibromyalgia disability, by fighting inflammation.
♣ Researchers found that a modest increase in
antioxidants from brightly colored fruits and vegetables was
associated with a lower risk of inflammatory pain.
♣ The researchers reported that antioxidants
appear to suppress inflammation by getting rid of free radicals
that are suspected to contribute to inflammatory pain.
♣ The researchers found an association with
certain antioxidants called carotenoids and a lower chance of
developing inflammatory arthritis.
♣ Those in the top third for beta intake were
only half as likely to develop inflammatory arthritis as those
in the lowest third, according to researcher Dorothy Pattison.
♣ Vitamin C was also found to be an important
factor.
In an ideal world, all of these extra nutrients
would be present in our everyday diet. However, the sad truth is
that with modern living and current food production, most people
will not be consuming the necessary intake of these vital
ingredients that can help curtail the symptoms of fibromyalgia
disability. It is therefore important to consider taking natural
health supplements.
Natural "super foods"
might be a solution
Fortunately, there are a
number of foods that seem to be perfectly designed to help fight
the pain of fibromyalgia disability.
Enter the super foods! Amazingly, there are some
sources of nutrients that are so effective it is as if they were
designed to be the ultimate in natural immune system
supplements. These foods are taking the health world by storm,
with properties that offer superior immune system boosting
capability.
These fruits and herbs come from the rainforests
of the world, nature’s own medicine chest, and are vitally
important for anyone keen to arm their body for combating
fibromyalgia. These ‘superfoods’ are fruits such as the acai
berry and cupuacu, which are astounding experts with their
richness and variety of nutrient content.
The acai berry is packed full of antioxidants,
amino acids, minerals and multiple other essential nutrients and
has been shown to help sufferers of fibromyalgia disability. In
fact, the acai berry has been such a revelation that Sports
Illustrated for Women placed it as one of the ‘41 Best Things On
Earth’ (September, 2003).
